Margaret Barthel
Puedes leer este artículo en español aquí.
Voters in Fairfax County will be choosing at least two new members of the 10-member Board of Supervisors this year.
Dranesville District supervisor John Foust and Mason District supervisor Penny Gross, who is also the Board’s vice chairman, are not seeking re-election, setting up primary nominating contests for two seats, with several Democrats running in each. Board of Supervisors chair Jeff McKay has drawn a primary challenger, and incumbent Dan Storck, in the Mount Vernon District, also has a primary opponent. In the Springfield District, two Democrats are duking it out to figure out who will challenge Supervisor Pat Herrity, a Republican, in the general election. (There are several Republicans and independents who have declared their candidacy for supervisor positions, but no Republican nominating contests.)
The victors — some of whom, given the county’s blue tilt, are likely to be determined in the primary — will have plenty to do in governing the region’s largest jurisdiction. We’ve asked the candidates to weigh in on a range of issues facing the county, including financial uncertainty, housing affordability, retention of county employees and issues around police accountability.
Fairfax County’s economic recovery from the pandemic has gone reasonably well — but there are some potential trouble spots ahead. Beyond the damper of high inflation and national economic uncertainty, there are real questions about what will happen to Fairfax’s largest commercial real estate sector — office buildings — as local employers and employees make decisions about remote and hybrid work. The office vacancy rate, including sublets, for the year-end of 2022 was nearly 18%. And that has real implications for county taxpayers. “With another year of residential growth outpacing non-residential, the burden on the County’s homeowners grows heavier,” noted county executive Bryan Hill, in his transmittal letter for this year’s proposed budget (the Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the budget on May 9).
Like the rest of the region, Fairfax faces a severe housing affordability crisis. The county has pledged to build 10,000 subsidized affordable housing units by 2034, and is experimenting with building affordable housing on county land, but the proposed budget did not increase Fairfax’s affordable housing budget commitments this year.
Another ongoing challenge is hiring and retaining the county’s sizable public workforce. The county has implemented several hiring incentives — including as much as a $15,000 hiring bonus for police officers and a more than 5% market-rate adjustment for county employee salaries included in this year’s budget mark-up — but some positions have remained stubbornly hard to fill. In late 2022, the county had a 30% vacancy rate in nurse positions and a 40% vacancy rate for crisis intervention specialists, trained to help people in mental health crisis.
In the past year, the Fairfax community has also been rocked by a noticeable uptick in police shootings. Fairfax County police shot six people in 2022, the same number as in the past five years combined, and one person so far in 2023. The increase coincides with heightened need for mental health services in the county, and some of the people shot by police were in crisis at the time.
Skip to: At-large Supervisor Chair – Dranesville District – Mason District – Mount Vernon District – Springfield District
Where can I find more information about the Board of Supervisors races?
If you’re not sure which Board of Supervisors district you live in, or where your polling place is, you can type your address into the county’s “My Neighborhood” app.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee, which does not endorse in primary races, held a candidate forum for Mason District supervisor candidates on May 1. There’s also a candidate forum on May 7 for candidates running in the Springfield District primary.
What else is on my ballot in Fairfax?
There could be quite a bit on your ballot for the primary, depending on where you live in the county. The county provides sample ballots here.
All Fairfax voters will consider two candidates in the commonwealth’s attorney race. Incumbent Steve Descano, who was voted into office in 2019 in a wave of reform prosecutors across Northern Virginia, has a primary opponent in Ed Nuttal, a defense attorney. Listen to their debate on The Politics Hour With Kojo Nnamdi here.
A primary race for sheriff — the constitutional officer in charge of running the county’s jail and providing security for its courts — is shaping up between Stacey Ann Kincaid, who has held the post since 2013 and is the first woman in the role, and Kelvin Garcia, a former D.C. police officer and law clerk at an immigration law firm.
Kincaid’s website touts her partnership in the county’s Diversion First program, which creates alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness who have committed low-level crimes, and her work on a jail-based addiction recovery program and reentry services. Garcia emphasizes expanding reentry support, exploring community-based solutions to prevent crime, and his support for non-cooperation with ICE (currently, Kincaid’s department complies with Virginia state law requiring localities to report undocumented people held in the jail to a database that immigration authorities can access, but it no longer holds undocumented people past their release dates on behalf of ICE).
Garcia told The Washington Post he entered the race over his concerns about jail conditions, and would house transgender people in the jail according to their gender identity, not their sex assigned at birth, as Fairfax currently does. That matter is currently under litigation.
