Carey Chet Campbell Running For Braddock Supervisor: Candidate Questionnaire

FAIRFAX, VA — For anyone serving as the Braddock District representative to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, job one is to resolve a constituent's issue efficiently or find the right person or official who can, according to Carey Chet Campbell, the Independent candidate running in the Dec. 9 special election.

"We must maintain excellent customer, constituent, citizen service for you at the Braddock District Supervisor office," he said. "We need to fully fund our schools, police, fire departments and human services. We need low property tax rates. We need new revenue sources, and/or spending cuts."

Campbell is facing two other candidates on the Dec. 9 ballot — Ken Balbuena (R) and Rachna Sizemore Heizer. All three are running to complete former Supervisor James Walkinshaw's (D) term, which runs until Nov. 2, 2027.

The seat became vacant when Walkinshaw defeated Republican challenger Stewart Whitson in the Sept. 9 special election, filling the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), who died in May. The former supervisor's victory created the need for the Dec. 9 special election.

Patch recently invited Balbuena, Campbell and Sizemore Heizer to complete a candidate questionnaire, in order to help voters decide which candidate best matches their political beliefs. The following are Campbell's responses.

Name

Carey Chet Campbell

Position Sought

Braddock District Supervisor

Age (as of Election Day)

69

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

Independent

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

Wife: Judith; Aunt Ida, 98 years young.

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.A. University of Maryland, European Division - magna cum laude University of Kentucky, Business & Accounting Albert Ludwig University, Freiburg Germany. German Studies, German Language

Occupation: Please include years of experience.

Accountant, Auditor 37 years TV Anchor, reporter 15 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

Previous: Vice-president, Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Previous: Recording Secretary, Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Previous: Budget Committee Co-Chair, Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Current: Transportation Committee Co-Chair, Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Current: Planning & Zoning Committee Chair, North Springfield Civic Association Current elected office: Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO AFGE Union Local 1534; Current: Contract Bargaining Official. Previous: Third Vice-President AFL-CIO AFGE Union Local 1534; Previous: Second Vice-President AFL-CIO AFGE Union Local 1534; Previous: State Chair, Independent Greens of Virginia Current: State Executive Director, Independent Greens of Virginia

Why are you seeking elective office?

To be of service. To help people.

I have almost 40 years of civic service in Braddock District. I am in my 45th year of federal service including the US Air Force and the Army Reserves.

In this campaign, I have knocked on thousands of doors. At one of those doors, a lady asked me, “Honey, why in the world do you want to do that job?”

“Maam, I seek this position to be of service and to help neighbors. That is the number one job of the Braddock District Supervisor, to listen, and help resolve any issues the residents bring forward.”

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

The Single Most pressing issue is the one you have. Job one is to resolve your issue efficiently or find the right person or official who can.

We must maintain excellent customer, constituent, citizen service for you at the Braddock District Supervisor office.

We need to fully fund our schools, police, fire departments and human services. We need low property tax rates. We need new revenue sources, and/or spending cuts.

• Installing solar & geothermal heating and cooling systems and batteries cuts utility costs and saves taxpayer dollars to fully fund schools. Combined solar-and-storage systems are a foundational part of our resilient, low-carbon energy future. With lithium battery prices dropping 89% since 2010, these hybrid systems improve reliability and grid stability while generating revenue.
• Build carless, carfree communities. Eliminate requirements of a minimum number of parking spaces for new development. Cut parking requirements to zero. End parking mandates. This lowers infrastructure costs and creates revenue. It cuts development and housing costs which creates affordability. Denver cut housing costs by 12%. In communities with good transit, eliminating the parking minimum results in less competition for on-street spaces. Because when you allow a developer to put up a building without parking, the tenants show up without cars.
• Progressive mega-million dollar tax on houses valued over $5 million.

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

I am the most experienced candidate. I have decades more experience in Braddock District civic engagement. That experience brings valuable wisdom and knowledge about the budget, planning and zoning, and transportation. I am the only veteran on the ballot. I am the only independent, not accepting corporate campaign contributions.

I am the only candidate for saving $100 million Braddock District Fairfax County taxpayer dollars a year with renewable energy, solar and geothermal heating and cooling. Advocating for comprehensive renewable energy saves taxpayer dollars. WTOP reported that utility prices have climbed 7% in the past year. This was predictable. Affordability is important and Fairfax County must move to the most affordable energy: renewable energy.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Braddock district should lead in building walkable, bikeable, pedestrian, rail-friendly communities. More Trains, Less Traffic. More trains, more tracks more often. Every dollar invested in rail creates $21 in economic growth.

