Fairfax City’s mayoral and City Council candidates spoke directly to the voters during a Candidates Forum last Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the City’s Sherwood Center. Then, after brief speeches, they answered residents’ questions at tables around the room.
The event’s main sponsors were the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area. Speaking first were the two people vying for mayor, followed by the 11 candidates for six City Council seats.
Catherine Read
Holding up a framed chart that hangs in her office, incumbent Mayor Catherine Read said, “This is basically a breakdown of who voted since 2014 in local elections. And for most of the 60 years, voters in the City voted every other May for mayor and city council, and that was 20 percent.
“In 2022, because the General Assembly changed the election from May to November – and there was a lot of opposition to that – 59 percent of the people voted in this City. So two-thirds of the people who voted in 2022 had never voted for mayor and city council before, and that's important to recognize when we talk about how elections are changing here.
“The City of Fairfax Democratic Committee and, as far as I know, the Republican Committee in the City, had never endorsed candidates before 2022. But we did in 2022 because we understood that a lot of people coming to the polls had never participated in local elections. So with 2,000 people voting every other May, most people knew the political persuasion of most of the people that were running for mayor and city council.
“Fred Silverthorne was the mayor from 1978-1982 and is somebody we honor every year in the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee because he was a Democrat. I have received the Fred Silverthorne Award, [as have] a lot of other people in this City.
“So, I just want you to understand that what’s on the ballot – what we’re talking about – is not partisanship. It’s about what we stand for and what we want you to know about us as candidates, and I stand for the values of the Democratic Party.”
Susan Kuiler
Saying she’s running as an independent, challenger Susan Kuiler said she’ll listen to residents’ concerns and will work with City Council and staff to find “practical, nonpartisan solutions to keep our City safe, viable and affordable for all of us.
“Early in my business career, I managed a store that went from losing money for the preceding seven years to turning a profit – and did it during an economic downturn. I did this by building a team. I drew on each member’s skills and ideas; and together, we achieved our goals. I’ve learned firsthand the power of a highly collaborative team.
“For the next 40 years, I worked in the public and private sectors in software development, program management and capital planning. I’m most proud of the disaster response and recovery systems we built for FEMA. Through collaboration, we reached consensus on what to do, and I led the execution of the solutions.
“As mayor, I’ll apply the same dedication and team-based approach to addressing the City’s problems. I’ll draw on my professional leadership experience. I’ll ask you how we can make the City better for all of us. Residents not only deserve to be heard, but also have a lot to contribute.
“I’ll seek out neighborhood and community input and City staff ideas, making sure our government is responsive to the issues of importance to the community. I care deeply about keeping local elections free from political-party influence. I’ll strive to gain and maintain the trust and support of all City residents. Most importantly, you’ll never hear me say, ‘I don’t have to listen to you because I’m now elected.’ I ask for your support on or before Nov. 5.”
City Council Candidates
The slate includes incumbents Billy Bates, Kate Doyle Feingold and Jeff Greenfield, plus challengers Anthony Amos, Amini Bonane, Taylor Geaghan, Stacy Hall, Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Rachel McQuillen, Tom Peterson and Jack Ryan. Their speeches below are in the order in which they spoke. Voters will vote for up to six candidates
Stacy Hall
Stacy Hall is serving her first term as a City of Fairfax school board member. Calling herself an independent, Stacy Hall said she sees each resident as “a concerned neighbor who cares deeply about the future of our City. Fairfax deserves leadership that’s committed, experienced and, above all, independent from party lines. Listening to our community is essential in decision making; this is your City and your opinion matters, especially when it comes to projects in your backyard. Engaging with you is the heart of effective leadership.
“We face important issues together – land development, taxes, school renovations and local laws – none of which should be viewed through a partisan lens. We need to ensure all residents feel safe, treat our vulnerable populations with dignity and work toward fully staffing our police, while actively reducing crime. Fiscal responsibility is crucial, too. We need to differentiate between needs and wants, making tough decisions about what we can truly afford, while continuing to provide outstanding City services to all. …
“I’m focused on local issues; I’ve lived here since 2011. At my core, I’m just a mom who cares about our community. When asked to run for School Board, two years ago, I stepped up and accepted the challenge.”