Many Fairfax residents will be weighing in on Democratic nominating contests for the state Senate and the House of Delegates. (All 140 General Assembly seats will be on the ballot in November.) A raft of retirements by veteran legislators has left the county with several contests for open seats in safe Democratic districts. And with redistricting changing up the legislative map, some incumbents are vulnerable to primary challenges — and have drawn them.
In the Virginia Senate, former lieutenant governor candidate Hala Ayala is facing off against Jennifer Carroll Foy, a former candidate for governor, in an expensive contest in Senate District 33. In District 35, which includes Springfield and Annandale, incumbent Sen. Dave Marsden has a challenge from small business owner and Obama White House alum Heidi Drauschak. Sen. George Barker, in District 36, is being primaried from the left by Stella Pekarsky, a member of the Fairfax County school board. And in District 37, state Sen. Chap Petersen is facing Saddam Salim, a financial consultant who has served in various roles in the local Democratic party. Fairfax Public Access television show Inside Scoop hosted a candidate forum for the primary in the 37th (note, before a second challenger, Erika Yalowitz, dropped out of the race and endorsed Salim).
In the House of Delegates, there are nominating contests for three open seats. House District 7, in western Fairfax, has four Democrats vying for the chance to replace Del. Ken Plum, who is retiring this year: Mary Barthelson, an engineer in the space industry; Paul Berry, a teacher in Fairfax County schools and a data scientist; Shyamali Hauth, a veteran who has worked in the Hunter Mill District supervisor office; and Karen Keys-Gamarra, a member of the Fairfax County school board. Inside Scoop talked to Barthelson on this episode.
In House District 15, Fairfax school board member Laura Jane Cohen is running, and so are Eric Schmidt, a tech company founder, and Henri’ Thompson, a teacher and business owner.
In House District 19, which also includes part of Prince William County, three Democrats are competing in the primary: Rozia Henson, a federal contractor and Young Democrats leader; Makya Little, a diversity and inclusion leader and advocate against domestic violence; and Natalie Shorter, who works in finance and is the granddaughter of Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas. Little joined this episode of Inside Scoop.
Meet the candidates
AT-LARGE SUPERVISOR CHAIRPERSON
Jeff McKay (incumbent)
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
I co-authored with then-Sup. Cathy Hudgins our One Fairfax equity policy in 2016. This policy is a direct reflection on my own childhood proudly growing up on the Route One corridor. It was evident to me that our community, the kids I grew up with and their families did not have the same access to services, facilities, jobs, and opportunity as other parts of the county. One Fairfax seeks to intentionally look at ways we can promote equity in our government and across our community. If re-elected, I will ensure One Fairfax continues to serve its purpose, and equity remains at the center of our policy-making decisions.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
The Board of Supervisors doubled our goal from 5,000 net new affordable units, a goal set in 2019, to 10,000 in 2022. I expect we will continue to revise that goal as we maintain record levels of investment in affordable housing. The FY2024 budget invests $175 million from all sources in affordable housing development, programs, and services. Our recent modernization of the zoning ordinance for the first time allowed “accessory living units” which represents a substantial change that will improve affordability, allow people aging in place to stay in their homes and improve the environment by lessening the need for new construction. ALUs are allowed in single family detached homes so long as the outside character of the neighborhood does not change and things like parking can be addressed. This balanced approach to creating more affordable housing opportunities and protecting the character of our neighborhoods applies to single family homes, a large portion of the County’s housing stock.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
Nationwide, in all sectors of our economy, organizations are struggling to recruit and retain employees, and Fairfax County is no different. We are using every tool at our disposal and have made progress in filling vacancies in a wide range of hard-to-fill jobs.
But nothing improves employee retention like being treated with respect and dignity by being fairly compensated. Our budget this year provides the largest pay increase for all County employees in decades, fully funds teacher raises, raises pay and starting salaries for police officers, and increases pay for all first responders.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
Since 2015, Fairfax County has instituted over 200 reforms to modernize our Police Department. In particular, we revamped our Use of Force policies to emphasize de-escalation, launched a body-worn camera program, increased transparency and improved accountability, created a two layer citizen oversight program with a Police Civilian Review Panel and an Independent Police Auditor, and more.
The rise in officer involved shootings is troubling and that is why Chief Kevin Davis has asked for an outside review of Officer Involved Shootings dating back to 2021. The recent shooting of Timothy Johnson is still weighing heavily on our community. My hope is that the review by the Police Executive Research Forum will help identify any policy or training improvements we can make to protect the sanctity of life, and improve trust between the Police Department and the people they serve.
