- Opening Statement – under 300 words
(All opening statements will appear in print in the October edition of The Fairfax Independent)
It is the honor of a lifetime to represent you on City Council. Thank you for your support and I hope to continue to show up for you. I currently co-lead the Move Fairfax Steering Committee, which is focused on addressing traffic circulation in Old Town and pedestrian safety across the city. Additionally, I serve on the Finance Committee, and Water and Air Quality committees with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Virginia Municipal League.
As the son of an Army veteran, the importance of service is core to who I am as a person. As the son of an Eritrean immigrant, my mom opened my perspective to the diverse communities of the world, many of which reside here in the city. And as a husband and new homeowner, moving out of our apartment at Layton Hall, I look forward to raising my family here and hope that the needs of the next generation are represented fairly as we balance that with the needs of our residents.
My background in local government makes me well-suited to the more difficult conversations we face and will face in the coming years. Having worked for both political parties and in both the public and private sectors, I am uniquely suited to navigating our challenges as it comes to budgeting, housing and development, and the economy and our small business needs. More importantly, it defines my temperament and allows me to also navigate the complexities of council, working to balance competing interests and to value the often-lost art of compromise while still being decisive.
Learn more at www.anthonytamos.org
2. Development & Quality of Life (under 200 words)
The City is experiencing redevelopment in areas such as Northfax, Kamp Washington, Old Town, and along the Route 50 corridor. What level and type of development do you believe the City can realistically accommodate without negatively affecting residents’ quality of life? In addition, if an existing unresolved development was sold to a data center developer, would you approve this application?
Development has many different implications and each case presented to council is unique. Whether it be a townhome proposal, a multifamily development, or a data center – we need to evaluate the pros and cons of each proposal and garner community input to come to a sound decision. It is a dangerous precedent to judge potential projects that may not come to fruition nor be financially achievable before there is a discussion on them. However, we can recognize the realities of our city as we move forward, which is one of the goals of the Small Area Plans. We need to look at what community benefits are provided from a project, how does it work within the existing transportation network and what roadway connections may come with it, what are the needs of the population and how we can encourage greater affordability, and even the reputation of the developers themselves. We can continue to grow in a sustainable manner without over encumbering our communities. Too much development is bad and no development is bad – so let’s be moderate and practical.
3. Budget & Priorities (under 200 words)
The City has limited resources and cannot fund every worthwhile project. What is one program, project, or spending priority you would be willing to delay, reduce, or reject——and why? In addition, please add your thoughts about the general retail sales tax not to exceed 1% to provide revenue solely for eligible capital projects involving the construction or renovation of schools, public transportation purposes, or both that will appear on the November 3 ballot.
We can reasonably delay or reduce the scale of our capital improvement projects, which we can control the size and financial capacity for. This is where we typically have the most flexibility for our debt and spending, so we can plan accordingly unlike our recurring and unpredictable expenses such as established contracts. However, strategically investing in our public infrastructure and maximizing funding sources from the state is vital to maintaining the character of our community and our reputation as a service-oriented community. Regarding the 1% sales tax, I support its use for school infrastructure. We will monitor the public transportation implications as the state has its discussions. Considering the recent increases in both the meals and transient occupancy tax, I intend on advocating to scale back both industry-specific taxes proportionally.
4. Taxes & City Spending (under 200 words)
Fairfax City has a relatively high level of services for a small municipality, but residents are also facing rising costs. How would you balance maintaining the services residents expect with keeping property taxes and other local costs affordable?
The most important thing about budgeting is predictability. Operating with uncertainty and without a clear, unified direction forward can lead to shifting policy decisions that impact our ability to maintain services at an affordable rate. For a unified vision, I recommended that we form a 2050 Visioning Committee comprised of community members, as we did with the 2020 committee, to produce recommendations and goals that we should target by 2050. Knowing what kind of city we will want to be and how to be adaptable to what may come is vital and that process should start sooner than later. Since this has received council consensus, we are looking at discussing this further next year as we begin to analyze our comprehensive plan.