Kate Doyle Feingold
In Texas for work that morning, Kate Doyle Feingold arrived late, so her husband David filled in for her. “I get to tell you things she’d never tell you, herself,” he said. “She received a double major from NYU, earned a law degree from one of the best schools in the country, was a Marine Corps judge advocate and earned a Ph.D from Mason – all while managing two daughters and one husband.”
“But more importantly, she’s caring and people-smart. She brings an incredibly strong work ethic to everything she does, and she’s a humble leader. Kate’s responsive to residents on big issues, like when she fought for Cobbdale residents for a compromise on the Route 123/Eaton Place project. And she continues to fight to preserve the City’s natural environment.
“Kate’s also responsive to residents and businesses on small issues. She’s helped numerous individuals with their City-related problems and makes it a point of pride to respond to everyone who reaches out to her. Kate has integrity for miles; if she says it, she means it. She fights for transparency and doesn’t support making government decisions in secret. She’s whip smart and she’s an elected leader without being a politician.”
Rachel McQuillen
Currently on the City’s School Board, Rachel McQuillen also serves on Fairfax’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and is assistant treasurer of the Rotary Club of Fairfax. She and her family have lived in the Westmore neighborhood since 2010. Their oldest child is a Fairfax High senior, so, said McQuillen, “I’ve been part of that community for 12 years and served 10 years on the Providence Elementary PTA.”
She graduated from NVCC and GMU and has an associate’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s in marketing. In 2018, she opened a dog-care and pet-training services business in the City. Prior to that, she worked in finance and accounting for 11-1/2 years.
“I’m running for City Council to provide thoughtful and collaborative leadership to our community,” said McQuillen. “I’m focused on improving public safety, enhancing communication, maintaining our excellent educational resources and prioritizing our environmental sustainability. I’m running as an independent to show that accurate representation doesn’t require large financial backing or a political party. Instead, it depends on your diligence and ability to listen to the community.”
Amini Bonane
“Many of you know me as a fun-loving, lighthearted person who doesn’t take life too seriously,” said Amini Bonane. “But the reason I’m running for City Council is a serious one.” She then related how her queer best friend was found dead in August 2016, in the woods near GMU, shortly after they’d both celebrated their 21st birthdays.
She said he’d still be alive today if he’d had access to resources available in Fairfax City. “Knowledge saves lives,” said Bonane. “My lifetime commitment to service has been to democratize access to services people need the most. As an advocate, I put people in touch with organizations who can help their specific needs.
“As a public servant, I practice heart-centered leadership to embody the values of transparency, honesty and accountability. I volunteered and led the Homelessness Task Force to create a safety net for the most vulnerable members of our community.”
“I’m proud to be from here, but we need more leaders with lived experience who’ll listen to people, understand and not just respond. Instead of being distracted by our differences, let’s work together to make Fairfax accessible, safe and sustainable.”
Billy Bates
Billy Bates said his eighth-grade teacher stressed that local government “has the biggest impact on your life, more so than state or federal government, and I believe that’s true. That class was really where my interest in local government first blossomed.
“And that’s why teachers are so important to society and to our City. When I ran for City Council, I wasn’t expecting to win, the first time around, but I wanted to bring specific positions on issues into the race [and I still do].
“And that goes to development and supportive affordable housing. We need to increase housing affordability and walkability in Old Town and throughout the City. I know a lot of students at GMU who love Old Town but wish they could walk around and feel safe while doing so. And they wish that more of the City was like Old Town.
“At the end of the day, I want to be open about who I am and where I stand, what my values are and what my background is. And yes, I’m endorsed by the Democratic Party and was involved in it for many years before I ran.”
Jeff Greenfield
“I’ve been involved in this community my entire adult life – whether serving on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the 2020 Commission or City Council, or raising money for charities I feel passionate about in the City of Fairfax,” said Jeff Greenfield.
“I love this community; giving back makes a big difference, and I’ve always enjoyed it. I feel strongly about where we’re at as a community. We have to pay attention to our schools and our seniors: our schools because we need a strong environment for our kids to learn, and our seniors because they’ve made this community what it is today.
“We need to bring our spending in line with a reasonable tax break. I think our spending has been a little out of control, the last few years. And we [need] a moderate development plan as a community – not just one year at a time but 30 years out. If you’ve reached out to me, I’ve never asked what your political beliefs are. I asked where you live, if you’re a City resident or City business owner, and how I can help. I’ve always listened to you, and I’ll continue to on the dais.”
