Madison F. Granger Runs For Arlington County Board: Candidate Profile

ARLINGTON, VA — While most of the attention this political season has been on the presidential race, Arlington residents will also be casting ballots on Nov. 5 for candidates running in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives (8th District), county board and school board races.

Madison F. Granger, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, is on the Nov. 5 ballot in the race to fill the vacant seat on the Arlington County Board. She's running against Audrey Clement, Juan Carlos Fierro and Julius D. "JD" Spain Sr.

As part of its coverage of the 2024 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 they're running for.

Your Name

Madison F. Granger

Position sought:

Arlington County Board

Have you been endorsed by a recognized political party? If so, which one?

Forward Party

Age (as of Election Day)

30

Campaign Website

madison4countyboard

Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share about your family.

I grew up in a military family. My father, Kenneth Granger, served 22 years in the Marine Corps before retiring and building a small business called Granger Medical which now employs about a dozen people.

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

I have no relatives in politics or government.

Education

Bachelor of Arts from Duke University (English major, Political Science minor) / Master's of Management Studies from Duke's Fuqua School of Business

Occupation - Please include years of experience.

Personal Trainer / Group Fitness Instructor (3 years), previously human capital management consultant and corporate wellness client manager

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

I believe we need more than two parties with a real seat at the table to have a healthy democracy—at the national, state, and local levels. In Arlington, we really only have one party in control, which is essentially a monopoly. The bitter divides we’ve seen in our community in recent years around Missing Middle/EHO are a symptom of this. Because we don’t have healthy competition in our general elections, the Democratic primary voters essentially choose the County Board members in Arlington, even though they are a smaller and less representative cohort of the population than the general election voters. I want to help lead our community away from the dysfunction that the current monopoly system creates.

As the Forward Party candidate for County Board, I want to role model listening, understanding, and solving problems with compromise and attention to all perspectives. I believe I can be the kind of leader Arlington needs: one who will bring us together to find effective, common ground solutions.

The Forward Party is a national political movement that aims to model civility in politics, pass reforms that give more voice to the people, and prioritize collaborative problem-solving over party rhetoric. Forwardists are also champions for political innovations and structural reforms, like Ranked Choice Voting, that strengthen democracy and elevate the voice and will of voters

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

The county’s approach to housing development is the most pressing issue. I will be an advocate for continuing to build housing, but taking a measured approach. Most agree we want people who work here to be able to live here. Police officers. Teachers. Our children. Our biggest lever to address this is more apartments along our main traffic corridors. I agree with pro-housing advocates that we should also examine how single-family home neighborhoods can evolve to be a part of the solution. However, we need to do it right. A Forward Party principle is “Build from the Bottom Up, Not the Top Down–working for consensus-driven solutions.” Many felt last year’s EHO policy came from the top down, was not consensus-driven, and didn’t do enough to address valid concerns. It was too much too soon. When policymakers thrust that kind of change on people, backlash and dysfunction ensue and we’ve seen that. I advocate for a slow roll-out of EHO with careful monitoring. We need to look at the data, another Forward Party principle. This will allow county leadership to revise as we go, make sure the policy is achieving its goals, and minimize adverse environmental impact.

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

My campaign slogan, “Shaping Arlington’s Future Together,” is based on the two main things that differentiate me in this race.

First, as the youngest candidate, I bring a forward-looking perspective. I want to ensure we are focused on the future. How can we evolve to meet today’s challenges (housing, environmental degradation, etc.) and opportunities (new technologies, automation, etc.) so that we’re on track to thrive tomorrow and for decades to come?

Second, as a candidate who isn’t from the mainstream parties and the only candidate who hasn’t run before, I’m not so intertwined with any particular interest group that I’m unwilling to engage with the “other side” and hear diverse perspectives. I’m a natural bridge builder with loved ones on both sides of the aisle. I will strive to represent all my constituents and I’m up for working with anyone who is willing to engage in good faith (a key principle of the Forward Party). In this way, I believe I’m the best candidate to represent the whole of Arlington.

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

We’ve had one-party/monopoly control of the Board in recent decades--all members have been Democrats, with few exceptions. We haven't had as many of the checks and balances that healthy governments should have. Adverse symptoms of this include escalating taxes and the bitter divides we’ve seen around Missing Middle/EHO. Good government should not create this level of controversy.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Key aspects of my vision for Arlington’s future include:

1. A well-functioning democracy with improved civil discourse, continued use of ranked-choice voting, and data-informed decision making
2. Budgets that reflect more fiscal restraint to balance investments in our community’s long-term health with affordability of running businesses and living here
3. Public transportation and infrastructure that support: a more livable Arlington; economic growth; and positive environmental outcomes like cleaner waterways, reduced emissions, and protection of green spaces
4. A Potomac River clean enough to swim in (Arlington contributing to this goal to the extent within our power)
5. Top-of-the-line community spaces that continue encouraging our residents to be physically active, spend time together, and get outside (all three of which support mental health!), including parks, trails, bike paths and lanes, walkways, community centers and fitness facilities, pools, fields, courts, tracks, etc.
6. Permit processes and tax structures that encourage leaders to do business here

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

While I was on the track team at Duke University, I served for two years as a representative in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) legislative process. This role involved grappling with tricky, divisive issues like early recruiting, time demands, and transfer rules. I facilitated discussions to help diverse stakeholders find common ground and, guided by the insights from these discussions, I shaped and voted on policy that still impacts student-athletes today. I represented over 10,000 student-athletes from across the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which included 15 universities and 35+ sports at that time. I was praised for quickly understanding the nuances of complex issues, having an acutely sensitive leadership style, and being an analytical and pragmatic thinker.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I will always love the classic “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” An example of how my campaign has been guided by this advice: because reducing waste is very important to me, I’ve decided to use biodegradable yard signs, recycled paper for fliers, and thrifted t-shirts for volunteers (shoutout to local screen printing business LA Tee-Shirt for helping make this last one possible). These have each come with a marginal increase in cost but to me it has been worth it because it has meant living my values. I hope to be part of a change to reduce the amount of waste that political campaigns generate.

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

This year is the first time Arlington will use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in the general election, which means you will be able to rank your top three candidates. I hope to earn your support and be your #1 ranked candidate. If not, you still have the opportunity to rank me as your #2 choice!

I’m a strong supporter of RCV and have advocated for the adoption of RCV policies at County Board meetings and at the state level in Richmond. I support RCV because it eliminates the spoiler effect, so voters can give their support to the candidate they truly like best and more candidates can run without worrying about aiding the proverbial “other side.” That strengthens our democracy. It also requires winning candidates to have broader support. It incentivizes them to find common ground with their opponents’ voter bases because they need to earn those #2 rankings. I’m excited that Arlington is leading the way among American localities in using this style of voting. Our example has recently inspired Charlottesville to follow suit!