Archive for 2023

Springfield, VA – Today, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity (Springfield) announced the hiring of campaign manager Kyle Blanchard.

“Kyle comes to us from Northwest Florida with significant experience in government and politics,” said Pat Herrity. “His recent experience building grassroots coalitions for Senator Rubio will allow me to reach more voters than ever before. I am incredibly confident that Kyle’s hard work, leadership and experience will ensure a successful 2023 election season. “

“I could not be more excited to join Pat this year,” said Blanchard. “Supervisor Herrity was my top choice when deciding what to do next. Not only do I think Pat’s common sense policy approach should be nationwide, but I have always loved the Commonwealth of Virginia and could not be happier to be here. I am excited to get to work with the residents of the Springfield District.”

Kyle made his debut into politics in 2022 as the regional director for Senator Marco Rubio in Northwest Florida. He studied political science at Florida State University, and headed the political roundtable at Tallahassee Community College where he was an active political leader on and off campus. Recruiting and volunteering for the Republican Party during his time in Tallahassee gave him vital experience to help win this race.

Kyle can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 451-5515.

Fairfax County Times

By Taneika Duhaney

Almost two weeks ago today, tragedy struck again on Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax Station. The first non-pedestrian-related fatal crash in the county of the year claimed the lives of two 16-year-old South County High School students, publicly identified by family and friends as Ariana Haftsavar and Ashlyn Brotemarkle-the driver and the rear passenger. A third passenger was rushed to the hospital “with injuries considered life-threatening” and she remains hospitalized according to Fairfax County Police.

The single-car crash occurred in the 7400 block of Lee Chapel Road just before 9:30 p.m. Detectives believe that as the Lexus IS350 traveled northbound, the sedan crested one of the hills along the undulating road and lost control, causing the car to veer off the road and flip on its roof as it crashed into the woods. Preliminarily, detectives do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash but speed was.

In the days following the accident, the Crash Reconstruction Unit reviewed “evidence from the crash and the vehicle’s airbag control module, [and] determined the Lexus was traveling 100.7 miles per hour before the crash. Detectives from the scene determined the car was airborne for approximately 130 feet.” 

According to state data, since 2011, this half-mile stretch of Lee Chapel Road-between Ox Road and the Fairfax County Parkway-has been the site of 243 vehicle crashes resulting in 148 injuries and three deaths, including the crash that killed 19-year-old Dilbar Noory. In 2015, Noory lost control while driving over the same hill on this road. Community calls to fix Lee Chapel road are at an all-time high, and a petition calling for changes has received more than 13,500 signatures. 

In response to the recent tragedy, the Virginia Department of Transportation–the state agency that owns this road, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, and county leaders gathered on Jan. 18 to propose improvements to Lee Chapel Road. Herrity acknowledges that changes to fix hills, curves, and turns are needed, and some of these changes were presented in 2015 and again in 2017. However, Herrity admits none of the proposals were implemented due to budgetary constraints and remain on the unfunded priority list. Until changes are funded, “I’m looking for an interim solution right now,” Herrity said.

Some possible short-term solutions include rumble strips, more signage, and improved lighting along the road. However, these changes are not enough for some residents. 

“My family and I had an accident in 2013 on that stretch of road when another driver came across the middle of the road, and we had nowhere to go as there are no shoulders on this part of the road, shared Michelle Motes on social media. “Our vehicle turned over several times and was totaled.” 

Fellow Burke resident Jill Tastrophe had a similarly harrowing experience. “I almost died on the same road in 2018, and I had over 17 surgeries and spent over a month in the hospital,” she said. 

Lee Chapel Road has “optical speed bars” which were installed in 2006. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the series of painted lines are intended to increase drivers’ perception of speed and cause them to reduce speed. Several days after the accident, VDOT updated the optical speed bars. 

“I drive that road a few times a week late afternoon; a week after the accident, I noticed VDOT repainted the lanes closer to the hill on both sides. [They] even added some markers. I believe a street light could make a huge difference,” said Burke resident Vanina Rodriguez.

