Holding their election certificates are (from left) Anthony Amos, Billy Bates, Stacy Hall, Catherine Read, Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Rachel McQuillen and Tom Peterson.
Unless it’s an uncontested race, most elections pit one side against another. But when the dust settles, and the winners are chosen – especially in local, municipal elections – it’s important that the leaders work in unison for the good of the city or town they serve.
That was the message former Fairfax City School Board Chairman and former City Councilmember Janice Miller delivered last Tuesday, Jan. 14, prior to the swearing-in of the City’s mayor and Council. Whether they heed her advice will become apparent during their two years in office.
“Being an elected official is about serving the community we all love,” she said. “Governing is hard, working together is difficult, finding common ground is challenging.” But, urged Miller, “Please listen and learn. Put ‘we’ before ‘I’ and work together.”
In November, Catherine Read was elected to her second term as the City’s mayor. But with three of the previous Council members choosing not to run – and two others not re-elected – Billy Bates is the only incumbent, joined by newbies Anthony Amos, Stacy Hall, Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Rachel McQuillen and Tom Peterson.
At the outset of her speech before a standing-room-only crowd in Council chambers, Miller thanked the outgoing Councilmembers for their service, plus everyone who ran for office, and said she hoped they all continue to stay engaged in the City. She also congratulated Read and the incoming Council. “Our community stands behind you and wishes you well,” said Miller.
She then shared with them some hard truths learned firsthand via her own decades of service to the City. “Being a small-town, elected leader is a blessing – an opportunity to serve – but it’s also a challenge,” said Miller. “The path forward is not always easy.
“When I moved from the School Board – where just about everyone was happy to support our kiddos, teachers and schools – and moved to Council, I was surprised that every issue became a bit more contentious. And working together became more of a challenge. Today, resolving community conflict appears to be more challenging than ever. But focusing on how we are alike, rather than how we differ, is a good place to start.”
Miller then made some observations about the City’s new leaders. She said they’re from three different age decades, with two people in their 20s, two in their 40s and three in their 60s. And they all live in different areas of Fairfax.
“For the first time in our history, we elected the first African American female, Stacey Hardy-Chandler, and we have two African Americans on Council,” said Miller. “Anthony Amos is only the second African American male who’s served on our City Council. I’d also like to point out that, for the first time [ever], the City elected the first, female majority [three Councilmembers plus the mayor] – and it only took 63 years.”
Next, Miller recommended they seek out what connects them all, not only on policies, but as colleagues and leaders. “Let’s look at the many, similar experiences you all share,” she said. “You’re all committed to serving this community, and I applaud you for that. Also, Billy went to our local schools and graduated from Fairfax High, Catherine’s and Tom’s children attended local schools and are Fairfax High graduates, Stacy Hall and Rachel have kiddos attending our schools, and Catherine, Billy, Rachel and Anthony have attended George Mason University for either undergraduate or advanced-degree programs.”
Miller further noted that the newly elected leaders are also ambitious and caring residents who’ve volunteered their time on many of the City’s boards and commissions. McQuillen and Hall each served two years on the School Board, and Peterson, Hall and Bates (as its student representative) served on the Environmental Sustainability Committee. McQuillen was on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and Hardy-Chandler was a member of the Commission for Women.
In addition, Amos is an appointee on the GMU Advisory Board. And Read has been a longtime advocate for having a walkable City, bathrooms in Fairfax’s parks, free public transportation via the CUE buses, diversity, equity for all residents, and a welcoming and inclusive City for everyone. And, added Miller, “You all have also worked on local PTAs, civic associations, the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Individually and collectively, you’ve served this community in countless ways.”
Then, addressing each of the leaders personally, she told them, “Today, you’re offered an amazing opportunity, as well as the chance to bond over shared experiences and goals. The next two years can be simply difficult or merely challenging. Being ‘difficult’ means not working together; being ‘challenging’ means seeking information, looking for solutions, partnering with our [City] staff and community and finding common ground. Look to see what joins you, not separates you. For the sake of our community, let’s make the next two years work.”
Afterward, Rick Herrington, secretary of the City’s Electoral Board, presented framed certificates of their election to the mayor and each new Councilmember. Then City Clerk Melissa Shinaberry administered the Oath of Office to them. Next, Read thanked Miller for her many years of service to Fairfax and for her advice to its leaders about working as a team for the City’s benefit.
“That’s really important because we up here are your neighbors,” Read told the audience. “We’re residents and taxpayers, we travel on the City’s roads, use the parks and go to the restaurants, the same as everyone else. But we decided to step forward to become your local government. And it’s citizen government – we don’t have a democracy unless ordinary people serve in this capacity.”
“And as Janice said, it’s not always easy to do that – or to find the compromise, wisdom or the best way forward,” continued Read. “But we’ve all taken an Oath of Office to do that together. And I appreciate every, single one of my colleagues on the dais because I know they come here with the intention of doing the best job they possibly can.
“So remember that when you’re not always loving what we do. Try to love the people, even though maybe you don’t love the decision. Try to love us the way we hope to love our community and do the best we can for the next 717 days that we’re together as a team.”
Taking their Oath of Office are (from left) Anthony Amos, Billy Bates, Stacy Hall, Catherine Read, Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Rachel McQuillen and Tom Peterson.