Culture

I'm running for City Council because I believe Fairfax deserves Council members who will listen to them, work respectfully with others, and make decisions based on facts. My goal is to protect what makes Fairfax special while preparing us for a strong and sustainable future. I bring a mix of executive leadership, financial discipline, and a pragmatic approach to solving problems. Whether we are discussing development, transportation, housing, or the city budget, my approach is simple: look at the facts, talk with residents and business owners early, and focus on outcomes that benefit our community. Listening is only step one. The valuable work is taking what you hear, pairing it with real data, and integrating it to make win-win solutions. Public input can often feel like a box-checking exercise after a decision is already made- I want residents to know their feedback shapes the final outcome.

Hello City of Fairfax. My name is Steve S. Chang. I am running for Fairfax City Council because my wife Jie and I love this community and want to help ensure that Fairfax remains a welcoming, thriving, and financially responsible city. My campaign has been about building relationships with each City resident. In my eagerness to talk to you, I get so excited when I head out to door knock every day. Because public policy requires people and without people, we don’t have a City. You are important to me. And I can make one true promise to you that my door will open for you when you knock on mine. My background spans business, non-profit leadership, Christian ministry, and community service. After pursuing doctoral studies in theoretical physics, I founded several businesses, including an IT company. I later founded Global Mission Church of Virginia and am one of four owners of The Independent News Press. My commitment to Put Fairfax First focuses on community-driven leadership, fiscal responsibility, support for local businesses, environmental stewardship, and safe neighborhoods. I believe residents deserve meaningful input on decisions, and taxpayer resources must be managed carefully. As Fairfax evolves, we must balance growth with protecting neighborhood identity, green spaces, and public services. Working alongside residents, city staff, the Mayor, and Council, I will seek practical, enduring solutions through respectful partnership. Please visit my website chang4fairfax.com for more information. This City has given much to my family, and I am eager to give back. I would love to grab a cup of coffee or wine so please sign up for my events. Please welcome to my website to sign up for events at chang4fairfax.com. I would be honored and grateful to earn your vote on November 3.

Since settling in Fairfax City in 2002, my life has been dedicated to connecting people, cultures, and institutions. As a proud resident, immigrant, dedicated community organizer, and full-time public servant working in Human Services at the Fairfax County Health Department, I am running for City Council because our local government must reflect and uplift our diverse, multicultural community. My professional career gives me firsthand insight into the systemic health, welfare, and infrastructure challenges our local neighborhoods are experiencing. True progress requires solutions-oriented leadership, inclusivity, and unwavering systemic accountability. My platform focuses on breaking down linguistic and structural barriers, ensuring every working family has a powerful voice in local governance. Additionally, my extensive background in labor advocacy—including serving as Director of SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax, leading the historic unionization vote for nearly 12,000 county employees, and negotiating Virginia’s first-ever public collective bargaining contract demonstrates my proven ability to bring stakeholders together and deliver tangible, systemic results. On the City Council, I will tackle the pressing issues on behalf of our community. My priorities include supporting our schools and teachers, expanding local housing protections and affordability, passing a Worker Retention ordinance to safeguard contracted service workers, and protecting collective bargaining options for city employees. I am also committed to ADA compliance across public spaces, expanding access to public transportation, and enacting equity-focused budgeting that ensures public dollars are distributed responsibly and effectively.

I’m running for City Council because the character and quality of life in the City of Fairfax matter to me. Our shared future belongs to the people who live here now and those who are to come. For that reason, our city is best served by thoughtful, inclusive debate on how we can address the needs of residents and businesses now and into the future. We need to return to more collaborative governance and commit to transparent decision-making. I want to hear all voices and different points of view – homeowners, renters, neighborhoods, businesses, old, young, new to the city, long-timers – and not just the voices of a select few – and I am ready to do the hard work of building consensus on council and in the community at large to deliver practical, fiscally responsible solutions that keep our city beautiful, livable, and safe for all of us. I will bring a business perspective to governance, as well as that of a resident and taxpayer. Fairfax City once enjoyed a healthy revenue ratio of 60% business and 40% residential taxes and fees. Today it is reversed: Residents provide 65% and businesses provide 35% of the city’s revenue. I believe we can grow our economy and address residential housing needs while preserving our natural resources and the unique character and quality of life that makes Fairfax City home. Fairfax works best when we work together. Our city belongs to all of us, and the best decisions come from listening to one another, respecting different points of view, and finding common ground. That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to City Hall. I’m excited about what we can accomplish when we focus on what unites us—and I’m asking for your vote on Nov. 3 to help make that vision a reality.