Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, left, thinks that education funding should be a top priority for Virginia legislators this section.
Q: What headline would you like to see for Fairfax County in 2014?
A: "Economy takes off, raising commercial real estate values."
Q: What are some challenges and opportunities facing Fairfax County residents in 2014?
A: On the challenges, slow national economic growth and federal cutbacks slowed down local economic growth and have frozen commercial real estate values. We need economic activity, which will increase commercial property value and produce tax revenue. That commercial revenue is the only viable way to meet the increased needs of schools and other county services. On the positive side, as we begin to use funding from the state transportation plan passed in 2013 we will start to see meaningful new transportation initiatives that will reduce congestion. I am also looking forward to the beginning of implementation of my neighborhood speeding initiative.
Q: What do you think is the most important issue affecting your community and how will you address it?
A: We have several important issues. One, certainly transportation, which we will start to address with the new state funding. Two, school funding and infrastructure funding for which we need more commercial tax revenue, which requires economic growth. We need to diversify our local economy as much as possible and continue to make it attractive to business. I co-chair the Infrastructure Financing Committee which is looking for solutions. Three, on the neighborhood level, my speeding initiative will begin to address the number one neighborhood complaint I receive from citizens, which is speeding on neighborhood streets.
Q: What do you think should be top priority for Virginia state legislators this session?
A: Education funding.