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Earlier this year the County Manager estimated that the County was exposed to a loss of $88 million in federal grant money as a result of federal cutbacks. The County added $11.5 million to its strategic reserve to meet $33 million of the anticipated shortfall. As a fiscal conservative who has lobbied the County for years to tighten its budget, I think the FY2027 budget should be scrutinized for cuts to meet the remaining shortfall.
One place to look for cuts are the allocations to gimme groups like AHIF that lobby the County every year for increases above and beyond the cost of living. AHIF doubled its budget in FY 2024 through a one cent real estate tax rate increase. That type of tax gouging is no longer acceptable.
My top priority is beefing up the police force to meet the 11% increase in crime in 2024 reported by Chief Andy Penn and verified by FBI crime statistics. Right now the ACPD is 111 officers below its authorized staffing level of 377. My target is to fill 50% of those vacancies by FY2027.
Next I want to preserve Arlington’s tree canopy, much of which has been lost to infill development and poor management practices. According to a recent report, Arlington tree canopy coverage is only 33 percent, down from a 2017 County estimate of 41 percent.
Having clearcut more than 1,000 trees from public property in the last two decades, Arlington ignores the benefit of mature trees, which are the first line of defense against flooding.
The County’s own actions belie its commitment to sustainability. After adoption of a biophilic resolution in 2019, the County permitted the destruction of an entire grove of majestic hardwoods behind Cardinal School in Westover.
It authorized the destruction of 83 mature trees on either side of Donaldson Run Tributary B and permitted clearcutting both sides of Gulf Branch as part of “stream resiliency” efforts. The result will be the opposite—more runoff, erosion and heat absorption, and less carbon uptake.
The new Green Buildings Incentive Policy (GBP) will award additional bonus density for LEED Gold construction. forcing more people to enjoy less green space as a reward for making new buildings more energy efficient.
For proof that up-zoning a/k/a Missing Middle does not benefit moderate income households, look no further than a tear down development in the traditionally black High View Park neighborhood, where in 2018 two duplexes were built each priced at $1.2 million or double the assessed value of the single family home they replaced.
To promote affordable housing I will:
• Rezone neighborhood by neighborhood based on simple to understand floor area ratio (FAR) rules as recommended by the Laboratory for Architecture,
• Promote office to residential building conversions a/k/a adaptive reuse,
• Invest in community land trusts, and
• Restore the partial tax credit for renovation of multi-family dwellings, which County Board repealed in 2021.
I support ranked choice voting as a necessary tool for gauging voter support for candidates and the policies they promote. It’s better than first past the post elections, which have produced a non-competitive political system at all levels of government.
Rank choice voting enables voters to rank candidates in order of preference and determines the winner by transferring losers’ ballots to other ranked candidates until someone gets the quorum needed to win. Thus no votes are wasted.
Yet RCV is not a panacea for what ails democracy. If elected I’m going to insist on more information on how RCV works before the election and a full, published election tabulation report afterwards so that voters are aware of both its benefits and limitations.
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For decades, Arlington has been shaped by its proximity to the federal government. Unfortunately, we cannot allow our future to continue moving solely along this path. I believe we should focus on building an independent and thriving Arlington—one that is resilient in the face of federal changes and creates opportunity on its own terms.
This means investing in an economy that capitalizes on our unique strengths: a highly educated and diverse talent pool, a culture of fitness and innovation, and a location that connects us to the broader region and the world. By supporting local entrepreneurs and encouraging industries that are less reliant on federal spending, we can strengthen Arlington’s economic base while advancing community goals.
First, transportation. Arlington’s ability to thrive depends on safe, reliable, and sustainable ways to move around. By continuing to invest in walking, biking, and smarter road networks, we not only reduce congestion and emissions but also make Arlington more accessible and attractive for residents and businesses alike.
Second, economic growth through the County’s Capital Improvement Plan. Strategic investments in infrastructure, public spaces, and economic development help position Arlington as a place where businesses want to locate and grow. These efforts help attract and retain employers and build on our unique strengths—our talent pool, our location, and our innovative spirit.
Arlington has set ambitious goals for sustainability, energy, and resilience, and that’s the right direction. A critical part of these goals, and something I would like to see done differently, is bolster their ability to adapt to uncertain future fiscal and policy environments.
This means ensuring we are continually assesting the right data, developing contingency plans, and reviewing the viability of the goals. If we are missing the mark, we must be able to assess what the roadblocks are—resources, policies, or community buy-in—and make the necessary adjustments.
Ultimately, the County’s sustainability strategy must be both ambitious and very adaptive, so residents can see where we are succeeding and where we may need to course-correct.
Arlington is a very attractive destination for young people, and that’s one of our strengths; they are an engine of growth, energy, and innovation in our community. At the same time, the cost of living in Arlington is extremely high and that makes it harder for people to put down roots. We are losing talented mid-career residents who want to stay but simply can’t afford to.
The way forward is to support market-based growth that increases housing supply while keeping the voice of the community at the center. That means encouraging smart redevelopment near transit hubs, ensuring a mix of housing options, and creating opportunities that make it possible for residents not just to start their careers here, but to stay and grow in Arlington.
Ranked choice voting is the single most effective way to immediately address the illness that’s affecting our body politic. Too often, our elections are driven by polarization, negative campaigning, and candidates competing for narrow bases—rather than the broad support of the community. Ranked choice voting rewards coalition-building, reduces the incentive for attack politics, and it ensures that the ultimate winner reflects the true majority of voters.
Arlington was the first county in Virginia to adopt ranked choice voting, and that’s something we should be proud of. But we can’t stop there. If elected to the Board, I would seek to use ranked choice voting for every election in Arlington.