Stacey Hardy-Chandler
“My campaign is about people and purpose; I’m a social worker,” said Hardy-Chandler. “I think we all want a City that’s robust and resilient. We’re going to be facing some really big challenges as a relatively small City, and we have to face them together. The word that describes all of that is my family name, ‘hardy.’ We want to be a hardy community because we’re concerned about our future.
“When I went around talking to people, getting on the ballot, I heard a lot of concerns. Some varied by neighborhood; but whether they were about infants, older adults, schools or housing, they all fell under one big umbrella – quality of life.
“You can look up my background; I’m not going through all that in too much detail. But my whole career has been about centering people, so [another important word] is ‘us.’ I’ve done direct practice, delivering services, I’ve taught at university level – including at George Mason – and I’ve served in senior management. But it’s all been about bringing communities together.
“So my campaign is about a hardy future for all of us. Let’s move Fairfax forward together.”
Tom Peterson
“I’ve worked 42 years as a professional in government, business, finance and in the nonprofit sector,” said Tom Peterson. “We’ve lived here 22 years. I’m a Fairfax County native and attended William & Mary, Duke and then the University of Texas to get my MBA.
I’ve founded and run a national nonprofit, The Center for Climate Strategies, for 20 years. It’s nonpartisan and designed to bring people together to solve problems at the state and local level, in and outside the U.S. We’ve worked in 20 countries, 40 states.”
“For 20 years, I’ve been a professor at Johns Hopkins University. I’m also a professor at George Mason and have taught at the Penn State law school. And before founding my nonprofit, I spent 10 years as an economist for the EPA, serving two years as a senior advisor in the White House and two years as a legislative aide.
I say this because I think this City’s reached the stage where we need people on our City Council who are able to address issues at a high level and, at the same time, listen closely to what the community needs.”
Anthony Amos
“As a military kid and local-government employee, you see a lot of things,” said Anthony Amos. “There’s a lot of angst and suffering around us. My partner and I moved to this City because the owner of a townhome we rented decided to move back in, and we had 60 days to find an affordable place to live.”
After moving elsewhere, they discovered their new abode was plagued with floods, bugs and critters, forcing them to sleep in their car or the bathtub. “Unfortunately, it’s not an uncommon occurrence here,” said Amos. “You learn a lot when knocking on doors. I share this because it’s a narrative seldom discussed in the City.
“It’s time for an affordable-housing renovation fund. And it’s time to launch a participatory budgeting pilot program where a portion of the City’s budget is allocated to a citizens task force – and you decide how it’s spent.
“It encourages more people to get engaged in local government, especially the youth and the underrepresented. We need to come together, regardless of creed or color, to promote and advocate for these ideas to form a more prosperous and democratic union.”
Jack Ryan
“Thank you to everyone for coming out tonight and supporting us,” said Jack Ryan. “I have deep roots here in the City of Fairfax. I grew up here, went to Sidney Lanier Middle School, then Fairfax High, and graduated back in 2007. The George Mason staff helped me get an ROTC scholarship to Penn State to achieve my dream of becoming a military officer in the Army.
“There are a lot of great things about this City that deserve being preserved, and I think we can come together as a community. We have incredible people that live in the City with us – doctors, lawyers, Ph.Ds, service members, police officers. We can come together and figure out some of these complex problems that me and the other candidates have been talking to the community about.
“So I look forward to meeting all of you, if there’s time, at the end of the night. And for those I’ve already met, I look forward to engaging with you further. Thank you for everything you all do to support the community.”
Taylor Geaghan
One of Taylor Geaghan’s favorite things to do when she meets new people is to ask them what they love about Fairfax City. “The answers range from the area’s history to the culture and arts, to the overall quality of life,” she said. “Everyone’s answers are different – and valid. But one thing we agree on is that we love Fairfax City.
“And that’s what’s so special about the residents here. Even though we have different opinions and ideas of what makes Fairfax City so great, we can all come together and agree that we want to see it continue to thrive in the future.
“Some people want to capitalize on fear and make it seem like Fairfax is on the cusp of going over a cliff. But I don’t agree; no city is perfect. But this is my home – the place I want to raise my family and where I envision a better future for all.
“My vision for Fairfax City isn’t one of doom and gloom, but of hope – including expanding attainable housing initiatives, focusing on affordable and accessible childcare options and fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity.”