“This is one of a number of roads in the district and countywide that are left over from Fairfax County’s older, rural past that can be unsafe in modern times with our higher traffic volumes and faster vehicles,” tweeted Herrity. To bring Lee Chapel Road into the modern era, residents are encouraging county leadership to add lights, rumble strips, shoulders and even widen the road from two to four lanes, a project proposal that Herrity backed in previous years. 

After a meeting with VDOT and FCDOT officials, Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, Herrity proposed a board matter on Jan. 24 addressing the issue. County leadership approved a motion for future changes to Lee Chapel Road but funding is still undetermined. 

“The Board unanimously approved my motion to direct Fairfax County Department of Transportation to look at eliminating the hills on Lee Chapel Road and potential sources of funding for the project,” tweeted Herrity. The motion also “directs the public works department to look at the feasibility of streetlights and the Park Authority to look at clearing the shoulder areas on the adjacent parkland. These interim changes should be designed with the ultimate goal of the four-lane widening currently envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan.”

As residents await long-term changes, Lee Chapel Road is still a necessary route for commuting. Parents are cautioning their teens to be more vigilant drivers. 

“We don’t avoid it or discourage our teens from driving it. We do talk about the risks of speeding on it and being careful with oncoming lights blinding you,” said Heidi Oh. Other parents have noticed how the accident has impacted their teen drivers. 

“My 17-year-old son was devastated by what happened, having lost two of his friends. I believe it has impacted his outlook with driving, especially on that portion of Lee Chapel that we know is notoriously dangerous,” said Stacey Street.

West Springfield, VA – Today, Supervisor Pat Herrity announced his reelection campaign for Springfield District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
 
Herrity said, “Since I last ran for office, we have faced unfathomable challenges; from a global pandemic to historic unemployment, unprecedented obstacles for our business owners, interrupted education and record-setting inflation…we live in a different world than we did four years ago and I can’t think of a more critical time to need strong, experienced leadership on the Board of Supervisors.
 
That’s why I’m announcing today my campaign to run for reelection for Springfield District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.”
 
Pat Herrity has been serving on the Board since 2008 after 25 years of active business, sports, and civic community leadership. He was raised in Fairfax County, a 1978 graduate of West Springfield High School with an accounting degree from Virginia Tech.
 
During his time on the Board, he has time and time again proven that he is a “go-getter” with a singular focus on bettering the lives of Fairfax County residents. From transportation to education to business and responsible development, Pat’s record speaks for itself. Full details of selected accomplishments, key issues, experience as well as his business, community, and civic resume can be found on his website at PatHerrity.org.
 
Herrity continued, “This campaign is about you, the residents of Fairfax County, and the trials we have faced the past four years. We need someone representing us who has the experience and track record to keep getting results for the County. I humbly consider myself the most qualified to serve our community. I proudly stood as a check on the excesses of the Board, and made sure that each decision made considered the impact it would have on every single one of our county’s residents. I look forward to meeting you and your families on the campaign trail the next ten months as we look ahead to continuing the great work we have accomplished thus far.”
 
The election for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will take place on November 7, 2023. Pat will be making himself available for questions surrounding the announcement this afternoon, please contact [email protected] to schedule a time. For more information about Pat Herrity, please visit PatHerrity.org. See his announcement speech below. 
 

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Pat Herrity
Announcement Speech
January 26, 2023

“Welcome. Thank you for joining me here this morning at West Springfield High School. As most of you know, this is home to me. This is where it all started, I grew up right down Rolling Road on Portree Court.

That is where I learned about the County from one of its great leaders and my Dad, former Chairman of the Board Jack Herrity.  I not only learned about the County and its issues but about leadership and most importantly about public service.
My Dad loved this county – he actually watched Board of Supervisors meetings right up until the day he died. I share his great passion for public service and for the County we so dearly love.

I began my public service early in life and during my successful business career.  I was recognized by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Technology Council with its highest leadership awards. I organized a sports league and coached a number of sports teams.  I was also a leader in my local civic associations.

