Arlington is gearing up for a special election to replace Senator-elect Barbara Favola on the County Board, with the caucus dates now set for 2/2 and 2/4 (at the NRECA Building and Kenmore Middle School, respectively), and with numerous candidates announcing at this past Wednesday’s ACDC meeting (see videos of their speeches here). I recently sent out questionnaires to all the announced Democratic candidates, with a deadline of this morning. The first interview, with Elmer Lowe, is available here. The second interview, with Melissa Bondi, is available here, and the third interview, with Terron Sims, is available here. The fourth interview, received a bit after the deadline, was with Kim Klingler. This interview, received a bit after the deadline, is with Libby Garvey. The final interview will follow (from Peter Fallon) this afternoon. Thanks to Mr. Lowe, Ms. Bondi, Mr. Sims, Ms. Klingler, and Ms. Garvey for returning their Blue Virginia surveys (and to the first three for returning them on time), and to the remaining candidate (Peter Fallon) in advance for his responses as well.

1. Why are you running for Arlington County Board and what makes you the most qualified candidate at this time?

I am running because Arlington is my home for almost 35 years and we are facing some big challenges. After 15 years leading change on the school board and helping to make our schools among the best in the nation, I have the proven leadership skills and experience coupled with a fresh perspective which Arlington needs on the County Board to help manage the unprecedented growth and change we’re experiencing at this time.  It is important to maintain what we value most about our community as we grow and change. In order to do that we need to be clear about our priorities and have transparent public processes.  This is how I’ve worked for 15 years.  

Back in 1996, when my children were young, there were inequities in our school system. Our capital program was a mess: the Washington Post headline said $25M missing from Arlington Schools Capital Fund

I called for a fair distribution of resources, a focus on student achievement and closing the gap; for better management, and more responsiveness to citizens. I ran for school board.

We have come a long way since. Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked with 11 different school board members and hired 2 chief executives. We’ve faced some tough issues. Our school system is complex with a budget of almost a half a billion dollars this fiscal year. We run a large transportation and food service system. Arlington Public Schools employs more people than anyone in the County except the Federal government. I have been Chair 5 times.

Our schools are now nationally recognized. People like Arne Duncan and companies like Boeing move to Arlington because of our good schools. We’ve come so far as a school system because the School Board has had clear goals and priorities and stuck to them. We are transparent. We monitor how we are doing and report to our taxpayers – even when the reports aren’t so good.

And we keep looking ahead to work strategically. For example, we pressed forward with getting Wakefield High School designed and built. Because we were ready, we could take advantage of suddenly lower construction costs and saved the taxpayers about $30M. Wakefield will be an asset to the entire community.

I think this way of working is what we need from our next County Board member.  

In sum, I am the only candidate who has proven skills leading successful change in a large complex organization working with a board and chief executive. At the same time, I bring a very different perspective which will be very helpful as we work through difficult economic times to set priorities and ensure we keep what matters most to us.

2. What would you say are the top three challenges facing Arlington County right now?

Managing growth, setting priorities, continuing to be a community that welcomes people from all income levels with excellent core services.

3. What rules do you believe should apply to Arlington County Board members with regard to campaign contributions from donors with past, present, or upcoming business before the board?

As per state law, all contributions over $100 should be publicly disclosed. Contributions should not be taken from people who have past, current or future business before the board.

4. In general, do you believe that Arlington County Board members should conform to the Arlington County Code of Ethics, including items such as “Adhere to conflict-of-interest rules and avoid activities with real or perceived conflicts of interest?”

Yes. The Arlington Code of Ethics sets out clear rules that promote personal integrity, oversight and the ethical treatment of all people. The appearance of a conflict is as important an issue as an actual conflict of interest. Citizens must have confidence in their elected officials.

5. How, in your view, should Arlington County best work within the constraints of the Dillon Rule and a state government dominated by Republicans in order to achieve the most environmentally friendly and most progressive community (e.g., in the areas of human rights and immigration) possible?

With the legislature in Republican hands, local governments will be needed more than ever to continue progressive policies. This is hard in Virginia with the Dillon Rule. For example, the non-discrimination policies of Arlington County Government and Arlington Public Schools include sexual orientation. While some in Richmond might argue that this violates the Dillon Rule, Arlington has stayed true to its principles. I have and will continue to support this. With respect to the environment, Arlington should at least consider a ban on plastic bags, which could be justified, despite the Dillon Rule, under the County’s authority to protect the environment.

I’ve often heard how bad relations are between Arlington and Richmond. Some major repairing of those relationships needs to happen. We need to listen and be sensitive to concerns from around the state while at the same time educating others about the benefits of progressive policies. Given party politics, this will not be easy, but working to build relationships over time and treating people respectfully will help.

6. Do you support requiring, or at the minimum strongly incentivizing, all new commercial buildings constructed in Arlington County being constructed to the highest possible energy efficiency and “green” standards (e.g., LEED Gold or Platinum) possible? If you favor incentives, what specific incentives do you favor? If not, why not?  

We should continue the policies of granting bonus density to green buildings and always be exploring other incentives that could be effective. We also need to do as much as we can with County facilities.  During my tenure on the school board as we rebuilt or renovated nearly all of public schools, we have built the first LEED certified public school building and maintained a high standard of LEED certifications for our newer schools. As a member of the Arlington County Board, I will always work to expand the number of county buildings that are LEED certified and encourage private businesses and developers to be pro-active in making their facilities as green as possible.

7. At the present time, do you see Arlington County as not friendly enough to small business, just about right, or overly permissive?

Delays are difficult for any business, but especially small businesses. Arlington could do a better job explaining the use permit process and streamlining or expediting approvals for small businesses.

8. Would you support putting strong incentives in place to encourage homeowners, businesses, and county facilities to install permeable pavement and other measures to prevent runoff of water?

Yes.  We have started putting in rain gardens, some green roofs and tanks to capture rainwater on our new school buildings. We have also used permeable pavement and find there are issues with maintenance. Incentives can include technical support and advice for businesses and homeowners to use these techniques.  

9. When the county orders the height of new residential buildings near Metro reduced in the name of aesthetics, what benefits do Arlingtonians see, and does that benefit offset the resulting reduced availability of housing?

I think Arlington residents understand in general the concept of increased density near metro stops. It is important to work closely with the nearby community whenever there are large buildings planned to make sure the near neighbors are included as much as possible in density decisions and understand the tradeoffs both for their immediate community and the County as a whole.   It is critical that the County be consistent and clear in its decisions on density, and not make these on an ad hoc basis. The need for affordable housing, and the opportunities to finance affordable housing in part through bonus density, must be considered.  

10. What is your definition of “The Arlington Way,” do you believe our county’s been living up to it, and what can be done to strengthen it?

The Arlington Way is how we do public business in Arlington and engage citizens in that process.  Arlington has an incredible resource in its talented, educated and active citizenry.   However, if processes are not clear and structured, that resource can be ill-used and result in time wasted and frustration. Because engaged citizens are such a valuable resource, it would be good for Arlington to set some criteria for, and measures of, successful civic processes and then evaluate how those processes are working.  We want citizens to feel their time is used efficiently and result in real substantive actions. This is not always the case.