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
During my 30 years in the Intelligence Community, I applied my administrative management skills to institute practices and procedures that resulted in better operational performance. In Fairfax County, I will encourage the Supervisors and employees to identify areas where even small procedural changes will improve the functions of their offices.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
The affordable housing initiative’s goal is the creation of 10,000 new [committed affordable] rental units in Fairfax County. However, the County requires the construction of homes that teachers, police officers, firefighters, business owners, and others who work in Fairfax can purchase. By being homeowners where they work, they will have more of a stake in the future of Fairfax. If we fail to provide homes for this segment of our workforce to purchase, they will eventually find work in the counties where they live.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
I would push to accelerate closing the wage gap between the Fairfax workforce and the surrounding counties. This would be accompanied by initiatives to increase housing for them to buy or rent in order to make them a part of Fairfax.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
Every loss of life is tragic. So far, the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney has concluded that there is no basis for criminal liability in four of the six police shootings, with two cases still pending.
Fairfax County Police Department officers work every day to protect Fairfax residents, and to perform their duties with honesty and integrity. However we must also be willing to hold officers accountable for their actions.
We do not know if these six shootings were an anomaly or an indicator of a new trend. I see this as an opportunity to be forward-looking and proactive. We need to help Fairfax police officers by providing them additional training to handle high pressure situations. Additionally, tragedy occurs when armed officers respond to mental health crises that they are not trained to handle. We need to hire more mental health professionals to work with our police in responding to mental health crises.
DRANESVILLE DISTRICT
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
When I was a freshman in high school, I joined the wrestling team hoping that it would make me a better football player. Thrust into a starting role in a weight class I was ten pounds light for, I proceeded to lose my first 18 straight matches. No matter how many times I got knocked down, I kept on working and became a stronger wrestler. On the last day of the season, I won my first match. By the time I was a senior, I was winning tournaments, and I went on to wrestle all four years in college. I’m someone who rolls with the punches, never gives up, and keeps getting back up off the mat. I make sure that my hard work pays off, and I am well prepared to make particularly sure that it pays off for my constituents.
I grew up in McLean, have deep ties to the Dranesville District, and I want to give back to the place that helped raise me. I am proud of our community, and I want to build a brighter future for all. I have always believed that representative, reflective, responsive government in a democracy can help solve collective action problems and make things a little better for people every day, particularly at the local level. Whatever life throws at us, you know I’ll keep working to help give Dranesville residents the opportunities to fulfill the dreams they have for themselves and their families.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
While Fairfax County is definitely moving in the right direction, and this year’s budget is especially encouraging, I do hope that we are able to exceed our goal of producing and preserving over 10,000 new units of affordable housing by the year 2034. The existing crunch on workforce, senior, and affordable housing not only pushes out long-time residents but also makes it harder to recruit and retain county employees, including teachers, public safety officers, and essential workers.
I intend to take an “all-of-the-above” approach to tackle housing affordability. I am committed to working with the Redevelopment and Housing Authority staff on strategic plans such as the Affordable Housing Preservation Policy to preserve already existing units and buildings. When upcoming plans are presented to the board, we should look for strategic openings to increase our stock of housing in opportunity zones, transit corridors, activity centers, and commercial areas. Finally, we should understand that a necessary component of our housing solutions includes school and transportation infrastructure improvements to ensure that our communities can sustain added development.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
We need to take a multi prong approach to make sure Fairfax County continues to be a great place to work, live, and raise a family. The long-term health of our county depends on a high-quality county workforce.
As an initial matter, I believe that collective bargaining recently allowed by the County will lead to better outcomes. Through collective bargaining, we will ensure that Fairfax County attracts the best and brightest county employees and retains them as well.
Further, to improve recruiting, I want to ensure that our departments are well equipped to engage in outreach to the community to highlight the competitive pay and benefits the county offers, employment development programs, and the experience of being a county employee. We should also recognize that people move to Fairfax County because of how inclusive it is and the opportunity it provides. As such, we should make a point to recruit a diverse workforce, and should start with Virginia’s universities and minority serving institutions.
Finally, a key, but indirect, component of our effort to recruit and retain high quality employees is continuing to expand workforce and affordable housing options across the County. As a former public servant, I know our county workers have options around the region but have chosen Fairfax County. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, I would want to make sure our employees feel appreciated and have the resources they need to do their job. I am committed to being accessible to staff to hear where we can make progress in the county and to recognize them for their work.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
As the former Chair of the Fairfax Police Civilian Review Panel (PCRP), I have worked to build trust between the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) and the community for years. I recognize and respect the strain on police officers, while also believing that all county residents, including residents of color, have a right to feel that they can trust the officers sworn to protect them. I do not condone police shootings and I am concerned about the increase in officer-involved shooting incidents. Our residents deserve to be safe and feel safe. I support families mourning their loved ones and seeking justice.
