'Scary, Out Of Control' Cambridge Calls Arlington Debt Burden: Candidate Questionnaire

ARLINGTON, VA — Bob Cambridge was unaware of Arlington County's debt burden until he began looking into it as part of his campaign.

"It is scary and possibly out of control," he said. "Arlington County's finance shave a major impact on affordability, the success or failure of Arlington's school system, and the continuation of a current arrangement which results in a very favorable place to live."

Cambridge is one of five candidates running in the Nov. 4 general election for the at-large seat on the Arlington County Board. He faces incumbent Takis Karantonis (D), Audrey Clement (I), Jeramy Olmack (I), and Carlos De Castro Pretelt (I). Early voting began on Friday and runs through Nov. 1.

As part of its coverage of the 2025 election, Patch has asked each of the candidates in the Arlington County Board race to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job for which they're running. The following are Cambridge's responses.

Your Name

Bob Cambridge

Position sought:

Member, Arlington County Board

Age (as of Election Day)

80

Family: Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share.

Wife, Mary, not quite as old as I am.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any
relatives who work in the government you're a candidate in.

No

Education

B.S.T.M., M.S.T.M., Juris Doctor

Occupation

Attorney since 1979, did legitimate work too.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

Opportunity to meet nice folks, to learn by listening, and to make my concerns better known. I was not aware of Arlington County's debt burden until looking into it for my campaign. It is scary and possibly out of control. Please email bcesq@verizon.net for more detail.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I was not aware of Arlington County's debt burden until looking into it for my campaign. It is scary and possibly out of control. Arlington County's finances have a major impact on affordability, the success or failure of Arlington's school system, and the continuation of a current arrangement which results in a very favorable place to live. Please email bcesq@verizon.net for more detail. If you can prove me wrong, I would be very grateful. Like any major problem, we need to address it one bite at a time. That is not what is being done and that is my concern. What I intend to do about it is make the issue known and encourage others to pass on the information. That is more important to me than winning this election.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I do have lots of experience, much gained by making mistakes which I hope not to
make again. Better that such mistakes only impact my life, not the lives of all
Arlington citizens. I appreciate the importance of different perspectives,
particularly when problems need to be solved. I have learned that I learn much
more by listening than by talking. I have learned to appreciate and learn from
those with whom I disagree. I do not always end still in disagreement.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

One party has had a controlling position (4 to 1 or 5 to 0) since 1978. Not necessarily totally bad, but there has been what I perceive as a tendency to engage in debt financing in a manner that no household could safely maintain. The symptom is a debt load that is refinanced with more debt, not a sustainable policy. I see several factors in the situation that force continuance on a path with poor long term consequences. For example, Moody’s rewards municipalities with an AAA rating if debt service (principal and interest due on bonds already sold) can be kept below 10%, not of revenue needed to pay that debt service, but expenditures! So if you spend more, you can stay below the 10% level. One way to do that is to spend more! Arlington has done so, particularly in recent years.
That cannot go in indefinitely. Arlington citizens have paid more in real estate taxes, either directly in taxes or indirectly as additions to rent demanded, each and every year for the last forty-two with the exception of two years where the tax amounts due stayed the same as the prior year. Those taxes have never gone down in the last 42 years. I know because I have been paying my share of them.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

While LGBTQ+ students should not be bullied, their interests must be balanced with the interests of all other students, not asserted while ignoring the interests of others. That has led to much effort criticizing each other’s positions, effort better utilized in finding a resolution acceptable to all.

We very much need to have middle grounds developed and discussed. Both sides are currently on the barricades and that will not result in resolutions that lay the issues to rest.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I was a Captain in the Army and had management experience in several units. I taught information science topics at the Central Intelligence Agency where I learned the importance of making a major effort to see problems from several perspectives. If I could present an idea from two perspectives, I got feedback that demonstrated that many of the participants understood the point. If I could present an idea from three perspectives, I never failed to get understanding from any participant.
I was in Japan for three years, 1970 to 1973. The Japanese had implemented management techniques advocated by an American professor named W. Edwards Deming. Deming emphasized getting input from employees who had hands on experience with the source of the problem. Who knows better what needs to be improved on the assembly line than someone working every day on that assembly line?

Constant search for improvement was also an issue. The Japanese ended up producing cars that were, in the early 1970’s, clearly better than American cars, and also less expensive. Thank goodness American manufacturers adopted Deming’s techniques too.

I am an attorney and have served as General Counsel for local government contractors. I have had some experience with the burden to a business of government regulation. I have also served as a defense counsel for individuals charged with criminal matters and individuals defending against mental health commitment petitions. I understand what such individuals face and, often, why they are where they are.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

From my father: do what you enjoy and take pride in a job well done.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want to do whatever can be done to start a dialogue, not an argument. I do know
that there is a lot I can learn from individuals

Also See ...

• Stopping Voter Suppression Focus Of Jeramy Olmack: Questionnaire
• Early Voting For Nov. 4 Election In Arlington: What To Know
• Missing Middle Voters' Prime Concern: Board Candidate Audrey Clement
• 1st District House Of Delegates Primary Results: Incumbent Patrick Hope Wins
• Arlington Co. Board Primary Results: Democrats Choose Takis Karantonis