On August 31,2026, The Independent News Press invited the City of Fairfax Mayoral and City Council Candidates Questionnaire to participate in our very first questionnaire. This questionnaire was designed to give City of Fairfax voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates seeking to lead their City on matters of public affairs.
The questionnaire focuses on issues that affect residents today and the decisions the next Mayor and City Council will face during their terms in office. Questions address several important areas, including development and quality of life, the City budget and spending priorities, taxes and the cost of local government, regional cooperation, major infrastructure projects, and the various regional relationships the City maintains.
Candidates are also asked to address the three proposed Virginia constitutional amendments appearing on the November 3 ballot, as well as their approach to civility, accountability, ethics, transparency, and effective governance. Candidates were encouraged to provide specific answers to 10 questions and, where appropriate, identify concrete actions, priorities, and measurable outcomes. The goal is to move beyond broad campaign statements and provide residents with meaningful information about their thought process and how candidates would approach the responsibilities of public office.
The Independent News Press does not have an Editorial Board and does not endorse candidates or political positions. The questionnaire
is intended as a forum for candidates to communicate their views directly to the community and for readers to better understand the issues and differences among those seeking office.
Our questions mindfully stayed away from questions that would require responding to such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age and other federally protected classes. In addition, any candidate who did not participate will not appear in print or online other than when referring to official documents. We are publishing their opening statements and they are listed in the order of their election category and in alphabetical order of their last names. You can find candidate responses here.
And finally, we appreciate the candidates who took the time out of their extremely busy schedule to participate and engage with our readers. We also encourage City voters to read the responses carefully, consider the issues that matter most to them, and vote their conscience on November 3, 2026. Early voting has started and will continue till October 31, 2026.
Interviews will be posted by October 2, 2026. Thank you for your patience.
