The Connection

Incumbent Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read was elected to her second term last Tuesday, Nov. 5, beating challenger Susan Kuiler. Read garnered 7,042 votes and 57 percent of the total to Kuiler’s 5,204 votes and 42 percent.

In the race for City Council – where 11 candidates vied for six seats – Stacy Hall received the most votes, followed by Tom Peterson, incumbent Billy Bates, Stacey Hardy-Chandler and Anthony Amos. 

As of press time on Nov. 12, incumbent Kate Doyle Feingold and challenger Rachel McQuillen were still battling for the sixth seat, separated by just four votes and .01 percent of the total votes cast. Incumbent Jeff Greenfield, who’s served on City Council for more than two decades, was not re-elected.

This election was also historic because, for the first time ever, two persons of color – Hardy-Chandler and Amos – will serve on the Council. And although Fairfax is a small city, its residents take elections seriously. According to the Fairfax City Registrar’s Office, 71 percent of those qualified to vote did so. Of the 18,848 registered voters, 13,360 cast their ballots.

However, results are considered “unofficial” until they’re officially certified to the state. Regarding the race between McQuillen and Doyle Feingold, the City’s Electoral Board has until this Friday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. to make a final determination of the election results. If the two candidates are still separated by just a handful of votes, the one with the lowest total could request a recount.

Meanwhile, elected to the Fairfax City School Board were longtime member Carolyn Pitches, plus Kristina Cecere, Sarah Kelsey, Amit Hickman and Lauren Bartelme. 

And the ballot question of whether Fairfax City should issue $220 million in general-obligation bonds for capital-improvement projects for the City school system passed, with nearly 70 percent of the voters saying yes. Some $177 million will be used for much-needed major renovations for both Providence and Daniels Run elementary schools, with $43 million earmarked to replace Fairfax High’s roof, which is nearing the end of its operational life. 

* Below are comments from the election winners:

Catherine Read

“Fairfax City, you’ve affirmed our shared commitment to a bright and inclusive future for our community. I’m deeply honored by the trust you’ve placed in me, and I’m grateful to every voter who participated in this historic election. Together, we’ve chosen a path forward based on our shared Democratic values of transparency, accountability and a dedication to meaningful progress. 

“This victory isn’t just for our campaign – it’s a victory for everyone who believes in a Fairfax City where every resident’s voice is heard. We’ve shown that standing proudly by our values is what unites and empowers us. With this mandate, I’m excited to work with our re-elected and newly elected Council members to ensure we address the pressing needs of our City, from infrastructure to growth to community services. 

“While I’m disappointed at the results at the national level, I know we’ll continue to protect our progress at the local level and keep fighting for positive change. I thank Susan Kuiler for her commitment to public service and for encouraging vital conversations about our City’s future. Now, it’s time to come together as one community and continue building a Fairfax City we can all be proud of.”

Anthony Amos

“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to serve my community even more. I am thankful to the City of Fairfax for entrusting me with this responsibility, and I look forward to bridging the divide we’ve seen on prior Councils.

“I grew up with coaches and teachers that instilled the value of hard work in me. My success comes from my fantastic team, my campaign manager Mady, my partner Marena, and all the people who volunteered/contributed their time and money into this race. Our number-one goal was to be the hardest-working campaign, and I feel that we did that.”

Billy Bates

“I am honored to be re-elected to a second term on the City Council. I spent as much time as I could spare, talking to residents and listening to their concerns, and I prioritized making my political values and positions, as well as my record in office, clear to voters. 

“I’ve lived in the City of Fairfax my whole life, and I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve made toward providing more affordable and market-rate housing, walkability and bikeability, crime reduction, and opportunities for vital and potentially lifesaving nonprofits in the City.”

Stacy Hall

“I’m excited and honored to be joining City Council. Over the past two years on the School Board, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with so many residents, listening to their concerns and understanding what really matters to them. I’ve seen firsthand how much our community values its sense of connection, safety and quality of life. Whether it’s local parks, the challenges of growing traffic or concerns about overcrowded schools, our residents care deeply about protecting what makes this community great.

“At the same time, many people I’ve spoken to feel their voices aren’t being heard by our elected leaders, and I’m eager to change that. I want to be a voice for our community to help ensure that growth is balanced with residents’ needs, our neighborhoods stay safe, and we continue to nurture the kind of place where families can thrive. I’m committed to working together with others to protect and improve our community for all of us, especially our most vulnerable residents.

“I knocked on over 5,000 doors and attended neighborhood and community events and activities. Hearing directly from residents their ideas and hopes for the future helped shape my vision for how our City should move forward. 

“It was about building trust and demonstrating my commitment to transparency, honesty and listening to the people I represent. My victory reflects the strong connections I built with residents, and I’m honored to be entrusted with the responsibility to serve our community in a new way.”

Stacey Hardy-Chandler

“It looks like I’m the first African American woman to serve on the Fairfax City Council. I’m also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which is also the sorority of Vice President Kamala Harris. I’m delighted that I ran this campaign in collaboration with the Democratic Committee. I’ve always said I’m not running against other candidates – I’m running for Fairfax City.

“I’m so happy to be centering on service and on having run this campaign with integrity. I’m a social worker by profession and by leadership, and this is, I think, certainly not a victory for me or for the Democrats. It’s a victory for Fairfax.”

Tom Peterson

“It’s a great honor to have been elected to City Council and I appreciate every vote cast for me. Running for public office gave me the opportunity to speak with thousands of residents who I might otherwise not have met. I can’t say enough about their sincerity, warmth and insight. I’m grateful for the time so many took to share their thoughts, and the guidance they provided my campaign. 

“The City of Fairfax will need to be at the top of its game to protect and advance our priorities, and City Council will play a vital role. We have a lot of work ahead, as well as a fresh opportunity to work together. The overwhelming majority of residents said they wanted the same basic improvements, and they were core to my campaign commitments. 

“They included retention of the City’s unique small-town character; rethinking of high-density development and land use; better protection of forests and the environment; help with high costs; oversight of City spending; stronger safety and police protection; resolution of homeless issues; and above all, better listening by City leaders and the creation of authentic opportunities for citizens to be involved in City decisions.”