James Walkinshaw is a public servant and lifelong Northern Virginian who is currently serving as the Braddock District Supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Elected in 2019, he has spearheaded a variety of community-based initiatives during his tenure, including advocating for gun safety, protecting the environment, and delivering tax relief to military spouses. His multiple leadership roles include chairing the Board’s Legislative and Environmental Committees and the Fairfax County-City of Fairfax interjurisdictional committee, as well as serving on regional transportation and planning boards. Previously, Walkinshaw has chaired the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board, where he led efforts to establish the Railway’s first Saturday services. As a former Chair to the Council to End Domestic Violence, he worked for three years to increase access to support for victims and grow the Lethality Assessment Program.
Prior to serving as a Board Supervisor, Walkinshaw spent over a decade as Chief of Staff to Congressman Gerry Connolly, where he managed the congressman’s office, acted as his primary advisor on various issues, and collaborated with state and local government. His work helped facilitate significant legislative victories, including the passage of the Affordable Care Act and secured funding for Fairfax County.
Walkinshaw is a graduate of New York University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics. Along with being an active participant in local government, he is also an active volunteer, having previously volunteered with Fairfax County’s Befriend-A-Child program and Friends of Lake Accotink Park.
Walkinshaw is married to Yvette, and they have one son, Mateo. They currently reside in the Truro neighborhood in Fairfax County.
This information was compiled from Walkinshaw for Congress website.
Stewart Whitson is a combat veteran of the U.S. Army and a former Special Agent with the FBI. He currently serves as the Senior Director of Federal Affairs at a top conservative think tank, where he leads efforts to promote conservative policies on Capitol Hill that emphasize limited, constitutional government. Stewart frequently testifies before Congress on a host of national issues. He has made multiple media appearances on various television and radio programs, as well as written articles for outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Times.
During his nearly ten years at the FBI, Stewart played an active role as an investigator and legal advisor for national security issues. He led a large division of the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence and was the primary investigator of the first ISIS claimed attack on American soil. Stewart also served abroad as an investigator in Iraq, Jordan, and Eastern Europe.
In addition to his legal and investigative work, Stewart was a seasoned military professional. He participated on the FBI SWAT team and served as an officer in the U.S. Army. Stewart has led over 300 combat missions in Iraq, including one that resulted in a hostage rescue.
Stewart earned his law degree and bachelor’s in political science from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree from George Washington University,and a strategic management certificate from Georgetown. A licensed attorney, he is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and several appellate courts. Stewart lives in Great Falls with his wife Melissa and their five children, coaching youth sports and volunteering actively in the church and with Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.
This information was compiled from Whitson for Congress website.