Chief Davis has announced that the FCPD will be working with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to obtain an independent analysis of the officer involved shootings in question. I support the effort and believe the Office of the Independent Police Auditor should also be included. The PCRP does not directly review investigations into use of force complaints, but it too should have access to information concerning the shootings to fulfill its mandate of making recommendations on police policies and practices. Any analysis must make recommendations for preventing such shootings, including recommendations regarding proper training and non-lethal alternatives.
The Board of Supervisors needs to closely monitor and take action to make sure our public safety officials are able to build trust in our county moving forward. The review of these shootings and push for the implementation of any identified necessary changes to the FCPD’s Use of Force Policy is important. The Board should also continue to push for investment in non-lethal technology such as tasers and bola wraps to ensure that we are able to deter unnecessary use of guns. Further, the Board should continue to support the co-responder program, so that more mental health incidents can hopefully be handled without the use of force. As a county we should continue to promote gun safety to reduce gun violence in our community. And finally, we must engage community stakeholders and local partners throughout the process of considering changes to the Use of Force Policy, which the Board should require to be reviewed at least annually.
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
In 2004, I completed my Ph.D. in physics. I had a serious bicycle accident the night before my final oral exam – the dissertation defense – and had to describe more than three years of original research to a committee of professors with a concussion and no memory of the prior evening when I had rehearsed. The years of work prior to the accident exemplify several key traits that I would bring to my role on the Board of Supervisors: the ability to rapidly learn new fields in breadth while also being able to penetrate specific topics in depth, the experience of working in multi-national groups with occasional language and cultural barriers, and perseverance against the failures inherent in trying to do something that no one has done before. The hours following the accident exemplify my confidence and belief that solid preparation can carry you through a crisis.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
Affordable housing under current County policy primarily arises as a percentage of new (at-market) residential development. Because of the limited types of tax that we can levy under state law, our ability to support services for residential uses is tied to our commercial property tax base. There is no effective way to look at these issues separately. I think we need to update our targets based on a post-Covid economy and possible changes in demand based on increased options for telework. Separate from the current policies, I would like to see a pilot program for providing housing allowances to first responders and teachers who want to live near to their station or school.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
The labor market is tight for several key categories of employees, and the County is going to have to offer better compensation and benefits to compete. For some groups of employees, the County also needs to address occupation-specific issues effectively and in collaboration with the employee groups. As just one example, firefighters are more likely than the general population to develop cancer due to exposure to toxins, so our willingness to properly equip them is critical.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
Comparing the number of shootings year-to-year is not helpful in isolation of other facts. Each shooting is a serious event that should and does receive scrutiny by multiple, independent parts of government, but each shooting also needs to be evaluated based on the facts and circumstances under which it occurred. In the last of the six shootings that you mentioned, for example, an individual is clearly seen in multiple videos emerging from a car and firing a weapon after an extended chase between two jurisdictions. Police responding to that situation cannot and should not decide whether to return fire based on the number of shootings that happened earlier in the year.
The Board of Supervisors and FCPD have already implemented strategies to train officers in de-escalation techniques and to track all use-of-force events. When a shooting does occur, it is investigated by two parts of the police department – major crimes for potential criminal liability and internal affairs for potential departmental violations. They are also investigated by the Independent Police Auditor, a separate part of the County government, and the Commonwealth Attorney, an elected official. Video, where available, is released to the public. The Board of Supervisors should continue to monitor the effectiveness of these policies and procedures, but I believe this is the correct approach.