Sixteen years ago, I made the decision to take that public service to a higher level and run to become Springfield District Supervisor because I did not like the direction the County was heading.  Taxes had doubled in 8 short years from $2,400 to $4,800, our teachers’ salaries were slipping and we were mired in congestion.

The citizens of Springfield District had faith in me and elected me their Supervisor in 2007. They reelected me in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Since I last ran for office, we have faced unfathomable challenges; from a global pandemic to historic unemployment, unprecedented obstacles for our business owners, interrupted education and record-setting inflation…we live in a different world than we did four years ago and I can’t think of a more critical time to need strong, experienced leadership on the Board of Supervisors.

Over those years we have accomplished a lot to make Springfield District and Fairfax County a better place:

• I led two rounds of pension reform efforts to address the county’s unsustainable pension plans and balance our compensation program.
• I was the only Supervisor to call for reopening schools as other communities were successfully doing across the country.
• I am leading the effort to address rising crime and the public safety staffing crisis by calling for increased pay and recruiting befits for our officers.
• As Chair of the Board’s Older Adults Committee, I led the development of Fairfax County’s award-winning 50+ Committee Action Plan to make the County a better place for our older adults.
• I led the effort that took the first steps toward addressing senior tax relief.
• I initiated the Older Adults COVID Response Plan. With 95 percent of Fairfax County’s COVID-related deaths being adults over age 50, older adults were the most impacted demographic in our community. The plan was developed with feedback from online focus groups to address key issues of social isolation, lack of technology access, and wellness among our older adults. 
• I led the successful effort to stop the 10% tax on meals that was overwhelmingly defeated by Fairfax County voters.
• I am the only Supervisor to recommend efficiencies and budget reductions to address the 50% increase in homeowners’ taxes over the last ten years.
• I led the effort to reduce the County’s Machinery and Tools tax that was four times our surrounding jurisdictions and unfairly taxing our small manufacturers and breweries.
• As I did in 2016, in 2022 I asked the Board to again reaffirm our commitment to the protection of the environmentally sensitive Occoquan watershed.
• I am the only Supervisor to ever receive the President’s Award from the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers for my leadership in improving teachers’ salaries.
• I led the effort to get this very school behind us (West Springfield High School) renovated after it was overlooked in the renovation queue.
• I led efforts to reform the county’s zoning and permitting process to reform siloed processes and a culture of “no”.
• We renovated Pohick Library, we have an exciting new driving range and clubhouse at Burke Lake Park, and you can Go Ape on the ropes course at South Run Park. I am currently funding a number of trail and other improvements at Burke Lake Park that have led to additional investments by the Park Foundation.
• Every year I work with my colleagues on the Board to host Teen Job and Opportunity Fairs across the county.
• I have been honored to be recognized by the Sun Gazette for the last six years as Fairfax County’s Best Public Servant.
• I created and am leading the County’s Sports Tourism Task Force to diversify the county’s revenue stream with tourism dollars and build high quality sports venues for our community. I am looking forward to the county’s first sports tourism facility Patriot Park North which will be opening this year and am continuing to move the indoor downhill ski facility on the side of the I-95 Landfill forward.
• Each summer, I host a free concert series at Burke Lake Park – the largest series of any district in the county.
• I led the effort to remove the blight of illegal signs from our roadways
• I am leading the effort to address Panhandling as a public safety issue in the County.I could list many more.  

I could list many more.

I still have the passion to get things done that make Fairfax County a better place.  Sixteen years later, I also still have the passion to use my business skills and knowledge of the County to get spending under control and stop the ever-increasing tax burden on our residents.  Taxes on the average homeowner have increased over 50% in the last 10 years – 6.7% just last year despite over $1 Billion in federal COVID funding – a rate that is not sustainable. I consistently remind the Board of our policy and the bonding agency’s guidance against spending one-time funds for recurring expenditures. I will continue to provide opportunities to set priorities, improve efficiencies and get cost under control. 

