Generational change is in the air in Fairfax County, as openings on the County Board create opportunities for a new class of leaders to emerge. One of the most promising of those new voices is Andres Jimenez, a longtime environmental leader and public policy professional. Andres launched his campaign for Mason District Supervisor after longtime Supervisor Penny Gross announced her retirement in December. (Mason District includes such neighborhoods as Falls Church, Annandale, Seven Corners, Baileys Crossroads and Lake Barcroft.)
Andres is currently Executive Director of Green 2.0, an organization dedicated to diversifying the environmental movement. He is also an At-Large Member of the Fairfax County Planning Commission. Andres previously served in senior positions at the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and Ocean Conservancy.
He has worked for government bodies at the state, local and federal levels, including the New York City’s Mayor’s office, the House Judiciary Committee’s Immigration Subcommittee, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and Congressman Howard Berman. And he is a strong supporter of community organizations, including as a current Board Member for the Culmore Clinic.
His young campaign has attracted a bevy of endorsements, including from a State Senator (Dave Marsden), three State Delegates (Alfonso Lopez, Elizabeth Guzman, Paul Krizek), two County School Board members (Rachna Sizemore, Ricardy Anderson) and three unions (IBEW, LiUNA, IUPAT).
Excited by his candidacy and the opportunity for change that it represents – to bring new diversity, energy and vision to the County Board – I recently interviewed Andres.
Here is the case for his campaign, in his own words:
Why He’s Running
When I look at why do I want to run, it’s because not only do I have the passion to help my community and all of Fairfax but I also have the experience in policy and over 20 years of working on several really important issues that are important to the county.
Ultimately, I’d like to make sure that people look at Fairfax County and say: Wow look at their initiatives, look at how that they are taking up assistance from the administration, from the IRA [Inflation Reduction Act], look at how they’re building a green economy. Let’s make not only Mason District but Fairfax County an example for the nation. Our goal should never be to just do the bare minimum, our goal needs to be to find a way to be the front runners when it comes to environmental issues and all issues.
So we need someone who’s worked on these issues, someone who has policy experience and who knows how to work not only, for example, with the Planning Commission, but also with the rest of the Board of Supervisors. And that’s how you hit the ground running and get work done, when you have the experience and understand not only the policy but also the importance of the relationships that need to be made, built and grown.
Spurring Sustainable Growth
Having been a Planning Commissioner for the last three years really gives me a great understanding of not only the needs of Mason District but of the County, as we continue to grow. It’s extremely important that we’re growing in a smart way, not just growing to grow, but that we look at how does that impact everything, from housing to environmental and transportation issues, because they all are in play.
These are all issues that I want to focus on. For example, when we look at housing, we need to look at it countywide and make sure that we’re putting in affordable housing, especially in areas with Metro or bus stations, so individuals in these units are able to get to work.
Personally, one of the things with Mason District that I always love to talk about is that it has amazing potential to be a place where folks are not just driving by but are coming to as a destination point, particularly to experience all the amazing diversity, reflected in local shops and restaurants.
Improving Transportation Infrastructure and Options
We need to make sure when it comes to transportation that we are creating an opportunity for sidewalks to happen, because we need to prioritize pedestrian safety. Unfortunately, there have been several fatalities over the last couple of years and now we need to make sure that we are putting the safety of our residents first. So yes, growth is great, revitalization very important but we need to make sure that it continues to be a safe place for our community, our children.
There are more vehicles and more congestion and so I think that the more we can offer as far as expanding sidewalks, offering bike lanes, really looking at a bigger picture, longer-term plan, in areas like Seven Corners and for Baileys Crossroads where traffic is only getting worse, the better. We need to talk with communities and bring communities out and really have long discussions about what the future of this area is going to look like.
We do need to make be make sure that the left hand and the right hand know what each other are doing, meaning we need to be talking with VDOT, we need to be talking with our local officials, with the Police Department, and we need to make sure that the proper signage and the proper precautions are made.
Because it all needs to be done in a smart way so we’re thinking of all the different considerations – whether it’s transportation issues, housing issues, environmental issues – all of these things come together and we need someone who’s thinking not just in one way but looking at the overall strategy of how to make Mason a cleaner, friendlier, less traffic-clogged place to live.
Growing the Workforce
Just as we need to make sure that folks outside of this community know just how special it is here, we also need to make sure that we’re attracting and growing more small businesses, making sure that the base is a job creator.
We need to make sure that Mason is a place that is not only as welcoming as we know it can be, but that we’re also following the principle of fully funding our firefighters our teachers. Let’s make sure that we’re looking at a just transition, that we’re looking at workforce development within our county, and that we work hand-in-hand with our partners. Then we can really make Mason not just a place where folks are driving by but a destination, a place where people want to come, want to raise their families, want to work.
Stormwater Management and Flood Control
Stormwater management is something that I’m hearing from folks that they’re dealing with across the country. It’s an issue that isn’t going away and it’s really impacting residents’ lives as they’re having not only their outside flooded but also in many cases, unfortunately, their basements or other parts of their houses. At the Planning Commission, it’s something that has come up many times. We really need to work with staff, we need to get staff out to these neighborhoods, to document what is happening so that there can be raised awareness and action.
Engaging Diverse Communities and Youth
It is critical for us to engage our full, diverse community, but also youth. If we don’t do that as a party, we’re really failing our voters. We really need to let them know that they have a voice, that we hear their voice, that we want to listen to their ideas. We need to make sure we’re talking to every community in Mason, not just one of them. Too many times, we see local officials or politicians at the national level who just talk. We need folks who are also willing to listen.
I was recently at the celebration of the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque’s 40th anniversary. So, for example it’s letting the rest of Mason know just how much an institution like that offers – the fact that they do food drives, clothing drives, book drives. The faith-based community in Mason is very strong and they give back a lot.
We don’t want you just to come into a meeting and sit in the back. We want you to come to a Democratic meeting and sit in the front, we want to know who you are, we want to know your ideas right off the bat. The more we can encourage them to open up and the more we listen, the more likely they are to come back.
So we must listen, we must go to these communities instead of waiting for these communities to come to us. It’s critically important that they realize that that we acknowledge that they are not just a seat at the table but a voice at the table.
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To learn more about Andres Jimenez, check out his website, follow him on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram – and as always, stay tuned to Blue Virginia!
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