MASON DISTRICT
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
A couple of years ago, an international corporation bought and sought to rezone Plaza 500, a business center directly behind my neighborhood in Bren Mar. Some may recognize this site as the former location of the Alexandria Social Security office. With only a 48 hour planning notice, I helped mobilize five HOAs with 875 residents to form the Save Bren Mar campaign. We learned the company overpaid by about $100 million to purchase the property to develop a large data center. Data centers are noisy, use a lot of energy, emit pollution, and don’t belong in residential communities. Data centers also hurt property values and close the door to more positive future development. I was left with no other alternative but to use my voice and advocate. The residents won for the time being, as the Planning Commission agreed to defer the project indefinitely, but the proposal could resurface at any time. After years of working for Congressman Don Beyer, I fully understand the influence and power that residents have in determining what is best for their community. I endeavor to bring this same community-first attitude and knowledge of effective government to my work as Mason District Supervisor. As Supervisor, I will be committed to working closely with residents to ensure their concerns on land use are thoughtfully considered in the Mason District and Fairfax County.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
Housing affordability is a huge issue in Fairfax County. I understand the issue personally as my wife and I were able to afford our first home with the help of the Fairfax County Workforce Dwelling Unit program. Although Fairfax County plans to build at least 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034, that goal will not be enough to keep up with the county’s growing population. As Supervisor, I will pursue policy that will preserve existing affordable housing and protect affordable dwelling units from phase out during development renovations. I will also pursue policy that will expand the eligibility of those who qualify for affordable housing. As Mason District Supervisor, I would work to strengthen housing affordability county-wide by leveraging all available resources, including developing land owned by the county, encouraging increased housing in commercial areas and transportation nodes, and expanding the workforce housing program. Through programs like these, our teachers, first responders, and county employees can keep providing critical services to our community without worrying about switching professions or being forced to live outside the county and commuting long distances.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
As a public service employee working for Mason District’s U.S. Congressional Representative, I truly understand the hard work that our county employees do and the pain felt by my fellow colleagues who are constantly plagued by inadequate pay and benefits. No one would work harder than someone who understands what it’s like to be in this public service position. I will support pay raises, and friendly work policies. As Supervisor, I believe pursuing policies such as implementing a standardized 12-week paid family and medical leave for all county employees, and modifying the holdover policy that plagues our first responders, should be primary objectives for the Mason District and Fairfax County. I will pursue policies that address hard to fill county vacancies with targeted pay adjustments. Pursuing these policies will help alleviate the strain on the county’s workforce exacerbated by the pandemic. I believe the county should work continuously to review staffing shortages and make filling vacancies a priority.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
As a Black man who comes from a family of law enforcement, I have a unique perspective on the current state of our counties’ police and community relations. I believe that public safety is a community issue in which all parties are on the same side. Both law enforcement and constituents want safe communities and to have a shared trust exist between those who protect and those who are protected.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors can be a steward of this community standard through policy actions and agenda setting. One tangible change we can prompt is to advocate for a public safety workforce that looks like the communities in which they serve, another is to expand our county mental health co-responder program and civilian review board.
Stewarding this goal includes ensuring our public safety workforce has adequate funding and personnel to be able to respond to the various needs of the county. As Board Supervisor, I will pursue policies such as increased salaries and competitive benefits to promote recruitment and talent retention. I will also seek funding to provide enhanced resources and training to our police officers so that they can confidently perform their duties every day. These policies will be coupled with efforts to ensure that those who have shown instances of misconduct are held accountable.
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
My current company, Green 2.0 is focused on bringing diverse voices into the fight to combat climate change. As a champion of bringing diversity to the climate sector, I’d be uniquely able to apply that to county government to make sure some of the voices that are often forgotten have not just a seat at the table, but a voice. I also spent 20 years in and around the local and federal government. My experience means I can hit the ground running in a way my opponents cannot.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
While I support our affordable housing efforts throughout Mason, we also need to consider where we put the housing. We cannot be stranding folks in areas without public transportation that rely on it to get to work. Transportation needs to be strategically thought through by the county when we consider how we expand affordable housing.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
We must emphasize affordability in the county and paying a more manageable wage to public employees. We need to prioritize our most essential workers and make sure we have ample affordable housing as an option, because we’ve seen the demand to live in our great and diverse community.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
We must focus on training our police to use force only when absolutely necessary. It is tragic any time an officer is put in such a situation, and we must emphasize through training that using such force should strictly be a last resort.
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
While attending Mason District’s schools, I witnessed firsthand the education achievement gap. This drove me to advocate for underprivileged students and as a High School Senior, I was elected to the Fairfax County School Board to represent all Fairfax County students.
If elected to the Board of Supervisors, I will draw on my personal experiences growing up in Mason to champion for all residents including advocating for safer road crossings, addressing overcrowding in our public schools, and working towards making mental health services accessible to all who require them. My goal is to ensure that every member of our District has a fair shot at success and a better quality of life.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
10,000 housing units by 2034 is a reasonable goal that our County leaders will need to keep focused on to achieve. However, we must also address the need for expanding subsidized workforce housing to enable teachers, mental health professionals, and first responders to live in the same community they serve. By including workforce housing as part of their overall compensation package, we can attract top-tier staff to serve the District.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
Prioritizing the expansion of the compensation package to include workforce housing options is crucial. Public employees consider a job in its entirety, and by providing subsidized housing and greater job flexibility, we can alleviate the hiring difficulties we currently face. This approach will not only improve the quality of life for our public employees but will also enable them to better serve the community and strengthen the District’s ability to provide quality public services.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
To stop police shootings, immediate action is necessary. While the ongoing independent review of FCPD’s policies and practices by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is a crucial initial step towards identifying necessary training and policy recommendations, more needs to be done. The Ad Hoc Police Practices Review in 2015 resulted in the implementation of policies such as expanded use of body cameras, new vehicle pursuit procedures, and a current use-of-force policy and though these policies were a step forward, they have proven insufficient in light of the rise in shootings.