We must prioritize our business community and maximize our available resources. The more our businesses thrive, the less reliant we have to be on real estate taxes, so we need to diversify our tax base through the creative experiential economy and driving up foot traffic. I’d like to pursue a fee refund program for delayed permits, produce a start-up grant for Mason alumni in our Small Area Plan areas, and support workforce housing development.
5. Regional Cooperation & Development (under 200 words)
Projects in neighboring jurisdictions can significantly impact the City (e.g., the AT&T redevelopment). How would you collaborate with regional partners to manage these impacts, and how would you resolve situations where the City’s interests differ from theirs? In addition, please add your thoughts about FCPS and City partnership review.
One of the first items I asked for is for the city to have representation on more of Fairfax County’s boards and commissions so we can have direct communication with our counterparts. Fortunately, having worked for Fairfax County and serving on several regional/state boards, I can directly leverage my relationships to translate the needs of the city and set our targets effectively. One of the most important things about my role is simply to bring the right people to the table so we can have a productive conversation. This includes our regional partners as well as nonprofits, the business community, banking institutions, and other organizations.
6. Major Projects & Infrastructure (under 200 words)
The City is making significant investments in infrastructure and facilities, including the Willard-Sherwood Health & Community Center. What criteria should City Council use to determine which major projects receive funding when resources are limited?
Community benefit and input, condition and its impact on staff and service, economic development opportunities associated with the project, costs, and timeline. These are fundamental to look at for each project. Resources should be treated as if they are always limited since we need to be able to adapt to unique circumstances as a government, like a pandemic or recession.
7. Virginia Constitutional Amendments (under 200 words)
The November 3 ballot will include three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution concerning reproductive freedom, marriage rights, and voting rights after felony incarceration. Do you support or oppose these amendments, and why? As a Fairfax City Council member, how would your views on these constitutional questions influence the way you lead and represent residents who may strongly disagree with you?
I support the amendments because it is the right thing to do. Regardless, I will respect the decisions of Virginians. Whether we agree or disagree with these questions, it does not affect how I will serve you since you elect us to represent you, not dictate to you.
8. Civility & Governance (under 200 words)
City Council decisions can generate strong disagreements among residents and elected officials. What specific steps will you take to maintain a civil, respectful, and productive Council—even when you strongly disagree with another Council member?
The question is if you can disagree without being disagreeable. We cannot take these decisions personally and should assume our colleagues come from a good place. Public attacks, yelling, fearmongering, grandstanding, and bashing should all be avoided. I have worked to organize monthly outings with council so we can see each other as people away from the dais. All of council even attended my wedding last September. This should be normalized moving forward and include opportunities to meet informally. We may not be best friends, but we can appreciate and respect one another. Ultimately, the responsibility falls on each individual member to maintain relationships and decorum. Regardless of who is elected, we need to work together and find compromise for the best of the city. My door is not only open to the community, but always open to my colleagues as well.
9. Accountability & Ethics (under 200 words)
How can Fairfax City residents, rather than any political party or special interest group, hold you accountable, and what will you do to ensure transparency in your decisions and follow-through on your commitments?
I meet with everyone whether you support me or not. An open-door policy is vital and I attend events frequently to hear from the community as well. I do not make decisions lightly and always share my reasoning for a “yay” or “nay” vote; however, I will share the correct information so community members can be informed of all information. I will value my commitments and still keep an open mind if new information or feedback is received. I typically avoid making a final decision until after the public hearing when everything is on the table.
10. What do you love about the City and your final thoughts? (under 200 words)
I love the people, the culture, the opportunity, the pride that we have, and that we can truly be a city for everyone. A university town, yes. A small town with historic charm, yes. A hub for economic development and diverse communities, yes. The City of Fairfax has boundless potential and can only be constrained by itself. Thank you for your faith in me and I promise to represent you with everything that I have!
