Fairfax Names Interim Mayor, Schedules Special Election

Residents in Fairfax, Virginia, came together for the first public meeting since the arrest of their mayor, Scott Silverthorne, on drugs for sex allegations.

Silverthorne resigned, effective Aug. 11, after allegedly giving methamphetamine to an undercover detective in exchange for a sexual encounter. Silverthorne was arrested Aug. 4 at a Tysons Corner hotel after police received a tip that he may have been trading meth for sex on a website used to arrange casual sexual encounters between men.

With the mayor's seat empty, the council selected former councilman Steven Stombres to become interim mayor. He was sworn in Wednesday morning.

Many residents spoke during the council meeting and acknowledged the work Silverthorne did for the city. They also talked about how his arrest brought embarrassment to the community.

The council has scheduled a special election to pick a new mayor for Feb. 7, 2017.

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