The School Board has worked hard to be inclusive and efficient in our public processes. We have many ongoing public engagement efforts, including standing committees which work closely with staff to make recommendations on curriculum, facilities, the budget, accountability and minority achievement. We often hold work sessions as a board on large issues and include relevant citizen groups in those work sessions. We receive recommendations from our advisory groups. Because our citizens work closely with our staff, these recommendations are often incorporated into staff recommendations before we even we hear them.  

During my first term as Chair, we began holding weekly open office hours during the school year.  These are well used. In this diverse community, we use translations, meetings in neighborhoods and on-line surveys to do more to engage citizens who traditionally do not participate. However, on both the School and County side, we could always do more with better outreach, communication and support/training in how to participate.

11. Do you believe Arlington has the best possible process for determining which new capital projects to undertake and which to defer? If you believe this process could be improved, which specific improvements do you recommend and why?

No, but we are improving. We need an overall strategic plan to set clear priorities. The County and Schools CIPs should be worked jointly so there is, in the end, a single set of priority projects.   While the schools have been evaluating and scheduling and budgeting for ongoing maintenance needs for many years now, the County has not. This has resulted in many County facilities and parks not being maintained as they need to be while money is spent on building new facilities and new parks. The maintenance study the County Board recently completed is an important first step to setting County priorities. It is important to maintain what we have before we build more. It is important to know what the annual budget needs are for maintenance of buildings and parks. Whenever a new building or park is brought on-line, maintenance must be budgeted for.

Arlington Pubic Schools has had both a minor maintenance budget and one for major maintenance/minor construction for some time now.   This annual maintenance budget helps preserve our investment in our buildings. We are currently planning for our rapidly growing capacity needs.  This is a very structured process to lead to clear priorities. Our criteria are developed and laid out clearly for everyone to see. We will soon have detailed short, medium and long term plans.  

12. What is your vision for the optimal Arlington County in the short term (5 years or less), medium term (10-15 years) and long term (20 years and out)? How would you go about achieving that vision?

My vision is of a diverse community, with affordable convenient public transit systems and housing diversity that will enable those on lower incomes to continue to live and work here. Every part of the county will have access to parks including walking and bike paths for both recreation and commuting. Public safety will be a given. The future for us is in a knowledge based economy. Our schools will be world class.  Our infrastructure will be solid and there will be schedules for regular maintenance to keep buildings, sewers, water and roads functioning well. Arlingtonians will know our priorities as a community, what our goals are and how we are planning to get there. People will feel connected to their government and that participating in public processes is worthwhile and not burdensome.  Everyone coming before the board will be treated with respect both in manner and in process.  It will be easy to know how to get things done and processes will be efficient and timely.

In 5 years, I hope we will have an overall strategic plan to get to this vision, with clear priorities for the short, medium and long term.  That plan will help determine what we do short, medium and long term. I would go about achieving this vision by working as I have on the School Board:  developing an overall strategic plan with clear priorities that do not change every time the board chair changes; setting up monitoring systems so all parts of the County government are regularly evaluated and systems for continuous improvement set up. Whenever there is a big question, the citizens of Arlington usually have the answer.  We just need to make it easy for them to work through and provide that answer. I would work to make sure we communicate clearly with our public about goals and criteria and time-lines for public processes and make it easy for people to participate.  People should always understand how particular board positions and decisions were arrived at and, hopefully, even when they disagree, realize the positions and decisions are reasonable.

Looking to the medium and long term, we have some very big decisions to make because we are not going to be able to do everything we want as quickly as we want. In the medium term, we should understand our limitations and be comfortable working through them to get where we want to be.  Strategic planning and a culture of continuous improvement will be an integral part of how we work. In the long term, I hope we will have achieved the general vision I set out, or be clearly on the path to getting there, but the particulars will have been determined by working with the whole Arlington community through effective and clear planning and communications systems we will have set up.

Arlington is gearing up for a special election to replace Senator-elect Barbara Favola on the County Board, with the caucus dates now set for 2/2 and 2/4 (at the NRECA Building and Kenmore Middle School, respectively), and with numerous candidates announcing at this past Wednesday’s ACDC meeting (see videos of their speeches here). I recently sent out questionnaires to all the announced Democratic candidates, with a deadline of this morning. The first interview, with Elmer Lowe, is available here. The second interview, with Melissa Bondi, is available here, and the third interview, with Terron Sims, is available here. This interview, which was received about an hour past the agreed-upon deadline, is with Kim Klingler. The remaining two interviews will follow, hopefully soon, but obviously depending upon if/when they’re received. Thanks to Mr. Lowe, Ms. Bondi, Mr. Sims and Ms. Klingler for returning their Blue Virginia surveys (and to the first three for returning them ON TIME!), and to the remaining two candidates (Libby Garvey and Peter Fallon) in advance for their responses as well.

1. Why are you running for Arlington County Board and what makes you the most qualified candidate at this time?

I am running for the Arlington County Board because I believe that, with my broad-based community involvement and professional experience, I will bring a critical – and currently unrepresented – perspective to the County Board.  I bring a business, community, and political perspective.  We need a strong voice for health and human services, we need a leader for the preparation of the Metro Silver Line, and we need a champion for county board and school board collaboration. We need someone who is truly connected to the community, and understands the needs of all Arlingtonians, including those aging in place. I am that leader.  

I am a leader who sees the big picture, who sees what matters most to us as individuals and to Arlington as a community, and I bring people together to achieve results. I will serve from a different perspective, bringing my experience as a first responder, Arlington Free Clinic volunteer, and senior manager at a major consulting firm. I am the most qualified candidate at this time because I have a broad base of community experience, a passion to serve the community I love, and I am committed to beginning discussions by listening.

You can learn more about my qualifications at my website.

2. What would you say are the top three challenges facing Arlington County right now?

I believe the top three challenges facing Arlington County are:

a. Smart Growth and Transportation.  

Arlington has grown and changed so much in recent years. That growth brings other changes: many new high-rise buildings, more traffic, crowded schools, and the need for a renewed focus on people and public safety. As we grow in density along the corridors, we need to ensure that we are: preserving our neighborhoods, providing public services to ensure the safety of Arlingtonians, and are engaging communities and individuals early on in the discovery phases, as well as the decision-making processes. We also need to proactively prepare for the coming of the Metro Silver Line. Currently Tysons and Reston are gearing up for this transition and they have very aggressive plans in place to attract business and grow their commercial and residential density. In many ways, Arlington has provided Tysons and Reston with these great models. We now need to re-visit the models we have enacted and update and enhance them so that we can continue to be competitive in pricing for commercial investors and allow for the continued development of our vibrant communities.

b. County/Schools Collaborative Planning.

Great schools make great communities.  It is no accident that our schools are nationally ranked and we must make sure that every student has access to a world-class education. As a county board member, I would work closely with the school board to focus on long-term planning, collaborative solutions, and to make sure we have multi-purpose facilities that can accommodate both county and school needs.

c. Maintaining a Diverse and Caring Community.  

We are very fortunate to have a diverse community.  We are also at risk of losing our diversity. We need to focus on maintaining affordable housing and balancing its availability along our corridors and within our neighborhoods. In addition, our community has services that are unique to many localities. In my experience as a volunteer first responder, I have seen that we can improve in connecting those in need to the appropriate services.  Specifically, we need to work with long-term care and assisted living facilities, and those aging in place, in order to ensure Arlingtonians are aging with dignity.