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
I have served in various voluntary positions for various areas. I served as a chairman for the adult trade school of the Korean Association of Northern Virginia, which is located in Wilston Center in Mason District. I also served as Secretary General for the National Unification Advisory Council of the Republic of Korea for North and South America continents. I am currently the Mason District’s representative on the Fairfax County Economic Advisory Commission. I also serve as the President of the Korean American Association of Greater Washington Metropolitan Area representing over 250,000 Korean Americans in DMV area. I just completed another successful Taste of Annandale on 4/29 where close to 10,000 Mason residents came out to Tom Davis Drive and enjoyed diverse performances displayed by local entertainment groups and local foods.
One accomplishment does not exemplify [how I would approach] my role to the Board of Supervisors. With other diverse and mainstream public services I have accomplished [or am] currently involved in makes me understand how important it is to be representing Mason constituents on the Board of Supervisors and to provide necessary constituent services to Mason citizens from small items [to large] concerns.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
10,000 is not adequate. 20,000 is not adequate, but the Board of Supervisors set the minimum goal, not maximum. Almost 1.2 million people live in Fairfax County. There are about 408,000 households in the County. We need to figure out how many affordable housing [units] we need and create programs to provide [them]. Without affordable housing, we will lose laborers from every sector of our workforce.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
Hiring public employees and hiring other employees are the same. I will work very hard to provide housing in the Mason District. Mason has many outdated and out-of-compliance apartment complexes. Some of these apartment units are owned by the Board of Supervisors. ALL these properties must be reviewed and recommended to be in line with the highest and the best use policy. Mason has many places to create better affordable housing units by the thousands! I will create task force groups to discover, study and implement policies for the highest and best use of properties in Mason District.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
I love and support our police officers. I also attended Fairfax County’s police academy sessions, open to community leaders with [current] supervisors. Police officers are to protect our citizens and also themselves while protecting our citizens. If shootings are discovered to be by the fault of an officer, we must deal with it properly and quickly. The Board of Supervisors must request the police department to implement better training of all officers so that any mistake can be minimized protecting our citizens.
MOUNT VERNON DISTRICT
Dan Storck (incumbent)
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
Since the beginning of my first term in 2016, I have been able to accelerate results by implementing very successful economic development plans, Lorton Visioning, “The One” and “Potomac Banks” branding, dedicated development teams and other key growth initiatives by building key personal, professional, and organizational relationships and teams throughout Northern Virginia and Virginia that have served our District and County well. I have helped secure more than $2 billion in federal, state, regional and county public investments. Our public investments have leveraged more than $1 billion in major private investments just in the past few years, a key to further accelerating Mount Vernon District’s renewal, with much more coming. Go to www.DanStorck.org for more details.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
Fairfax County will absolutely gain 10,000 more affordable units by 2034, because we are already well on our way. In Mount Vernon District alone, the smart growth housing and community development policies that I helped initiate, plan, fund and implement in 2016 have resulted in the past two years alone building or preserving more than 1,000 units of workforce and affordable homes while more than a thousand middle income homes were built or started construction. Mount Vernon District has a wide range, variety, and great diversity of all types of housing, including many lower cost, substantial middle-income or “missing middle” homes and some of the most expensive housing in the DMV. Our vibrant, growing area will continue add all types of housing, especially along our urban core. I’m committed to leaving no one behind in our District’s revitalization.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
Fairfax County has been a very attractive place to work for decades due to our size, national reputation, innovation and opportunities for broad, flexible personal growth, career specialization options, advancement and leadership challenges. We also have very attractive benefit and retirement packages. During the COVID years, the top-tier wages which were historically part of our compensation package slipped. We have addressed this aggressively in our FY 2024 budget’s across the board and targeted wage increases, especially for our public safety staff, beginning July 1.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
2022 was a terrible year for police shootings, one very inconsistent with the previous decade which otherwise averaged one. I remain very concerned about the 2022 shootings, while believing the extensive changes that I helped initiate and implement are working. Since 2016, as a result of an extensive community-led process, substantial new police and public safety policies and practices were implemented to focus on the sanctity of life, de-escalation, more non-lethal force options, crisis intervention training, body cameras, an independent police auditor, civilian review panel and over a hundred other changes. They have been making a difference. We are also creating additional emergency behavioral crisis management teams to be first responders in mental health related 911 calls to supplant or support our police as appropriate.
