McKay condemned for calling a school board member a ‘bimbo’
Members of the General Assembly, the Fairfax County School Board, the teachers union, and residents condemned Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay’s use of a sexist and derogatory slur to criticize a school board member.
McKay referred to Melanie Meren, who represents the Hunter Mill District, as a “bimbo,” after she called the Board of Supervisors’ termination of high school crossing guards a “bad decision.”
Misogynistic and sexist
Sixteen members of the Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly issued a statement calling the use of that word by McKay “outrageous and deeply disturbing.”
“Calling a woman a ‘bimbo’ for doing her job is unacceptable,” the legislators said. “No woman, in elected office or not, should have to tolerate misogyny, sexism, and disrespectful slurs. … Elected officials at every level have the right and responsibility to speak out when policy decisions affect the people they were elected to represent.”
The statement was signed by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell; Senators Stella Pekarsky, Saddam Salim, Jennifer Boysko, and Elizabeth Bennett-Parker; House Majority Leader Charniele Herring; and Delegates Karen Keys-Gamarra, Irene Shin, Karrie Delaney, Dan Helmer, Holly Seibold, Marcus Simon, Vivian Watts, Laura Jane Cohen, Kathy Tran, and Rozia Henson.
The Fairfax County School Board released a statement on May 15 calling McKay’s use of a misogynistic term “unacceptable and unprofessional.”
“As elected leaders, we have both the right and the duty to represent our constituents and to express our views through advocacy with other leaders,” the school board states. “This moment must serve as an opportunity to elevate that public discourse to a more considerate, professional level. … We owe it to our students, families, and educators to act with civility and treat each other respectfully.”
The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers also condemned McKay for referring to a female elected official as a “bimbo.” The union says, “Issuing a personal, gender-based attack in response to a policy disagreement is indicative of a politician who acts without accountability.”
Kids’ safety at risk
The controversy began when Meren sent a newsletter to her constituents on May 7 that criticized County Executive Bryan Hill for putting forth a county budget for FY 2027 that denied funding for high school crossing guards. “So, in the exact locations with the newest drivers, safety precautions are being removed!” she wrote, accusing Hill of “balancing the budget on the backs of our kids’ safety.”
In a private message to Meren, McKay criticized her newsletter comments and asked her to apologize to Hill. “I thought you were better than this,” he wrote. Then, in a group chat with Meren and Hill, McKay sent a screenshot of his messages to Meren, adding, “what I sent the bimbo.”
Meren responded to McKay, “Am I the ‘the bimbo,’ Jeff?”
McKay shot back: “Yes, because you have everyone here angry as heck and it costs the schools. Did you think about that before you sent out the ridiculous newsletter? You have to stop the finger-pointing all the time. It’s exhausting and harmful.”
Meren then posted screenshots of the texts with McKay on Facebook on May 13.
“As shocked as I was to be degraded by the highest-level countywide elected official in Fairfax County, I am more concerned about the Chairman’s sense of entitlement about having unilateral authority on public spending,” Meren wrote on Facebook.
“I will continue speaking truth to power and standing up for student safety. I hope others will show up and speak up to do the same,” she said.
McKay apologized
McKay issued a public apology on Facebook on May 13, stating, “I used an inappropriate term while referring to School Board Member Meren that was disrespectful and wrong, and I apologize for it.”
“Substantive disagreements are fair to discuss, but I should have expressed those views professionally,” McKay said. “That language does not reflect the standard I expect of myself or the level of respect owed to my colleagues and the public we serve.” He also reached out directly to Meren to apologize personally.
Under the county budget approved for FY 2027, crossing guards will be eliminated for high schools but will be funded for elementary, middle, and secondary schools through a contract with All City Management Services administered by the Fairfax County Police Department.