3. What rules do you believe should apply to Arlington County Board members with regard to campaign contributions from donors with past, present, or upcoming business before the board?

Arlington County Board members should not solicit or accept campaign contributions from donors that have present or upcoming business with the county board, or those that have had significant past business with the county board. I am not going to accept campaign contributions from developers. I appreciate our developers and want to continue to work with them in a professional and ethical manner. Further, where there is a conflict of interest, board members should recuse themselves.  

4. In general, do you believe that Arlington County Board members should conform to the Arlington County Code of Ethics, including items such as “Adhere to conflict-of-interest rules and avoid activities with real or perceived conflicts of interest?” Do you believe the Arlington County Code of Ethics should be revised? If so, what specific changes should be made to them?

Yes, Arlington County Board members should conform to the Arlington County Code of Ethics. If elected, I will urge my County Board colleagues to appoint a special task force to examine the current code of ethics and make recommendations for any appropriate changes.

5. How, in your view, should Arlington County best work within the constraints of the Dillon Rule and a state government dominated by Republicans in order to achieve the most environmentally friendly and most progressive community (e.g., in the areas of human rights and immigration) possible?

The Dillon Rule basically consolidates power at the state level and requires local government to gain approval from the General Assembly prior to enacting local laws or ordinances.  

As hypocritical as it may be for Republicans legislators to preach about the importance of local governance, with the General Assembly firmly in Republican control, re-writing the Dillon Rule to give localities the ability to write and enact laws as they see fit is not likely to be a reality anytime soon.

While the Dillon Rule will not be going away anytime soon, that should not stop the County Board from promoting the progressive community standards and values that we are so dedicated to, and doing so in a way consistent with Virginia law. The Arlington County Board should look for every possible angle, in which to promote and enact ordinances that best represent our strong progressive values and traditions. This includes working with our locally elected state legislators to patron legislation on our behalf (i.e. domestic partner benefits, additional taxing authority, plastic bag tax), finding ways which are compliant with the Dillon Rule to enact ordinances that help Arlington maintain strict environmental protection standards, as well as looking for ways to incentivize developers to build in an environmentally sustainable way.

Additionally, I will work hard to educate the public about the limitations that the Dillon Rule imposes on our local government, and I will also work hard to find every opening in which local governments do have the power to legislate in areas such as human rights and immigration. In addition, I will speak out against the unfairness and antiquated nature of the Dillon Rule.  

6. Do you support requiring, or at the minimum strongly incentivizing, all new commercial buildings constructed in Arlington County being constructed to the highest possible energy efficiency and “green” standards (e.g., LEED Gold or Platinum) possible? If you favor incentives, what specific incentives do you favor? If not, why not?

Yes, I support strongly incentivizing and potentially requiring all new commercial buildings to be constructed to the highest possible energy efficiency standards. Arlington (and Washington, D.C. metro area) developers are aware and already building to higher LEED standards. We have already encouraged LEED Silver in order to have increased density. We need to continue down this path and push for Gold and Platinum.  But we need to go beyond LEED certification and need to have developers considering the recommendations put forth in the Community Energy Plan.  

7. At the present time, do you see Arlington County as not friendly enough to small business, just about right, or overly permissive?

Arlington County is a great place to do business. As a consultant I am trained to guide clients in determining areas for improvement, how they can streamline processes, increase efficiencies, improve the user experience, and increase cost savings. This is an area where we have a lot of potential as a county. We need to set better expectations for small businesses regarding zoning, permit, and inspection requirements, consolidate these requirements, and present them in a more user-friendly manner. I also agree with the manager’s recommendation to transition some of the more detailed decisions-making regarding signage etc. from the county board to the county manager and staff.  

8. Would you support putting strong incentives in place to encourage homeowners, businesses, and county facilities to install permeable pavement and other measures to prevent runoff of water?

Yes, I would support strong incentives to encourage homeowners, businesses and the county to install permeable pavement. Studies have shown that that permeable paving typically costs about 20 percent more, but can result in longer term cost savings. As we prioritize our capital maintenance needs, we need to consider permeable paving in the budget and planning process.  

9. When the county orders the height of new residential buildings near Metro reduced in the name of aesthetics, what benefits do Arlingtonians see, and does that benefit offset the resulting reduced availability of housing?

We need to continue to reflect our values: ensuring public safety, conserving our neighborhoods, maintaining diversity, and promoting vibrant communities along the corridors.  In order to do these things, we must find an appropriate balance. In order to maintain levels of affordable housing, we will need to agree to increases in density. However, as density increases, we must be prepared for the increased stress on our Metro, our roads, and public services. Although there may be aesthetic benefits to tapering buildings, and limiting the height of new residential buildings, we need to be more cognizant of the safety and quality of life of those living in the new buildings and the surrounding community.  

10. What is your definition of “The Arlington Way,” do you believe our county’s been living up to it, and what can be done to strengthen it?

The Arlington Way is a commitment to diversity, to creativity and using public/private partnerships to solve problems, and to including all in the decision-making processes.

We do these things very well, but we can do better. We have the technology and the creativity to use other avenues to engage Arlingtonians earlier in the discovery and decision-making processes. One example of this is the year-round homeless shelter. A year-round homeless shelter is very much needed in Arlington, but the residents in the proposed area should have been engaged prior to finding out about the plan through the media.

11. Do you believe Arlington has the best possible process for determining which new capital projects to undertake and which to defer? If you believe this process could be improved, which specific improvements do you recommend and why?

No, I do not believe Arlington has the best possible process in making such determinations.  The current process is not objective enough in its criteria and does not put the correct weight on capital maintenance and resolving our school capacity issues. As stated in the recommendations made by the Capital Improvement Planning Workgroup, which I was a member of, we may need to defer special projects in order to focus on the appropriate priorities and catch-up and keep-up with our capital maintenance needs. You can view the recommendations here.

12. What is your vision for the optimal Arlington County in the short term (5 years or less), medium term (10-15 years) and long term (20 years and out)?  How would you go about achieving that vision?

Short term:

· As discussed in Question 10, we need to maintain and enhance the Arlington Way.

· Catching up and keeping up with our capital maintenance backlog.

· Developing Arlington’s Metro Silver Line plan and aligning it with the Crystal City Plan, the East Falls Church Plan and taking into account the Tysons and Reston Plans.

· Addressing our school capacity issues and putting a plan in place to have more multi-use county/school buildings and parks.

· Developing a task force or a plan that looks across Emergency Medical Services, Department of Human Services, and Department of Environmental Services in order to find ways to better identify those aging in place, provide them with the appropriate services, and consequently prevent the need for unnecessary emergency transports.

Medium Term:

· Continuing to be a model for smart growth and transportation, while addressing our capacity issues on the Orange/Silver Metro Line.

· Continuing to conserve our neighborhoods and our diversity.

· Implementing the Community Energy Plan and also looking at other regional approaches e.g. energy sharing, emergency communications, transit solutions.

Long Term:

· We want to be able to keep our identity while knowing that more and more people may be using Arlington as a place of transit, rather as a home or a place to do business.

· We must put the plans and processes in place now to handle the additional foot, bicycle and automotive traffic we may potentially see.

· The work that we do in Arlington will continue to be a model for the metro-D.C. area, as well as the nation. Therefore, all of our approaches need to focus on innovation, energy conservation, and maintaining our caring community.  

Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, December 13.

