ElectUp Questionnaire (Cardinal Election Guide)

What's the biggest challenge facing your community and how do you propose to address it?

The easy answer would be "(re)development", but I think we're facing a more fundamental challenge, which is civic engagement. The City of Fairfax is poised to tackle a critical series of decisions about municipal investment as well as the standards by which new development proposals are evaluated. Taken in combination, these decisions will impact everything from tax rates to traffic flow, with the potential to change the fabric of the City in significant ways. I believe strongly that our governmental outreach strategy needs to do a better job of meeting residents where they are, soliciting and incorporating a not only a broader range of perspectives but also the deep knowledge and expertise resident in our community. Increasingly fear-based or partisan messaging is furthering our ability to actually come together and collaborate on plans and solutions that keep the City livable for all residents.

What is your community's greatest strength and how do you propose to build on that?

Fairfax City's greatest strength is our unique identity amongst the Northern Virginia suburb. We have stellar public services, walkable neighborhoods, and plenty of period charm (whether your preferred period is Colonial, mid-century modern, or something more current!), while also being in close proximity to innovation and economic drivers like George Mason University and key federal and defense industry corridors. When addressing the civic engagement gap I mentioned previously, we would do well to remember that - perhaps more so than any surrounding area - residents of the City of Fairfax made a conscious choice to live, work, and raise families here specifically, and thus we share a core motivation to work together towards positive change.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I was asked recently for three words to sum up my approach to governance - my response was, "transparency, respect, and a bias for action." I have no hidden agenda for the mayoral role. I am fully committed to ensuring our elected government debates, deliberates, and communicates in a way that is respectful to residents and staff alike, and that generates and sustains healthy momentum in decision-making for the City.