Fairfax County Candidate Assaulted While Campaigning Drops Charges After Apology

The Fairfax County School Board member who told police she was attacked as she canvassed for votes last month dropped assault charges against her attacker on Wednesday after the woman apologized.

Kathy Smith was going door to door on July 11, talking with Fairfax residents about her run for the Board of Supervisors, when Pamela Ichord, 58, attacked her, police said. Ichord pushed Smith from behind and threw her cell phone as the victim tried to call 911, The Washington Post reported.

Ichord was upset over a school boundary vote Smith cast in 2008, sending her children to separate high schools, Smith told the Post. The attacker was charged with assault.

In court Wednesday, Ichord gave Smith a written apology and told a judge she's taking anger-management classes.

Smith then agreed to drop the charges. A peace bond was issued, which requires Ichord to not commit another crime in the next year in order to have the bond money returned.

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