*Virginia’s public pension fund short $20 billion (Heckuva job, Bob!)

*The disinfectant power of sunlight

*Dems hit Allen on spending, he jabs Kaine on health care

*Campaign spending rose in 2011 Virginia Senate races, plunged in House contests

*Democrats want longer terms for Va. governors

*McDonnell will speak at slain Virginia Tech police officer’s funeral

*Retailers in Norfolk vent to Warner on taxes, red tape

*Spending up in Senate races; down in House

*PolitiFact: Allen errs in saying U.S. made $2 billion energy loan to Brazil

*Funeral held for fallen Va. Tech officer

*Campbell County teen safe after escaping captors in Philippines

*Lawmakers press military housing company on mold

*McDonnell restores tree-lighting ceremony

*Gas tax is best answer (Which means, of course, that the General Assembly and Bob McDonnell will never do it.)

*Virginia Transportation: Pay to pave (Even the Republican Times-Disgrace agrees; but it will still never happen.)

*What the Republican payroll tax plan would mean for federal workers (“federal workers would face a one-year extension of the current two-year pay freeze, meaning no raise until January 2014 at the earliest, and a 1.5 percent increase in employee pension contributions that would be phased in over three years starting in 2013”)

*Cuccinelli IS the Conservative Mood

*Am I The Only Person Taking Tim Kaine Seriously? (Let’s hope that this is the case on the Republican’t side of things!)

*Spectators try to spot Spielberg, other celebrities

*Arlington County Board Candidates Weigh in on Proposed Shelter

Arlington is gearing up for a special election to replace Senator-elect Barbara Favola on the County Board, with the caucus dates now set for 2/2 and 2/4 (at the NRECA Building and Kenmore Middle School, respectively), and with numerous candidates announcing at this past Wednesday’s ACDC meeting (see videos of their speeches here). I recently sent out questionnaires to all the announced Democratic candidates, with a deadline of this morning. The first interview, with Elmer Lowe, is available here. The second interview, with Melissa Bondi, is available here. The rest will follow shortly. Thanks to Mr. Lowe, Ms. Bondi, and Mr. Sims for returning their Blue Virginia surveys (on time is an added bonus!), and to the other candidates in advance for their responses as well.

1. Why are you running for Arlington County Board and what makes you the most qualified candidate at this time?

I am running for a seat on the Arlington County Board because I want to serve our county in a greater capacity, and I feel that my public and private sector experience will allow me to make an immediate and positive impact.  I will bring a unique perspective in several respects.  

I am a West Point graduate with a Bachelors degree in systems engineering. I currently work for a private sector research company leading a team in developing an analytical database for the Department of Defense. As an Arlington home owner and taxpayer, I understand the challenges many of us face in making that mortgage payment each month. As past Chair of the Arlington Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee, I learned that as well managed as our county government is, there are ways we can make more effective use of our tax dollars.

Having served in Iraq as the officer responsible for government and civil operations in a Baghdad district of over one million people, I have a deep respect and appreciation for the power that local government has in making a positive impact on people’s lives.   My experience in leading our efforts in Baghdad, building neighborhoods from nothing, taught me the fundamentals of local government, from providing clean water and ensuring functioning sewage systems to building roads and creating schools.

For years, I have mentored and tutored Arlington youth in schools and community centers throughout the county.  Many of these exuberant and intelligent children live in affordable housing; they are an important part of Arlington’s future.  Tutoring these children has taught me, in very stark terms, that we owe it to our youth to ensure sufficient resources are available so they are well prepared to lead successful lives.

As a member of the 8th Congressional District Steering Committee,   Chair of the Virginia Democratic Party’s Veterans and Military Family Caucus, President of the Northern Virginia Black Democrats, and the  2008 Co-Director of Virginia Veterans for Obama, I’ve gained invaluable experience from being on the frontlines of our political process.  

I approach problem solving with an emphasis on a careful, objective and strategic analysis of the facts.  I ask not only what do we hope to achieve, but why do we hope to achieve it, how do we hope to achieve it, and what are the attendant costs, both human and monetary.  

2. What would you say are the top three challenges facing Arlington County right now?  

Three of the top challenges facing Arlington County are:  (1) ensuring proper funding for our schools in light of the anticipated growth in the student population over the next five years; (2) making progress on affordable housing; (3) continuing the tradition of smart-growth in the county, balancing the needs of our citizens with the needs intrinsic in remaining a center of economic prosperity.  

3. What rules do you believe should apply to Arlington County Board members with regard to campaign contributions from donors with past, present, or upcoming business before the board?

County Board members should disclose and abstain from any matter before the County Board involving a person or entity from which they have received a significant campaign contribution.  

4. In general, do you believe that Arlington County Board members should conform to the Arlington County Code of Ethics, including items such as “Adhere to conflict-of-interest rules and avoid activities with real or perceived conflicts of interest?” Do you believe the Arlington County Code of Ethics should be revised? If so, what specific changes should be made to them?

This question is answered within the context of the Code of Ethics posted on the Arlington County website in a memo signed by Ron Carlee.

The aspirational principles set forth in the memorandum provide strong guidance for the behavior of public employees, including our County Board members. I support these principles and do not think they currently require revision, although they should be regularly reviewed and subsequently updated as needed.

5. How, in your view, should Arlington County best work within the constraints of the Dillon Rule and a state government dominated by Republicans in order to achieve the most environmentally friendly and most progressive community (e.g., in the areas of human rights and immigration) possible?

The Dillon Rule complicates Arlington’s ability to adequately address its own issues and concerns.  Nevertheless, I think it is unlikely the Dillon Rule will be overturned, at least not in its entirety and particularly not by a Republican-dominated legislature. Fortunately, Arlington County has one of the most highly educated populaces in the nation. We are a community fully capable of determining and utilizing creative, progressive, and often game-changing solutions to our problems.  

In the short run, Arlington County should seek to advance legislation to address specific concerns.  In the long run, the Democratic Party and the Arlington County Board should work to send legislators to Richmond who understand the limitations of the Dillon Rule and seek to limit its effect.

6. Do you support requiring, or at the minimum strongly incentivizing, all new commercial buildings constructed in Arlington County being constructed to the highest possible energy efficiency and “green” standards (e.g., LEED Gold or Platinum) possible? If you favor incentives, what specific incentives do you favor? If not, why not?

This is an area in which Arlington can become a world leader. As a result, I support construction of buildings in Arlington which meet the highest possible efficiency and green standards. Whether or not Arlington County should subsidize these buildings through tax or other incentives is an economic question which needs careful review. The County Board must understand that decisions involving tax subsidies for buildings will reduce the tax base that is available to pay for schools, affordable housing, and other environmental programs; therefore, decisions should be made only after careful review and in-depth cost/benefit analysis.

7. At the present time, do you see Arlington County as not friendly enough to small business, just about right, or overly permissive?

Arlington needs to be a place where small businesses can thrive. One of the many terrific aspects of our county is how Arlington is filled with such an array of small businesses. We all benefit from having many wonderful restaurants and retail shops, but we also benefit from having some of the nation’s most innovative small companies located right here in Arlington. We should constantly review our policies and regulations in order to ensure that Arlington is small business friendly.

8. Would you support putting strong incentives in place to encourage homeowners, businesses, and county facilities to install permeable pavement and other measures to prevent runoff of water?

