Tom Ammazzalorso and some of his supporters. Photo by Bonnie Hobbs.
Schoolteacher Tom Ammazzalorso is challenging incumbent Scott Silverthorne to be the mayor of the City of Fairfax. And Sunday afternoon, March 20, he officially announced his candidacy at the Hard Times Café on Chain Bridge Road.
“This is the first in a series of meet-and-greets to listen to people’s thoughts and concerns,” he told attendees. “There are issues that need to be confronted, and you are entitled to a choice. It’s one of the main reasons I’m running.”
“If you’re fine with taxes going up and a budget out of control, and you think the debt per capita is not an issue, then I’m probably not your candidate,” said Ammazzalorso. “But if you aren’t, then come on board. Because I believe that, if given a chance, I could lay out a vision that’s very different from what people are currently being offered.”
He didn’t give further specifics to the audience, but said more details would soon be on his Website, aformayor.com. Afterward, though, he said that, as of June 30, 2014, the City of Fairfax’s debt per capita was almost $8,000.
“It’s larger than any of the surrounding jurisdictions, and it’s double that of Fairfax County,” said Ammazzalorso. “It’s also higher than Arlington’s, and that’s not sustainable.”
He’s concerned, as well, with the City’s business climate. He said new businesses are coming in, but some have left after failing. And he wonders “how much [residential] development do they want to jam in these 6.3 square miles?”
Ammazzalorso, 43, has lived in the City for nearly two decades and has been a teacher for 20 years, including a stint in Fairfax County at J.E.B. Stuart High. He currently teaches American government and is Social Studies department chair at Suitland High in Prince George’ County Public Schools.
“I have a reputation of being a straight talker and not being afraid of saying the unpopular things,” he said. “So a number of people came to me and said there are problems [here] and encouraged me to run.”
Ammazzalorso said he decided to do so for three reasons: “I love this city, and what upsets me the most is that there are so many political races in this city with only one or no opponents,” he said. “Secondly, I’d be a much more visible mayor. And thirdly, I have a deep belief in transparency in government. I think there are a lot of questions that need to be asked, as far as per capita debt and the money being spent on various projects vs. what the residents really want.”
But, he asked, “How will any of these things be debated if only one person is running? I recognize and accept that I’m the super-underdog. But I would rather lose than not have the debate.”