Advocating for walkability addresses property value, talent attraction, job creation, transportation costs, and subsidies/externalities. Compared to highway investments, each dollar spent on pedestrian facilities created 57% more jobs, and each dollar spent on bicycle facilities created 100% more jobs. Once built, walkable places have stronger economies.

Car ownership is costly. While it is true that all transportation is subsidized, sidewalks and bike lanes represent little more than a rounding error when compared to the cost of roads. The City of Copenhagen calculates that every mile driven by car costs the city 20 cents, while each mile biked earns the city 42 cents. Other externalities of walking and biking are principally those that come from a healthier population

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

Through my decades of success serving in Braddock District and in leadership roles throughout Virginia, I have worked with people across the political spectrum to arrive at positive results. This proves I have the collaborative and necessary listening skills to get the job done.

I am self-financing my campaign and will not accept corporate donations. I have a successful record of being elected to various positions. For decades, I have recruited hundreds of candidates to run for state, local and federal office outside the two legacy parties.

I have been one of the most prolific signature gatherers, door-to-door and across communities in Virginia for decades. I have spoken directly with hundreds of thousands of Virginians one at a time. This gives me a deep understanding of the needs and wants of our neighbors.

This service across almost four decades shows commitment, resilience, and relentless dedication. As a great American said, “On this earth, God’s work must truly be our own.”

North Springfield, VA resident 37 years.

North Springfield Civic Association: Chair, Planning/Zoning Committee; PTA member

Prior Braddock District Council Rep

Fairfax Federation of Civic Associations:

Past VP; Past Secretary, Past Co-Chair Budget Committee

Current Co-Chair Transportation Committee

Metro Council of Governments: Federation Representative; Environmental Committee

AFL-CIO Local Executive Vice-President; Contract Bargaining Union Official; Union member over 30 years.

Braddock District Comprehensive Transportation Task Force

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me was from my sainted mother, Margaret Myrtle Everhart Campbell and echoed by her sisters, Aunt Bessie and Aunt Ida. It is the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to live a life of service to our nation and community in Braddock District. It is an honor and privilege to be a candidate for public office.

We need to focus on today’s pressing and important issues. At the same time we need to build for the future and coming generations. That’s why tight budgets and maintaining the county’s triple A bond rating matter. It’s why future focused zoning matters.

Do not widen roads or build new ones to fight congestion. Induced demand is one lesson that engineers - and politicians - never seem to learn. If you enlarge the street... the number of drivers quickly increases to match the increased capacity, and congestion returns in full force. The data tell us that every new mile of roadway that you build will typically be 40% filled up with new trips immediately and 100% full within four years.

Schools belong in neighborhoods, resist the urge to consolidate them into large facilities. A typical suburban high school now must dedicate more land area to parking than to schooling. In the 1960s, roughly half of all American children walked or biked to school. Currently, that number is below 13%. A more holistic approach to determining school size and location points in a clear direction: small, local and walkable.

Communities with good transit eliminate the parking minimums which results in less competition for on-street spaces, not more. Because when you allow a developer to put up a building without parking, the tenants show up without cars.

Whether it comes to talent attention and retention, job creation, household expenditures, home value, retail performance, or limiting costly externalities, bikelanes mean business. Public dollars spent on bike infrastructure generate roughly twice the jobs as money spent on driving infrastructure. It would be difficult for a city to find an investment that pays off better than bike lanes.

Seventy years of data proves that adding more lanes induces more traffic. We all know this. We live it. The positive taxpayer saving solutions are more trains less traffic, walkable, bikeable, pedestrian, rail-friendly communities. Those communities save tax dollars and human life.

How To Vote For Braddock Supervisor

Only registered residents of Braddock District are eligible to vote in the Dec. 9 special election. Residents can confirm their eligibility to vote by visiting the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.

The deadline to register or to request a mail-in ballot was Dec. 1. Forms sent by mail must be postmarked on or before Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. The online deadline to register normally or update your registration was Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m. Learn more.

Starting on Dec. 2, same day registration will be available at early voting locations. Voters registering the same day will complete a provisional ballot. Learn more.

The early voting period closes at 5 p.m. on Dec. 6. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Dec. 9 and received by noon on Dec. 12. Learn more.

Also See ...

• Rachna Sizemore Heizer Running In Braddock Supervisor Race: Candidate Questionnaire
• Ken Balbuena Running For Braddock Supervisor: Candidate Questionnaire
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• Alexa Krezel To Seek Braddock School Board Seat If Vacancy Occurs
• 3 Vie For Braddock District Supervisor Seat: Early Voting Underway
• Early Bird Candidate Enters Braddock School Board Race
• Fairfax GOP Endorses Candidate In Braddock District Supervisor's Race
• Winner Declared In Democratic Firehouse Primary For Braddock Supervisor