I strongly support promoting environmental measures which are designed to prevent the run off of water, when economically feasible. Funding this, and other similar projects, is one of the reasons it is so critical that Arlington County is run as efficiently as possible.

9. When the county orders the height of new residential buildings near Metro reduced in the name of aesthetics, what benefits do Arlingtonians see, and does that benefit offset the resulting reduced availability of housing?            

The benefits of aesthetics to Arlingtonians are real. They create more desirable neighborhoods which increases demand for housing in those neighborhoods, ultimately increasing tax revenues.   Arlington’s General Land Use Plan was created with the idea of tapering buildings into the surrounding residential neighborhoods. It was a good formula, striking a balance between commercial and residential needs. The task for the County Board is to develop policies which are consistently applied across neighborhoods in Arlington.  Residents and investors should be able to understand and anticipate the decisions and the decision making process.  These policies, of course, would include consideration of the effect of height restrictions on available housing.

10. What is your definition of “The Arlington Way,” do you believe our county’s been living up to it, and what can be done to strengthen it?

“The Arlington Way” is an expression which captures Arlington’s desire to include all constituencies in decisions which will affect them. It encompasses transparency and community dialogue, and a process giving the time to encompass both. I think that the County has generally strived to make decisions according to “The Arlington Way”. I would certainly embrace the benefits of both transparency and community dialogue as a member of the County Board.

11. Do you believe Arlington has the best possible process for determining which new capital projects to undertake and which to defer? If you believe this process could be improved, which specific improvements do you recommend and why?

The Capital Improvement Program as outlined by the Department of Management and Finance provides a strong framework for new capital projects. As with any set of guidelines, Arlington County should update and improve the framework, as required. Certainly, choosing which capital improvement projects we undertake is a significant decision requiring careful consideration of the associated costs and benefits, as well as how those costs and benefits align with our recognized priorities.  

12. What is your vision for the optimal Arlington County in the short term (5 years or less), medium term (10-15 years) and long term (20 years and out)?  How would you go about achieving that vision?

Let me state that I believe Arlington County is one of the best places to live in the country.  We do an awful lot right.  Yet, I do believe we can make it an even better place to live, work and raise a family. As mentioned previously, the next five years will be a critical juncture for our schools as we must rise to the challenge of creating an estimated 3,500 additional seats for students. We must seek creative solutions, maximizing existing spaces and more stringently analyzing current construction plans for schools and other county buildings. It is important to recognize that our current growth trends, while presenting many real and often complicated challenges, could also afford us many strengths which can help maintain a positive outlook for the County in five, ten, fifteen or even fifty years, if they are properly planned for and managed.

Arlington is gearing up for a special election to replace Senator-elect Barbara Favola on the County Board, with the caucus dates now set for 2/2 and 2/4 (at the NRECA Building and Kenmore Middle School, respectively), and with numerous candidates announcing at this past Wednesday’s ACDC meeting (see videos of their speeches here). I recently sent out questionnaires to all the announced Democratic candidates, with a deadline of this morning. The first interview, with Arlington NAACP President Elmer Lowe, is available here. The second interview, which you can read below, is with community activist Melissa Bondi. The rest will follow in coming days as soon as possible. Thanks to Mr. Lowe and Ms. Bondi for returning their Blue Virginia surveys (on time is an added bonus! :)), and to the other candidates in advance for their responses as well.

1) Why are you running for Arlington County Board and what makes you the most qualified candidate at this time?

I want to serve on the County Board to engage our community in resolving major questions about Arlington’s future.

I love Arlington. As a County Board Member, I would bring my experience as a neighborhood leader, my professional policy expertise, my collaborative style and a ten-year track record of resolving challenges in my own neighborhood and across Arlington. I believe I am the only candidate who would bring all these assets to the County Board.

Arlington’s prime location next to our nation’s capital and its visionary planning around Metro in the 1960s and 1970s has led to enormous success. However, these factors alone will not carry us through the next 50 years. We need a community conversation to update our vision. I want our community to consider life beyond the Metro corridors, and to consider the next generation of our economic, social and environmental sustainability. I’ve seen repeatedly that some of our best ideas come from the public — I will work to ensure they have adequate resources to broaden community conversations and to forge tailored solutions that fit our neighborhoods and shared goals.

As a County Board Member, I would also lead new efforts to preserve and pursue additional committed affordable housing, and to ensure our outstanding schools, parks and other capital investments, our triple-AAA bond rating and excellent transportation choices and systems. I would stand up for equality and further pursue equitable, social justice no matter one’s age, income, race, ethnicity, physical ability or orientation. I would work with all of the Arlington community to continue to achieve success while maintaining our values and welcoming new ideas.  

A sample of my credentials and qualifications is listed here. My full bio is available at my website:

I was president of the Lyon Park Citizens Association in 2006 and 2007, and also served as the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee representative; I am a past member of the Lyon Park Board of Governors and longtime member of the executive committee. I was a major contributor to the Clarendon Sector Plan Review Process, and chaired the parks subcommittee. I have participated in dozens of site plan projects, zoning ordinance amendments and long range plan reviews across Arlington, from Lee Highway to Shirlington.

I have advocated for groundbreaking policies like Public Land for Public Good. I contributed my own ideas and collaborative style to help in writing our landmark Affordable Housing Ordinance and our 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. As chairman of the Housing Commission, I worked to preserve our diversity and create hundreds of units of affordable housing, and tenant protections from Buckingham to Columbia Pike. I’m also a member of the Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance and the LGBT Caucus of Virginia, and have pursued Elder Readiness and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, all to ensure that every Arlingtonian has a safe community to call home.

I’m a current member of the Clarendon-Courthouse Civic Association, and I serve as a delegate to the Civic Federation, including as a member of the Planning and Zoning Committee. I’m a member of the Arlington Economic Development Commission and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Community Action Committee. I’m a member of the Committee of 100 and the Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance. I am a founding member of Keep Clarendon’s Character and was an active member of the Coalition for Arlington Good Government. I am a member of the Sierra Club (Mt. Vernon) and the VA League of Conservation Voters.

Professionally, I have built my career in regional nonprofit public policy and advocacy, specializing in the environment, community development and the needs of vulnerable and low-income populations. I have led numerous initiatives on local, state and federal budget, affordable housing, urban planning, and community development issues.

For seven years I worked on national environmental policy issues. I also served as Housing Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, researching, developing, and promoting best practices throughout the Washington Metropolitan region in the areas of planning, zoning, transportation and transit, walkability and pedestrian safety, parks, trails and open space, small business retention, and community participation in local decision-making. As a federal housing policy consultant for Smart Growth America, I led research, analysis and recommendations for federal housing policy for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities, including brownfields development, federal housing financing instruments, and other housing initiatives.

Currently, I’m a Project Coordinator for the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, focusing on improving the ability of nonprofit partnerships to partner with government to deliver safety net and related services to local residents. I served as director for the regional Think Twice Before You Slice campaign, a joint initiative of the Nonprofit Roundtable and the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, which emphasized analysis, education, and community engagement on the impacts of local and state budget decisions across the Metropolitan area on low-income and vulnerable populations. I also helped to create the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis in 2006 as a consultant to the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.

2) What would you say are the top three challenges facing Arlington County right now?

