Politics and involvement in Fairfax County has been a lifelong affair for Patrick Herrity.
The Little Rocky Run resident said his work in transportation and county issues for the past two decades has given him the background and education needed to lead the Springfield District into the future. He also believes he is the best candidate to follow in the footsteps of Supervisor Elaine McConnell (R-Springfield), who will retire from her position at the end of this year.
"The county is going in the wrong direction in a lot of ways — transportation, taxes and immigration," Herrity said.
Born and raised in Fairfax County, Herrity has considered a run for office for the past decade, but only now has the timing felt right.
His only regret about running now instead of years ago is that his father, former Springfield supervisor and Board of Supervisors chair Jack Herrity, is not able to help his campaign. Jack Herrity died in early 2006.
"I know this is something he would be proud of," Pat Herrity said.
MUCH LIKE HIS father, Herrity said one of his biggest ambitions if elected is taking a long, hard look at Fairfax County’s many transportation problems, not limited to the Metro conundrum in Tysons Corner.
The key is working with developers to secure proffers for road repair and construction in exchange for certain levels of density, Herrity said. Higher buildings with greater densities mean more people suddenly driving on already congested roads, and developers should be held responsible for the congestion they help create.
Metro is not the one and only solution to transportation problems, said Herrity, who spent one summer working with leaders from both political parties to develop a plan to bring HOT [High Occupancy Toll] lanes to the Capital Beltway.
Increasing capacity on the area’s major north-south thoroughfare would open up the possibility of carpools and bus service along Interstate 495 in both directions, which, when coupled with Metro, may ease congestion in the already overcrowded Tysons Corner area.
Looking to the Springfield District, Herrity said the county government needs to work more closely with Army officials at Fort Belvoir to prepare the area for the influx of 18,000 workers to the base and the Engineer Proving Ground in Springfield as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure commission study of 2005.
"People are talking about the 19,000 to 21,000 people coming to Fort Belvoir, but that doesn’t count the support personnel and contractors coming with them, which pretty much doubles that number," Herrity said. More creative solutions might be helpful in creating not only funding for the massive construction and infrastructure needs, but in making sure the Sept. 11, 2012 deadline for completion of the project is met.
Another hot button issue for Herrity is illegal immigrants living in Fairfax County, especially those living in makeshift and illegal boarding houses.
"[Supervisor] Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) has been a leader in that fight," Herrity said. He applauds Kauffman’s efforts to have homes that appear to have too many occupants more closely monitored, but said the county needs to do more to make sure the people living in Fairfax County illegally are not breaking other laws.
"We need to enforce the laws we already have in place," he said. "We need to take a look at the criminal illegal aliens living here and, if they are arrested for a felony or found to be illegally living here, have them deported."
If elected, Herrity believes he will not be shy to voice his opinions to the historically Democratic-dominated Board of Supervisors. The two-party political system was created to encourage the exchange and debate of ideas, and he looks forward to the challenge.
"I truly care about the district, and I want to protect our suburban way of life," he said. "We’ve got good jobs, a good school system and good neighborhoods. I think I have a vision for where the county needs to go in the future."