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
I immigrated to the United State from Mexico as a single mother of four. Since earning my citizenship 13 years ago, I was elected Chair of the Mount Vernon District Democrats, elected to the 8th Congressional District Committee and became a Member of the Democratic Party of Virginia Central Committee, a Board Member of the VA Democratic Small Business Caucus, and served on Congressman Don Beyer’s Kitchen Cabinet.
I come from a place with little regard to zoning, urban planning or concern for the environment. I have lived among a population with desperate poverty and food insecurity. It is not a world many in Fairfax County could envision much less understand.
It breaks my heart to see large patches of old-growth trees ripped out because of special permitting for a builder. I can tell you from experience that the effects of this are not seen for many years, and they are disastrous. I have seen the effects of uncontrolled population growth resulting in more paved surfaces, more roofing area, and less tree canopy. It is not something anyone here wants to experience – especially with the changes we expect from increased Climate Change.
Food insecurity is common in Mexico, and because of haphazard planning, it winds its way throughout communities of every economic strata. It does not have to exist in the fifth richest county in the United States.
I have seen the results of uncontrolled development in a world where corruption is rewarded – we cannot allow the influence of money donations to be the future of the Mount Vernon District.
It’s time to have a full-time Supervisor willing to invest the time and effort to get things done. Just “doing business as usual” no longer works. We need improved roads, good mass transit options, and schools that offer an education experience tailored for a low-income, immigrant community. It is shameful that the fifth richest county in the country can only provide a run-down, measly shelter that smells of putrid rot to our most vulnerable who only hope for a clean place to lay their head for a night!
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), which includes Fairfax County, has committed to providing 320,000 more homes in our region by 2030 with 75% near high-capacity transit and 75% qualifying as affordable. Yet Fairfax County has not committed to meeting a specific share of this need and is falling behind on its own previously set targets. This contrasts with an earlier time when then-Chairman Connolly committed the County to planning for 48,000 additional households to ensure people could live closer to their jobs and reduce the traffic commuting into and through the County. This is especially pertinent to the Mount Vernon District because the Fairfax County decision to concentrate low-income housing along the Route 1 corridor in the 1960’s has had a lasting effect. The fact that the Mount Vernon District is a mass transit desert makes the problem even worse.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
Fairfax County needs to have a holistic approach that addresses compensation, job security, a positive work environment and career development opportunities to attract and retain the best public employees, including first responders, teachers, and mental health staff.
Competitive compensation certainly heads the list of critical elements. Once the best in Virginia and at the top of all school districts nationally, the County has fallen behind in large part due to surrounding counties offering higher teacher compensation. For all public employees a more attractive benefits package, such as flexible schedules, generous leave policies, and opportunities for professional development, would also help attract and retain the required talent. Recent public pressure has compelled the Board of Supervisors to increase compensation levels in the most recent budget markup.
The benefits of teachers and first responders living in the area where they work are obvious, but the high cost of housing continues to be a deterrent. The County should explore housing assistance programs and initiatives that are being used in other areas of the country. Down payment assistance, low-interest loans or grants to help with upfront costs and rental assistance vouchers could be tied to tax incentives for developers and landlords. Land Trusts, where the County becomes the landlord, have had limited success in other states, but community land trusts, where the homes are owned by the residents rather than the trust, could provide teachers and first responders with an opportunity to purchase homes at a more affordable price, and build equity over time. Policies such as these could help attract new talent without adverse effects on the budget.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
Use of force by police is one of the most perplexing and controversial issues facing any local government. There is no single reason for the increased use of force nationally, and there is no single solution for its reduction.
Increased training on de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention could help officers better manage situations without resorting to lethal force. Increased accountability of those officers who use excessive force, could include more thorough investigations, disciplinary action, or criminal charges when appropriate. Of course better training on the use of non-lethal force, guidelines for the use of deadly force, and stricter requirements for police officer use of body cameras have all been implemented with some success in other jurisdictions.
Many parts of Fairfax County have become minority-majority communities, so increasing diversity among our police force could help improve community relations and reduce the likelihood of racial bias in police shootings.
The most effective response to increased police shootings may be alternatives to policing such as mental health crisis response teams, social workers, or community-led conflict resolution programs.
Overall, reducing police shootings requires a comprehensive approach that involves improving police training, increasing accountability, improving community relations, and implementing better policies and procedures.
