FAIRFAX CITY, Va. — The City of Fairfax has a new interim mayor after the city council voted unanimously for former council member Steven Stombres at a special meeting Tuesday night. Stombres takes over after former Mayor Richard “Scott” Silverthorne resigned last week following an arrest and drug charges.
The former three-term city council member will have all the powers of mayor until a special election on Feb. 7.
“Mr. Stombres has served on the council before and has the ability to hit the ground running,” said Councilman Jeffrey Greenfield. Stombres, a D.C. lobbyist for Harbinger Strategies, is a former chief of staff to one-time House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.
The council hopes its actions begin to move the city forward after the shocking Aug. 5 arrest of veteran mayor Scott Silverthorne who is accused of bringing methamphetamine to an expected group sex encounter. He faces drug distribution and possession charges, and has an Oct. 31 preliminary hearing in Fairfax County District Court.
Silverthorne resigned as mayor on Aug. 11.
“Everyone is saddened by what happened…but the city recognizes that we had a path we had to follow,” Greenfield said.
Despite the circumstances surrounding Silverthorne’s resignation, many city residents stepped forward at the meeting to express their support.
“He lived for the city. He was a politician. He did a whole lot of really great things for the city,” said Ken Curtis, a resident of Fairfax City. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Don’t forget all the good that he’s done, because he’s done something that isn’t good.”
