The head of Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors called a school board member a derogatory term in a text message and was called out by every member of the county’s General Assembly delegation.
Jeff McKay referred to Melanie Meren as a bimbo, which the delegation called offensive and sexist.
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During an ongoing budget beef, McKay texted Meren on Wednesday. The text included a screenshot of Meren’s newsletter, which says the board of supervisors denied funding for high school crossing guards.
McKay criticized Meren for her word choice and using her newsletter to call out county staff and other elected officials.
Then, Meren said she was sent a message in another text thread. It showed her exchange with McKay, who appeared to have added the caption “what I sent the bimbo.”
A back-and-forth began, and McKay admitted it was his text.
Meren described to News4 the moment she saw the message.
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“When I received that text with that derogatory name, I did have a few seconds of shock, and then I realized that this stale view of women in public service is very present in Fairfax County and I’m not the only woman in elected office who is offended around here,” she said.
“My colleagues who are elected women in state office are steadfast in supporting my calling out the poor behavior of the highest-level county-level elected official in Fairfax County. And it’s not just women either,” she continued. “Men in elected office are also speaking up.”
After Meren posted the screenshots on social media, the story blew up.
McKay issued a statement Thursday that said: “I used an inappropriate term while referring to School Board Member Meren that was disrespectful and wrong, and I apologize for it. I have also reached out directly to School Board Member Meren to apologize personally. Substantive disagreements are fair to discuss, but I should have expressed those views professionally. 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.”
When News4 spoke with Meren on Thursday afternoon, she said she appreciated McKay’s offer to apologize but that the two hadn’t spoken.
In an update Friday, the school board condemned McKay’s message.
“Chairman McKay’s use of a misogynistic term toward our colleague, Ms. Meren, is unacceptable and unprofessional. No one should be subjected to such a personal attack,” they said in a statement, in part.
“We owe it to our students, families, and educators to act with civility and treat each other respectfully,” they said.

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