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
As a PhD engineer and small business founder, I’ve taken on and solved some of the most complex problems while growing various types of people into better problem solvers. Over the last eight years, I’ve helped grow a company that has trained STEM educators, corporate leaders, engineers, and nearly 10,000 active-duty service members to solve problems with a different set of tools and the confidence to use them. We have also impacted our local and international communities through our non-profit by providing humanitarian aid and disaster response. Whether it is problem-solving after a natural disaster, including teaching communities how to prosper using limited resources or providing free desks to local children learning at home during the pandemic, our focus is impacting and training others to be effective at working toward solutions. We have weathered some of the toughest challenges in growing the small business to its current success and surviving a global pandemic by rethinking how we operate while not laying off a single employee. What separates me from other candidates is how my small business and scientific background better transition to operations and problem-solving in county government. My experience will provide a unique perspective in addressing some of the county’s most persistent issues.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
That is not adequate, and I look forward to increasing our commitment. The Springfield District needs more housing options for families of various sizes/incomes and is dead last in affordable housing. Working families, including our first responders, educators, and county workers, deserve to live and work in the Springfield District. We need to increase inventory, work with different types of developers to improve the housing variety, and combine other county efforts (workforce, transportation, renewable energy, etc.) to increase the efficiency of our housing crisis response. Also, I would support additional resources to our county housing and zoning departments so they can be more involved in the problem-solving process. Better focused departments will result in a better focus on redevelopment toward efficient communities while minimizing our environmental impact and expanding public-private partnerships beyond combining affordable and workforce housing on county property.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
Our county government relies on the dedicated staff who make it function. I will prioritize fair market rate adjustments for our county employees and advocate for maintaining our collective bargaining ordinance. As a small business founder, I understand that when you bring employees into the process of coming to solutions, they will feel more motivated and valued, leading to solutions that benefit both sides. I will also look for efficiencies within our county as an alternative revenue stream. For example, the county can realize tangible cost savings by switching to solar power. Using renewable energy can create resilient community energy centers that increase the security of our national grid, meet the need for future electrification with less infrastructure updating, and reduce the impact on the environment. We can compensate for lost wages through these types of creative problem-solving methods.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
One instance of excessive force by our police department is too many. The Board of Supervisors must demand higher levels of transparency from our police force. I will advocate for more routine publication of public safety data and maintain a relationship built on trust with Chief David and the FCPD Data Director. I will also support more funds dedicated to training de-escalation and community building while further bolstering our co-responder program to address the significant portion of those arrested with mental health issues.
Tell us about an accomplishment in your life that exemplifies how, if you are elected, you would approach your role on the Board of Supervisors.
Graduating from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy and having the ability to serve my home community has been a great accomplishment. Working all over the County, I’ve seen the importance of services that Fairfax provides and how they can be used to help people. When people call 9-11, I’m happy to help everyone and help solve whatever the issue might be. As a Supervisor, I would take the same approach. Everyone should be treated with respect, and I’ll work to solve the problems I’m presented with.
Fairfax County has committed to building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. Do you feel that that goal is adequate? Are there other housing policies you believe the county should explore?
I think that we should try to increase the number beyond 10,000. Living in Fairfax County is getting harder and harder for the middle class to afford. I would like to help foster an environment where people can grow up in the County, work here, and have a place to live in Fairfax. We need to constantly evaluate housing affordability and work diligently to create housing opportunities for residents of all income levels.
Hiring and retention for public employees — especially first responders, teachers, and mental health staff — is an ongoing challenge for the county. If elected, what would you push for to attract and keep these employees?
As a public employee myself, I’m familiar with the hardships our employees are dealing with. Historically, Fairfax has brought people in from all over the Mid-Atlantic region to come work for the County. As other jurisdictions have developed and increased their compensation packages, as well as job creation, combined with our high cost of living, many people who would have been applicants twenty years ago, are choosing to work somewhere else. I think we should work on developing our own hometown recruiting, and encourage our younger generations to consider these career fields and show how rewarding it can be to serve the community. We should also focus on our employee pay in FCPS, public safety, and community services to include mental health clinicians, to make sure Fairfax County is competitive region wide.
Last year, Fairfax County police shot six people, equivalent to the number of police shootings in the previous five years combined. What, if anything, should the Board of Supervisors do in response?
If I were on the Board of Supervisors, I would support citizen review panels to ensure transparency with the Police Department. We should also be working with the Police Department to identify trends for why shootings are occurring. If there are common risk factors, we should work together to mitigate it. I think that we need to pay attention to work schedules, fatigue, implicit bias training, and many others. I do think we need to focus on behavioral health experts that can help solve problems in the field, rather than relying on law enforcement.
