Whitney Rhodes, Patch Staff

<b>Hometown</b>: Born/raised in Fairfax, Va.

<b>Birthday</b>: November 23

<b>Bio</b>

Whitney created a community-focused news website, Connect2Mason.com, during her college career at George Mason University. She graduated in 2008 and moved up to New Jersey to serve as Asst. New Media Editor for the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill. She then jumped on the turnpike and landed in Cranford as Patch local editor No. 9. She pestered Patch editors to let her help launch one of the first sites in the DC-area and they finally gave in, assigning her hometown, Fairfax City.<br><br><b>Beliefs </b><br><i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. <br> <br> This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.</i><br><br><br><b>Politics</b>

<i>How would you describe your political beliefs?</i>

My crisscross views won&#39;t let me take sides. When people ask me my politicial affiliation I usually tell them I&#39;m left-leaning ambivalent voter with conservative tendencies. Make any sense? If so, please explain it to me.<br><br><b>Religion</b>

<i>How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?</i>

I was raised in a family of sometimes practicing southern baptists, but I&#39;m non-religious.             <br><br><b>Local Hot Button Issues</b>

<i>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?</i>

Transportation (uggh traffic), driving interest downtown, redeveloping parts of Routes 50 and 29, everything education, etc.

<i>Where do you stand on each of these issues?</i>

Please tell me your stance - whitney&#64;patch.com