Too many of our graduates and seniors are leaving the county. I still have the passion to grow jobs and our economy so our children will have high paying jobs and will stay and raise their families in Fairfax County. We need to continue to improve our zoning, permitting and regulatory environment so we can create and grow businesses in the County, reduce the cost of living, provide affordable housing and create places that will keep our graduates and seniors here.

I still have the passion to make our school system the best in the nation by funneling resources into the classroom and on the teachers and students, not on administrators and administrative burdens. To support our teachers who are dealing with the impacts of two years without in person learning on our students. To return the focus to academics so that all of our children have the opportunity to succeed in life. We need to be celebrating achievement and excellence not punishing it.

I still have the passion to protect our suburban neighborhoods from blight, crime and gangs.  We have much more to do in battling the increasing crime rates, the opioid/fentanyl public health crisis, human trafficking and gangs. We need to give our police department the resources and support it needs to attract, train and retain the best officers to make our community the safest jurisdiction of its size in the country. I want to lead the development of the follow-on plan to the award-winning 50+ Community Action Plan with achievable, actionable and affordable initiatives to improve the lives of our older adults. I want to continue my efforts with the Sports Tourism Task Force to diversify our tax base, economy and bring the county exciting new sports venues like an indoor track and indoor downhill skiing.

I still have the passion to address transportation congestion that keeps our residents from enjoying the quality of life they deserve. We have over $600M in transportation improvements moving forward in the Springfield District including the widening of Fairfax County Parkway (with a grade separated interchange at the dangerous Popes Head Road intersection); building the Shirley Gate Road extension; widening of Route 28, 29, and Rolling Road; adding turn lanes (including at 50 and Waples Mill Road); the Rolling Road VRE parking lot expansion; intersection improvements (including Post Forrest Drive and Random Hills Road); and safety improvements like the Burke Road curve realignment and Orange Hunt safe routes to school improvements. 

I want to ensure the County focuses transportation funding on projects that relieve congestion for our residents. I want to see through the safety improvements we are working on Lee Chapel Road and the Fairfax County Parkway. I was honored to appointed last year to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority where I will have a voice in where $6B in state and local transportation funds are spent.

I also still have the passion to stand as a backstop and a check on the excesses of the Board majority, and make sure that each decision made considers the impact it will have on every single one of our county’s residents. It is important that all sides of a decision are considered as open honest dialogue always gets you to a better answer.

There is a lot of change coming to the Fairfax County, with the retirement of Supervisor Foust and Supervisor Gross, economic challenges, the possibility of a recession, rising crime rates, falling school enrollment, etc. The need for an experienced voice on the Board is clear.  

As I weighed my decision to run for reelection or to run for Chairman of the Board, I reached out to constituents across the county.  What I heard loud and clear from both Republicans and Democrats was the need for balance, the need for a common sense, fiscal conservative voice, the need for experience, the need for a public servant focused on local issues instead of divisive national issues. 

Public service is not about what you want to do, it’s about doing what is right for the community. 

For me, this county will always be vitally important, but the Springfield District is my home. It’s such an important part of the fabric of my life, of my family’s life, of our past, our present and our future. 

That’s why I will be asking the residents of the Springfield District to give me the opportunity to finish the many things we have underway here in the Springfield District, the opportunity to help shape the direction of Fairfax County by being the common-sense voice on the Board, and to reelect me as their Springfield District Supervisor.

This campaign is about you, the residents of Fairfax County, and the trials we have faced the past four years. We need someone representing us who has the experience and track record to keep getting results for the County. I humbly consider myself the most qualified to serve our community. I proudly stand as a check on the excesses of the Board majority to make sure decisions are made with all sides considered. I look forward to meeting you and your families on the campaign trail over the next ten months as we look ahead to continuing the great work we have accomplished thus far.

Thank you again for being here. And thank you for putting your trust in me. I’m counting on you all to help, and I solemnly promise to be a public servant with your best interest at heart.”

West Springfield, VA – On Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 9:00 AM, Pat Herrity will be making an announcement regarding his political future and the 2023 elections. We will have all details following the announcement available on our website at PatHerrity.org, on all social media platforms, and available to you directly by contacting [email protected].