In my opinion, the top three challenges facing Arlington County right now are:

1) Mitigating the continued threats to, and losses in, Arlington’s affordable housing stock. Having an adequate supply of affordable housing aids the stability of our local work force, frees up personal income to achieve other economic goals, and increases the efficiency of our transportation networks. A significant portion of our diverse Arlington population, from immigrants to seniors to persons with disabilities and young families need access to safe, decent affordable housing. Unfortunately, Arlington has lost ~10,000 units of market-rate affordable housing in the years between 2000-2010, through redevelopment, condo conversion and market rent increases. The economic recession has not ended the risk of more families losing access to affordable housing.

2) Addressing the current and projected rising public schools capacity. This includes assessing and evaluating alternatives for adding capacity on Schools (and possibly County) property. It also includes budgeting the appropriate resources and creating a realistic timeline for increasing schools capacity to achieve important education outcomes, and delivering the highest-quality K-12 learning environment for all students. It also includes determining the resulting additional costs for educators and other staff, utilities and other program support for new classrooms, and working through how those resources will be paid for, and over what period of time. The challenge also includes balancing schools needs with other important Arlington capital priorities, and the need to maintain natural areas, play fields and other green space on schools sites.

3) Ensuring the ongoing operational, maintenance and capital health of our Metrorail system, on which our economy, environment and community depends. This includes the more than $7 billion in estimated capital costs for maintaining the current Metro system and its existing capacity. Accommodating projected rider demands for service is estimated to cost nearly $4 billion more in capital needs (from adding more buses to escalator service.) Metro also is experiencing back-to-back years of operating deficits that Arlington and other participating jurisdictions must work together to address while balancing overall local budget needs and priorities.

3) What rules do you believe should apply to Arlington County Board members with regard to campaign contributions from donors with past, present, or upcoming business before the board?

I will review each and every one of my contributions and do my best to limit those which would reasonably trouble Arlington voters.  With a broad donor base coming from many sources, I hope Arlingtonians will see that I can be objective in my decision-making on the Board. I believe the solution to this issue is candidates exercising good judgment, disclosing contributions to the public, and letting voters decide if they agree.

I will not take contributions from developers in Arlington, and from others whose businesses (such as taxi and towing companies) are extensively regulated by Arlington.

I also reserve the right to turn down other campaign contributions that, due to their size or because of other circumstances, might lead voters to question my objectivity on any important County Board decision.

The set-up of Virginia’s state campaign finance, whether we like it or not, has very few rules. Contributions must be disclosed, but there are no legal limits on the amount anyone can collect from almost any source, and likewise few limits on how campaign money can be spent.  This means it is up to candidates and voters to decide, voluntarily, what contributions are appropriate.

As a local government entity with broad regulatory power over land use, the County Board makes decisions that touch almost everyone who lives, works, or even plays here.  From time to time, almost any citizen, business owner or visitor could potentially have “business” before the County Board.  For example if the County Board is to consider a permit for live entertainment and amplified music at a restaurant, the restaurant owners, patrons, nearby neighbors, and even competing restaurants may choose to write to or speak to the County Board.  

I think it is often appropriate for members of our community to become active in volunteering for or otherwise contributing in modest amounts to County Board campaigns. Therefore, I have not adopted a blanket rule of foregoing contributions from anyone who may have “business” before the County Board, since that definition is broad enough to include every person in Arlington.

Developers and other County-regulated businesses come before the Board not just once in a lifetime, but over and over, with high financial stakes.  Their interests may be different, not merely from a set of individual neighbors, but from Arlington’s voters as a whole. I will not accept contributions from such persons.

4) In general, do you believe that Arlington County Board members should conform to the Arlington County Code of Ethics, including items such as “Adhere to conflict-of-interest rules and avoid activities with real or perceived conflicts of interest?” Do you believe the Arlington County Code of Ethics should be revised? If so, what specific changes should be made to them?

Yes, I believe the Code of Ethics is one appropriate guide for Board members’ conduct. One of the greatest barriers to citizen participation in government is loss of trust in the process and in elected officials themselves. It is essential that elected officials always act in accordance with what they believe is the best interests of the community. As a civic activist, I’ve tried to model the goals of personal integrity and ethical treatment of all people in my own work. While people may sometimes disagree with policy decisions the Board makes, those decisions should never be at risk of being questioned on the basis of conflicts of interest or bias.

5) How, in your view, should Arlington County best work within the constraints of the Dillon Rule and a state government dominated by Republicans in order to achieve the most environmentally friendly and most progressive community (e.g., in the areas of human rights and immigration) possible?

Under the Dillon rule, the power of local governments is limited to those specifically granted by the Commonwealth. Local initiatives not expressly authorized require state legislative approval. This poses constraints on environmental initiatives that Arlington County might otherwise be inclined to take. For example, a ban on plastic bags or a bag tax, as the District of Columbia recently implemented, would require state approval, and a bill to allow that (HB 1498 Ware-D) failed in the 2011 legislative session.

Arlington has found ways to achieve progressive policy goals notwithstanding the Dillon Rule by using its assigned powers in creative ways, leading by example as an organization, encouraging voluntary action, and by successfully working with others to make changes to state law. For example, Arlington has successfully used its explicit land use regulatory powers to achieve LEED certifications, affordable housing, and transit demand management programs. These processes provide a great opportunity for improving the look, feel, and efficiency of new buildings, promote smarter growth and transit use, and improve our environment.

Similarly, Arlington has been able to use its procurement policy to promote a living wage for employees of county contractors. Other programs like the Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions (Fresh AIRE) and the Green Home Choice Program enlist the support of Arlington citizens while avoiding Dillon Rule prohibitions. We should continue to use all these sorts of tools in the future, as new opportunities are identified.

In my work with the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the Nonprofit Roundtable and as a Board member of the Virginia Housing Coalition, I have worked successfully at the General Assembly level in partnership with the Arlington and other Northern VA legislators and local government officials, and other advocates to pursue sound progressive housing, human services, land use and transportation policy. I’ve also partnered occasionally with statewide entities like the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Realtors and other allies to build stronger coalitions, with more bi-partisan credibility, to pursue better policy results than would Arlington on its own. In many cases I had to work across the aisle with Republican legislators and the Governor’s staff to pursue good policy outcomes and/or to mitigate undesirable outcomes.

6) Do you support requiring, or at the minimum strongly incentivizing, all new commercial buildings constructed in Arlington County being constructed to the highest possible energy efficiency and “green” standards (e.g., LEED Gold or Platinum) possible? If you favor incentives, what specific incentives do you favor? If not, why not?

Yes. I strongly support the incorporation of energy efficiency and other ‘green’ standards in our commercial buildings, and have been at the negotiating table on dozens of site plans around the County to advocate for, and to review the specific elements of, the energy efficiency and other LEED scorecard provisions in commercial buildings. I have also advocated for the use of EarthCraft standards in residential construction, including in the construction of affordable housing, to reduce costs for tenants as well as to reduce our consumption footprint and dependence on fossil fuel-generated utilities.

Arlington’s standards for building design, especially in Metro corridors, includes many provisions that are also worth points on the LEED scorecard – from underground parking to building near transit, many Arlington buildings would be achieving these goals anyway. So the additional effort to get to the minimum Certified standard is not much of a leap. We have approved Silver, Gold and Platinum buildings in Arlington, and as a County Board member I would continue to push for higher levels of achievement in site plan projects. My priority would be to pursue the energy conservation- and source- related metrics, since those choices have some of the greatest impacts on our environmental foot print.

