The Issues

The influx of data centers has put a strain on our utility infrastructure, and we are being forced to bear the cost. As Braddock Supervisor, and with the help of regional environmental advocacy groups, I will ensure that data centers comply with environmental and zoning rules and practices, and I'll vigorously enforce these regulations when the centers fail to do so. 

Fairfax County has a shortage of affordable housing. As Braddock Supervisor, I will work with the Department of Planning and Development to ensure all possibilities are considered to solve this crisis. The current Supervisors have done much work in solving this crisis, and there is much more work to be done. 

We need more mental health resources, including more beds at inpatient facilities and shorter wait times at walk-in facilities. Waiting for hours is agonizing for a desperate person. 

As Braddock Supervisor, I will work to expand mental health care and resources, eliminate the practice of requiring payment at the time of service, and enhance the Fairfax County Co-Responder Program. 

Our federal workers have been laid off, or are scared of being laid off by the Trump Administration. They can’t afford another tax hike. Between layoffs, incredibly high housing costs, and tariff costs being passed onto consumers, we are already facing high costs for housing, healthcare, and childcare. I will not add to that burden with tax increases. My priority is making government work smarter, not more expensive.

Gun violence is a scourge on society. We should not have to live in fear of a mass shooting or domestic violence. 

Supervisor Walkinshaw has done a great job implementing gun safety measures in communal spaces such as parks and libraries, and as your supervisor, I will go further. I will work to improve the county's co-responder program, which pairs crisis interventionists with law enforcement on calls related to behavioral health. I will also work with FCPD to allocate time and resources to removing guns from domestic abusers. Such common sense gun laws will be how we keep Braddock safe. 

Our teenagers are disengaged from the community because they are neither welcome nor invited into the conversation. How can we encourage them to participate in their community? As Braddock Supervisor, I will welcome youth into the fold by creating a program for high school students to learn about government work. I’ll  shine a spotlight on organizations and educators who are engaging our youth in fresh, creative ways. I will work with FCPS to ensure students in government classes can learn directly from county employees about the behind-the-scenes work that makes our community clean, safe, and effective. 

Additionally, our teenagers need spaces just for themselves. I worked in public library teen centers, and helped design them. With input from youth, we can create, redesign, renovate, and expand more spaces for our teenagers that don't require a purchase or other admission costs. 

We experience some of the worst traffic in the country. Public transportation is one way to ease congestion, and it has numerous economic, safety, and environmental benefits, including “travel time savings, transportation cost savings, avoided vehicle crashes, emissions reductions, fuel savings, employment benefits, and expenditure savings for transit riders.” 

As Braddock Supervisor, I will work with WMATA, VDOT, and FCDOT to identify and implement solutions to make moving around the region easier. 

Everyone, regardless of age, residential status, or political party, has a say in the government services in their community. As Braddock Supervisor, I will teach my constituents how to communicate their concerns to the Supervisors and county departments effectively. 

We should all have the opportunity to learn how local government operates. Supervisor Walkinshaw co-hosted Neighborhood College with Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. Past Braddock Supervisor Cook hosted a similar program called The Community Governance Conference. The mission of both was to teach residents about the functions of local government. Understanding how government works helps us devise solutions to the problems we encounter in our community. As your Supervisor, I will update this program and then host it regularly. My constituents will be informed, capable, and confident when presenting a matter to the Board or one of the county's numerous departments.