About Me

Ever since I can remember, I have had a desire to serve others. I remember my grandfather being an Alderman in Boonton New Jersey and, back then, thinking that would be something I’d like to do when I grew up.

Fast forward 30 years. In 2000 I had the opportunity to run for City Council with the endorsement of the Citizens for a Better City, an organization founded on good government. I ran on a platform of open government, strong schools, and creating a City Center. Who knew that the City Center concept, while in discussions since the 1960s, was on the horizon and would take another 8 years to come to fruition?

These past 8 years have held many defining moments in my life, not the least being the birth of my children.

Two political moments stand out in my mind. First was the ampaign against the proposed City Charter change in 2002 which would have prevented the City Council’s ability to bring in needed development. Second has been the passage of the City Center South initiative.

I strongly believe in consensus building, but I also believe the City is founded on a system of representative government. Simply put, our citizens elect local officials to plan, negotiate, and carry out development initiatives which both ensure the fiscal viability of our City and support the unique essence of our community. That is what representative government is all about.

Over the past eight years, I have strongly supported citizen participation in all aspects of decision making. The City of Falls Church prides itself on its Boards and Commissions – the eyes, ears, and heart of this community. The process of government is much more transparent than it ever was – again, to make sure that our community is aware of all this is going on – both regarding large and small decisions.

We are a community that is moving forward. We recognize that to retain our independence – something that our community fought for over 50 years ago – we need to maintain strong schools, an active business community, and a strong, reliable, stream of revenue. These key elements in our community allow us to enjoy the things we believe define who we are - things such as the Farmers Market, the Memorial Day parade, and the Concerts in the Park. We need to incorporate the feelings of all generations in our community to sustain our “village” – the place we call home.

In looking ahead, I believe that some key elements that City Council has to address are:

Strengthen our Zoning Code. This document defines how our community looks in both the commercial and residential area. As we grow, we need to better define the types of development that can occur throughout the City. The zoning laws passed in the 1940s no longer mirrors the needs of our community. I promise to continue the zoning rewrite process and to make sure our code is clear, concise, and meets the needs of this community.

Continued strengthening of our commercial base. The approval of the City Center is not the end of development in Falls Church. We need to evaluate where we are, where we need to be, and continue to address all of the issues in the City’s Strategic Plan.

Continued support for affordable housing initiatives. Housing prices have continued to escalate, especially in our community. We need to make sure our housing stock meets the needs of all levels of income – this helps to create a diverse population which adds to the richness of a community.

Everyone in our community brings new, diverse, innovative ideas and ideals to our community. This should be fostered wherever possible. A diverse community is a strong community.

Continued support of our school system. Our community was founded because of our desire to have an independent school system. The desire is still here – as is the desire to make sure our children receive the best education possible. It is the job of Council to make sure we not only support the School Board, but also make sure the community as a whole sees what an excellent school system can do for the City. This is not a one way street. The schools give back to the community as much as the community gives to the schools.

Strengthen City support for independent small businesses. As a community, we recognize one of the things that makes Falls Church different is its lack of big box stores. Although chain stores are nice, it is the mix of independent storefronts and chain stores that makes economic development work in our community. We as a community need to foster our small businesses through tax incentives, city-wide WiFi initiatives, and leasing breaks in new business areas so the independent business owner can capitalize on new commercial space without being priced out of the market.

Continue to grow our open space. As more development occurs, it becomes imperative we sustain and improve upon our open space. We have some wonderful parks within the City but some are underutilized. We, as a community, need to make sure our parks are the best they can be and that they offer services for everyone, young and old alike.

My role on City Council is to encourage innovation and new initiatives to meet the needs of the community – needs that change every day. Our population changes regularly, and with that change comes the desire for new services. All citizens, vocal or not, need to be served by City Council. That is the job I would like to continue doing.

Many in the community have defined the City as a “village” – and I believe that a village has three key tenets: people, eclectic independent businesses, and a design that defines the community. I believe that each of these areas are key to a strong, vibrant community where people can gather, work, and participate in the goings on of our City.

That is what I support, and why I am seeking another term on City Council.