In 2003, when this incentive was most recently updated, the many marketing, economic return and other benefits of LEED certification were still not yet commonly understood by developers. I believe today we are in a different place. It’s clear that the level of interest in our environmental practices and the degree to which building owners recognize their ability to recover the cost of their investment is increasing.

I have also advocated at the state level for the Virginia Housing Development Authority to adopt a stronger LEED & Earthcraft point system for awarding competitive affordable housing tax credit financing to affordable housing projects. VHDA is the premier housing financing agency in Virginia, and their adoption of higher environmental expectations would improve our energy and environmental footprint across the state, while also rewarding jurisdictions like Arlington that have adopted many best practices into all aspects of planning and development already.

7) At the present time, do you see Arlington County as not friendly enough to small business, just about right, or overly permissive?

All across Arlington, our small businesses define our sense of place and neighborhood identity – from Galaxy Hut to Westover Beer Garden. They add greatly to the vibrancy and appeal of our community while contributing significantly to our local employment and tax base. Small businesses often invest significant resources to build, maintain and update storefronts, navigating through regulations and public opinion.

I believe Arlington has achieved success in promoting a culture of small business, but we have room for improvement.

I think Arlington’s government is not of just one character when it comes to small businesses: when it comes to regulations, in some areas I think the County is not friendly enough; in other areas, overly permissive, and in some places I think we are just about right. And outside of the regulatory area, I think there is more we can do to support and promote the small businesses that make Arlington such a great place to be.

As examples of how we currently overburden small businesses, I would point to substantive rules, such as the (recently-repealed) ban on umbrella signs and limits on parking signs, as well as the message sent by the manner in which some rules get enforced, which has struck some business owners as excessively mechanical and unappreciative. At times, small businesses have also felt legitimately burdened by permitting processes that are overly complicated, time-consuming or bureaucratic. As a County Board member, I would strive to enact clear rules that businesses can easily follow, but also allow for flexibility (through appeals to the Board, e.g.) when special conditions arise.

At the same time, I have seen other areas in which the County has gone too far in the other direction, by, for example, failing to prevent so much encroachment of restaurant activity into the public sidewalk that pedestrians and persons with disabilities could no longer safely and comfortably travel.

In still other areas, I believe we have actually struck a pretty good balance for small businesses. For example, our use permit approach to restaurants and bars has led to some important compromises between neighborhood residents and businesses to address live entertainment, security, parking, trash and other nuisance complaints. In general, when we have ensured businesses and neighborhoods were working together to find solutions that can work for all parties, we have had long-term success. But even here, I have seen room for improvement in the government’s ability to set appropriate expectations for how that conversation will ultimately play out – in order to invest effectively, businesses need to be able to better predict what they will ultimately be allowed to do.

We can and should also continue to look for ways to actively support small businesses in our County. I think Arlington has been innovative in thinking about the physical form of retail to maximize flexibility for future tenants, and working to secure a variety of retail floor-plate sizes so that small, start-up businesses can both afford and find space to accommodate their scale and business models. I have also worked on project negotiations in Clarendon where businesses displaced by new development would receive assistance with relocation and be offered space in the new building upon its completion.

8) Would you support putting strong incentives in place to encourage homeowners, businesses, and county facilities to install permeable pavement and other measures to prevent runoff of water?

Yes. As a volunteer, I worked to help create this policy in the Streets element of Arlington’s Master Transportation Plan, adopted in 2011 (see Policy 14.) The County reinforces this in its other planning documents (see Rosslyn as one example.) I believe our storm water management planning will be greatly enhanced as modern permeable paving technologies are employed in residential, commercial and other public sites. As a Board member, I would vigorously implement these plans.

Besides natural soils, grass and plantings, there are many forms of man-made permeable pavement products – from gravel and pervious concrete to open-jointed blocks and porous/synthetic turf (as is being employed in Arlington play fields today.) Some technologies are better than others at handling heavy vehicle traffic, and all may wear down or require maintenance over time to retain their maximum permeability. I take seriously the recommendation of disability advocates who urge caution in choosing the appropriate technology to ensure accessibility and even surfaces for people who use wheelchairs, canes or other mobility aids.

As a Board member, I will continue to pursue innovative strategies to promote permeable pavement based on the topographical location, the volume of car, pedestrian or other users and the relative purchase and maintenance cost. Analysis has shown significant long-term economic and environmental benefits to employing permeable pavement, grass, gravel and other measures.

9) When the county orders the height of new residential buildings near Metro reduced in the name of aesthetics, what benefits do Arlingtonians see, and does that benefit offset the resulting reduced availability of housing?

One of the primary roles of local government is land use planning.  Government has an obligation to ensure not only that our infrastructure (such as roads, trains, utilities and public safety services) is sufficient for the intensity of development, but also that those who wish to live, work and play in our community can do so in a way that is compatible with their neighbors.  Even though all of Arlington is centrally located entirely within the Beltway and sits adjacent to our Nation’s capital, it has designated majority of its land area as limited to single-family home development, with additional limits on height and lot coverage.  While some would say that this is an excessive limitation on density for such a close-in area, I believe these limits are largely appropriate to maintain Arlington’s historic neighborhood character and the ability to attract residents and employers who like what they already find here.

Similarly, I believe that there are reasonable limits on building form and design in the denser portions of our community. Not every transit node in Arlington should or can be planned to resemble Rosslyn, Ballston or even Clarendon. We should have variety to meet the varied needs and desires of Arlingtonians in their built environment. In fact in Rosslyn the allowed building heights have reached the point where federal authorities have expressed cautions about air navigation.  To me, this is a sign that Arlington is actually willing use building height to its outer limit as a planning tool.

When I served on the Clarendon Sector Plan Task Force, I worked successfully to include building height and taper requirements that preserved neighborhood character, a pleasant urban environment with extensive ground-level activity and architectural respect for historic structures.  One of the lessons we learned in Clarendon was that height was not the same thing as density, and we were able to include density incentives for affordable housing (among other goals), while still being able to control building form and height in a manner that enhanced the community vision.

As chairman of Arlington’s Housing Commission, I also worked on groundbreaking state and local legislation that allowed Arlington to dramatically increase the rate of development contribution to affordable housing.  The formula we arrived at recognized that not all of our affordable housing goals can or should be met through on-site units in new construction (although some of it certainly should). Rather, the formula recognizes that preserving existing historically affordable housing, especially near where new construction is occurring, can sometimes be the best way to simultaneously preserve neighborhood character and ensure diversity in our community.

And so I believe there are a variety of valid reasons to limit building form and height, in addition to “aesthetics;” I believe density is more important than height to the economic considerations underlying the creation or preservation of affordable housing; I believe density regulations must be related to the infrastructure support we have in place to support that density; I believe that Arlington can and should use its land use regulations to achieve all its goals, including both affordable housing and place-making; and I believe that there is not a serious inherent conflict between regulating building height and achieving our affordable housing goals.

10) What is your definition of “The Arlington Way,” do you believe our county’s been living up to it, and what can be done to strengthen it?

