priorities for our community

I love our city - these 6.2 square miles and ~24,000 people are our home. Fairfax City truly is a gem, and I want to help protect, maintain and enhance what makes us shine. I want to keep our charm and small town feel, support our local businesses, and preserve our green spaces and waterways. I want our future generations to be proud of what we accomplished in our lifetime, and to appreciate that we left it better than we found it. Paving over our city's paradise is happening right before our eyes - it is time we hold our leaders accountable for the decisions they are making. We may qualify for the "Tree City USA" designation based on the general criteria from The Arbor Day Foundation, but tearing down trees for "progress" isn't the right choice.

Why independent

I am choosing to run as an independent candidate for the City of Fairfax. I think many of the concerns our residents have do not fall along party lines, and do not require a republican or a democrat to make a decision. Rather, it takes a council dedicated to open dialogue, communication and putting the needs of our current and future residents first. Consideration of projects requires an open mind. It also demands alternate options, potential impact to our existing infrastructure, exploring both pros and cons to our existing residents and much, much more. It requires outreach to our communities, especially those who will potentially be most impacted by a project. It requires conversations and open houses to ensure we understand how all residents think and feel. It's not making decisions based on what may help our region, though we should also consider those choose to come to or drive through our city.

Regardless of your political affiliation, I ask that your vote is made in the best interest of our city, and not be based on politics that live outside these 6.2 miles. As a city council member, I know I work for YOU, a city resident, who has chosen to call our beautiful city home.

public SAFETY & THE ENVIRONMENT

We need to ensure our neighborhoods, businesses, parks, paths and downtown areas are welcoming, and residents feel safe at all times. Whether you are walking your dog, riding your bike, or renting one of the many scooters and bikes in the city, areas should be well-lit and well maintained. Every resident, old, young or anywhere in between, deserves to feel safe.

We need to address residents' concerns about rising crime and public safety by providing additional resources to our police and public safety officers, ensuring our police department is fully staffed and capable of protecting the community.

Both the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County are seeing an increase in homelessness, similar to what is occurring nationally. We must work to help those experiencing homelessness (or close to) with access to resources such as shelters, financial assistance and housing programs, as well as comprehensive support services such as case management, job training, and mental health services. Cities with robust affordable housing initiatives, rent subsidies, and supportive services tend to have higher success rates in helping individuals secure stable housing.

Preserve Green Spaces: We must protect and maintain our beautiful parks and other green spaces for our residents now, and for generations to come. There are many options to add bike/pedestrian paths both in and around our city, without destroying our forests and trees. We must preserve the few forests we have left. In its current plan, I do not support the George Snyder Trail.

Curb the use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers: Given the loud noise (up to 110 decibels) and air pollution caused by these devices, I propose we restrict their hours of use, as well as a ban on Sundays and federal holidays. We all deserve to enjoy more peace and quiet with our families and friends. Vienna has implemented a ban on contractors from using any gas-powered equipment on Sundays, and Alexandria is also considering similar legislation. Nearby Montgomery County, MD and DC have banned the use of all gas-powered leaf blowers. I also propose rebates on new electric leaf blowers and other lawn equipment, for both city resident owned landscaping companies and residents.

We need to work together to promote the use of renewable energy, clean energy and green buildings and homes.

fiscal responsibility

Fiscal responsibility is about making sound financial decisions that support sustainable growth and stability, ensuring resources are used efficiently and effectively for the benefit of current and future generations. Needs vs. wants should be identified, and decisions should be made to ensure our needs are being met before we spend money on our wants. When a city manages finances responsibly, it builds trust with the public. Unfortunately, this has been lost along the way, and I will work to restore this trust.

transparency & community engagement

I want all residents to feel seen and heard.

Each project should consider our existing residents, yet plan for common sense growth. I want greater transparency and more open communication between our city's leaders and residents. Our City Council leaders should represent the voice of our residents. Being elected is the first step, but continuing to engage with the community, especially those directly impacted by a proposed project, is a priority for me. As a Cobbdale resident, I was very involved with keeping our community informed and engaged, and gathering their thoughts/opinions on the Chain Bridge Road/Eaton Place proposed changes. I helped lead our community to many conversations, meetings and further engagement with our city's staff and council members. While the end result was not what much of our community had hoped, this showed me that the current level of engagement with the community needs to be improved. Our City Council needs to consider our residents before we consider the needs of those that may pass through our city.

City Council is currently considering many projects, including apartments, townhomes, retail space, senior living communities and more. Please make sure you review the plans in the pre-application phase, under review and more by clicking below.

City of Fairfax Development Projects

strong city schools

I recognize the importance of a strong public school system and I support improvements to our schools so our students have safe, secure, modern and innovative learning spaces. Our students are the future, and they deserve the best we can provide. I'm proud that my two kids attended Providence Elementary School, and are currently enrolled at Fairfax High School (and the Academy!) and Katherine Johnson Middle School. As a current School Board Member, I understand the relationship between Fairfax County Public Schools and the City of Fairfax, and I know how important this is to ensure our students have access to advanced academic programs, special education services, sports and athletics and a strong system of teachers, staff and administrators. Without this agreement in place, we would struggle to provide a strong and impactful education for our ~2,700 students.

housing and affordability

Housing costs have increased exponentially in the 13 years since we purchased our home in Cobbdale. With current interest rates and overall price increases, it is increasingly more difficult to find affordable housing in the area, including our city. We need to find ways to provide more affordable options to our residents. We must work with existing affordable options within our city to ensure they are well maintained and the residents are not subject to leaks, flooding and rats. Landlords must maintain the properties they own. We cannot continue to approve high density housing projects without considering our existing infrastructure. Our roads and schools can only handle so much, without major changes.

other candidates i support

I believe in supporting independent candidates and elections for our City. Independent candidates must earn the trust of City voters both during their campaign and while in office. In contrast, candidates endorsed by political parties may prioritize the interests of a select few within the local party committee. I am eager to collaborate with whomever our residents elect, and I believe that open discussions and differing viewpoints can only help to strengthen our community.

Our City Charter requires independent elections, which allows federal employees and contractors to run for office. Some may not be aware, but the current agenda of some of our leadership is to try and change this, as well as move to 4 year terms. This is a very slippery slope, and the result would be to welcome with open arms partisan elections moving forward.

I'm so happy we have such a diverse group of independent candidates running this year. Many of us never intended to run for public office, but we are tired of what we're seeing and we decided it's time for a change! Learn more about all the independent candidates at www.independentfairfaxcity.com.