I see “the Arlington Way” as a description of our citizen-based policy development process.  Because our population is always growing and changing, the Arlington Way, too, must adapt and change to meet the abilities and resources of our citizens, and the scale and scope of the County’s policy challenges. My experience is that the Arlington Way is a sort of social contract in which members of the community are willing to invest time, passion, thought and values into educating themselves about the community and the back-and-forth of joint decision-making, and in return the government takes citizen input as its starting point for action.  The Arlington Way takes advantage of Arlington’s unique and incredibly diverse, educated and experienced community members.

I believe that, while still strong, the Arlington Way is under some pressure at the moment. First, I am concerned that our County staff sometimes have lacked the capacity to engage in citizen-based policy-making. From time to time, I have seen staff fail to make the additional investment of time and energy to properly reach out to affected stakeholders, educate them about the important considerations, and support them in reaching their own compromises and creative policy solutions.

Another pressure on the Arlington Way comes from a generational shift in how citizens expect to work with institutions. Traditionally, community education, discussion and feedback occurred predominantly at large and small, but frequent in-person meetings and assemblies.  Increasingly, citizens today are not getting as involved in formal organizations with regular meetings, but rather are using blogs, social networking, and other methods to conduct their civic business.  In many ways, these can enhance our community discussion, for example, sites like Blue Virginia and ArlNow have clearly provided many Arlingtonians with both information and a venue for discussion that is more convenient and open to the public than traditional meeting formats.  At the same time, there is now more difficulty communicating with citizens today via traditional mail, phone and even door-to-door outreach, and so formal groups like civic associations are finding it increasingly hard to maintain their membership and resources.

I believe the County government must move in multiple directions simultaneously to address these shifts. First, there must be more emphasis within the government to proactively and consistently seek to involve the public in every policy discussion at the earliest possible stage, to recognize when citizens have invested the time and energy to send in a single e-mail, and certainly if they go so far as to attend a meeting. Second, the government must do more to formally support organizations, such as civic associations, upon which it relies for community education and feedback. And third, Arlington must continually be prepared to adapt to new media strategies that will notify and involve citizens in decision-making, for example, by monitoring and participating in blog discussions where citizens commonly ask for official information.

11) Do you believe Arlington has the best possible process for determining which new capital projects to undertake and which to defer? If you believe this process could be improved, which specific improvements do you recommend and why?

Overall, Arlington’s capital program has led to important, valuable investments in our community, including new schools, parks, community centers, Metro, streetscape and traffic management, the wastewater treatment plant, fire stations, libraries, and storm water management projects. Some of these are important to public safety; some are key amenities that make Arlington such a desirable place to live and do business; others directly contribute to the strong economic base that generates revenue that helps to fund public services and relieve the burden on homeowners.  

At the same time, Arlington has consistently achieved the Triple-AAA bond rating and saved significant costs in paying for capital projects. The borrowing limits imposed by the Board in the last decade were important measures for fiscal prudence that should be maintained.

Under the current CIP review process, the County Manager releases her recommendation based on input from relevant departments, some Commissions (like Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee) and other relevant citizen councils (like Civic Federation,) and of course the Schools, which conducts its own process. Then the County Board holds a hearing so that the public may weigh in on the Manager’s proposal, and later votes to adopt a final capital improvement plan.

I believe that the capital budget process could be improved in order to facilitate greater public involvement and more thorough evaluation of alternatives.

For example, I believe that, just as it does for the annual operating budget, the Board should provide explicit guidance to the County Manager for preparation of the draft CIP. I am pleased that the County Board did so this year for the first time, and I would like to see that become a permanent practice. This will help to focus the Board and the community on priority-setting early on, and will improve the quality of deliberation prior to Board action. It will let everyone know any parameters early in the process, and will provide a starting point for community discussion.

After that, staff needs to generate the kinds of information that enable consideration of the tradeoffs that are involved in the timing of various projects. At or before the time that Manager drafts the CIP, the public should be provided information about the County’s fiscal capacity, and the constraints on capital spending, along with projections and recommendations focusing on long-term needs, highlighting major components, like maintenance capital, government facilities, schools, parks and open space, neighborhood conservation, and transportation (including Metro). These should be presented in a way that makes it possible for the Board, Commissions, civic associations, other organizations and the general public to engage in a dialogue about the choices to be made in addressing capital initiatives over time.  

I also think that planning for a longer time-horizon than 6 years is necessary, and so I applaud the recent decision to formulate a 10-year capital plan.

12) What is your vision for the optimal Arlington County in the short term (5 years or less), medium term (10-15 years) and long term (20 years and out)? How would you go about achieving that vision?

One of my fundamental priorities as a candidate for the County Board is to initiate a broad, community conversation about what our community priorities should be over our next 50 years. It’s my goal to share my vision and also to engage the public for their ideas and priorities as part of a collaborative decision-making process. So in my opinion, the optimal Arlington hasn’t yet been conceived by those whose opinions would matter most to me in responding to the question.

In the short term, I believe we can begin to make progress on pursuing additional strategies for achieving more committed affordable housing, such as looking at new tools through the Columbia Pike Land Use and Housing Study, and finalizing the implementation elements of the Community Energy Plan and working to achieve other best practices for the environment in our decision-making. We will make decisions on capital needs including a plan to address schools capacity and other priorities, like parks, maintenance, transportation and other programs.

In the medium term, it is my goal to achieve some of the additional communications and civic involvement priorities I outlined above. Also, Arlington would have increased its commitment to the environment through more robust implementation of LEED and EarthCraft building standards. The County Board, working in partnership with allies across the region, would begin to find long-term solutions to Metro’s funding needs and an ongoing schedule of improvements to maintenance and operations for the agency. Arlington would have demonstrated an ability to work collaboratively with our legislative delegation, and allies across the region and the state in its relationship to Richmond on policy and funding issues that have significant impacts on our local quality of life, for example in education, human services and in overall local government control over decision-making.

In the long term, I envision making Arlington’s transportation network even more extensive to accommodate greater demands for transit, walking and biking. I also see Arlington working to make its economic tax base more competitive and resilient by attracting a new generation of diverse employers in areas like science and research, clean/green technology, health care, tourism and the arts. We will also better understand how to capitalize on innovative nonprofits, small businesses, and social entrepreneurs so they will contribute to our 21st Century economy.

Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, December 12.

*In rural Va., majoring in top secrecy

*Kaine, Allen lay out their strategies

*Fresh Va. Tech tragedy renews political gun debate

*Family of Va. Tech shooter offers condolences

*Uranium in Pittsylvania County: buried treasure or threat?

*Westboro church plans to picket Virginia Tech officer’s funeral

*Editorial: Another tepid plan for transportation (“Gov. Bob McDonnell would drain dollars from schools, health care and law enforcement without filling the road shortfall.”)

*Virginia Tech officer’s widow: ‘Somebody took our life from us’

*Deep-blue Arlington set for bleak session in GOP-controlled assembly

*Bill Bolling’s Been Here Before

*Lawmakers press military housing company to fix problems

*Virginia’s judge-selection process criticized by Lt. Gov. Bolling

*Virginia Roads: HOT stuff

P.S. In other news, see Durban climate deal: the verdict. The Union of Concerned Scientists statement pretty much sums up my view on this. “While governments avoided disaster in Durban, they by no means responded adequately to the mounting threat of climate change…Powerful speeches and carefully worded decisions can’t amend the laws of physics. The atmosphere responds to one thing, and one thing only – emissions. The world’s collective level of ambition on emissions reductions must be substantially increased, and soon.“