Rachna Sizemore Heizer Running In Braddock Supervisor Race: Candidate Questionnaire

FAIRFAX, VA — Affordability, on which stability and the quality of life depend, is the most pressing issue facing residents of the Braddock District, according to Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who is running to be the district's next representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

"Families are being squeezed by the rising costs of childcare, housing, and caregiving, and seniors worry they won’t be able to age in place," she said. "At the same time, instability coming from Washington — shutdown threats, hiring freezes, and agency turmoil — is hitting our community hard. Even my own neighbors, friends, and family’s small business have felt the impact. Fairfax cannot continue relying on the federal government as our economic lifeline."

Sizemore Heizer is facing two other candidates on the Dec. 9 ballot — Ken Balbuena (R) and Carey Chet Campbell (I). 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 Sizemore Heizer's responses.

Name

Rachna Sizemore Heizer

Position Sought

Fairfax County Supervisor, Braddock District

Age (as of Election Day)

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

Democratic Party

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

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

University of California, Berkeley, B.A., University of California, Berkeley, J.D.

Occupation: Please include years of experience.

Member, Fairfax County School Board, Braddock District, Professor, Attorney

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

Member, Fairfax County School Board: 2019-present

Why are you seeking elective office?

My values are rooted in fairness, justice, and resilience. As the daughter of immigrants, a former single mother who raised two children—including a son with autism—with the support of this community, and as a leader who has never stopped fighting for opportunity for all, I know what it means to overcome challenges. Every resident deserves leaders who listen, fight for fairness, and deliver real results and I’ve spent my time in elected office listening to people, fighting for opportunity, and delivering real results—not for politics, but for the community that supported me. My values are simple: everyone deserves a fair shot, strong schools, safe and inclusive neighborhoods, and the ability to afford to live, work, and age with dignity in the place they call home.

I believe together we can build a Fairfax County where schools, workers, businesses, and families all thrive. I’m seeking elective office because Fairfax has been my home for 24 years, and I want to give back to the community that stepped up and took care of my family when we needed it most.

I’m running for Braddock District Supervisor because Fairfax is at a crossroads. Families are being squeezed by rising costs, and too many worry they won’t be able to afford housing, childcare, or the services they depend on. At the same time, our economy is overly dependent on an unstable federal government. I am running because I want to build a strong local economy that stands on its own—creating good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, expanding affordable housing options, improving transportation, and protecting our parks and trails—so we can maintain strong schools and essential county services while taking pressure off taxpayers. I’ve spent years bringing people together, solving tough problems, and delivering for Fairfax, and I’m ready to bring that experience and track record to the Board of Supervisors. My goal is simple: make Fairfax a place where everyone—no matter their background or income—can thrive.

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

The most pressing issue facing Braddock District voters is affordability—and the stability and quality of life that depend on it. Families are being squeezed by the rising costs of childcare, housing, and caregiving, and seniors worry they won’t be able to age in place. At the same time, instability coming from Washington—shutdown threats, hiring freezes, and agency turmoil—is hitting our community hard. Even my own neighbors, friends, and family’s small business have felt the impact. Fairfax cannot continue relying on the federal government as our economic lifeline. To keep Braddock a place where people want to live and raise their families, we must build an economy that supports affordability and protects the things that define our quality of life: strong schools, safe and inclusive neighborhoods, and the parks, trails, and community spaces that make Fairfax special.

My plan is to grow a diverse, resilient local economy that stands on its own—one that supports workers, strengthens small businesses, and creates good-paying jobs in the sectors where Fairfax is ready to lead, like cybersecurity, healthcare, AI, clean technology, skilled trades, and aviation. With GMU, NOVA, and one of the most talented workforces in the nation, we can create pathways to opportunity for people with and without college degrees, expand housing options, and reduce pressure on taxpayers. As School Board Chair, I proved that when leaders listen and deliver, we get results: raising teacher pay, passing collective bargaining, expanding literacy and advanced academics, and standing firmly against extremism. I’ll bring that same results-driven leadership to the Board of Supervisors to tackle affordability while maintaining and strengthening our high quality of life—protecting our excellent schools, preserving our parks and environment, ensuring safe and welcoming communities so everyone, regardless of background or income, can thrive, so seniors can age in place and families and young people can live, work, and play right here.

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

The critical difference between me and the other candidates is that I am the only one who has served in elected office, with real experience governing during tumultuous times — and I have done it with heart, integrity, and a deep commitment to this community. As the current Braddock School Board member, Budget Chair and former School Board Chair, I worked closely with state legislators and local officials across every district in Fairfax County. I already have the relationships, trust, and collaborative experience needed to build consensus, move policy forward, and secure the votes required to deliver for Braddock. I know how to communicate with constituents, manage complex issues, and show up at the community meetings, events, and difficult conversations that define real public service. I am ready on day one to build on Congressman Walkinshaw’s excellent record of engagement and responsiveness — which is why he has endorsed and supports my campaign. I am familiar with how to serve the community, meet the needs of our residents, and build the coalitions needed to secure my future colleague's votes to fund and address some big issues facing Braddock - preserving Lake Accotink, renovating Audrey Moore rec center, and ensuring community voice is heard in the Braddock Road multimodal improvement project.

I also bring a unique breadth of experience that no other candidate can match: as an attorney handling complex mergers and acquisitions, I developed the financial and legal expertise to understand big systems and the skill of bringing people together to solve complicated problems. Combined with my work as an advocate, professor, appointed board member, and elected official, I bring the judgment, policy depth, and governing experience this moment demands. I have a proven record of delivering on my promises — raising teacher and staff pay, passing collective bargaining, expanding literacy and advanced academics, and standing firm against efforts to censor or divide our community. Just as importantly, I am the only candidate with a demonstrated record of standing up to extremism and winning while still being able to work in a bipartisan way to get things done. I’ve consistently supported labor, fair wages, and the public servants who keep Fairfax running — which is why I am endorsed by firefighters, teachers, electricians, and service workers. I don’t just talk about values; I live them. I build coalitions, solve problems, deliver results, and work with a full heart — and I’m ready to do the same for the Braddock District on day one.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Three issues define my candidacy:

Affordability: Supporting affordability, including affordable housing, childcare, services for seniors, fair wages, and lowering costs.

Quality of Life: Investing in strong public schools, keeping communities safe, protecting parks and the environment, improving transportation and transit, and addressing local issues such as traffic concerns on Braddock Road, preserving Lake Accotink, and renovating Audrey Moore rec center.

Strong Economy: Creating good paying jobs, building a strong local economy, developing our workforce, creating spaces for community, and protecting federal workers and contractors from funding cuts.

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

I’ve built my life around turning challenges into opportunities to serve others. I entered kindergarten not speaking English, became the first in my family to vote and study at UC Berkeley, and built a career as a lawyer handling complex financial and corporate matters before becoming a law professor. When my son Jake was diagnosed with autism, I found my voice as an advocate—first for him, then for other students with disabilities and immigrant families. That led to creating programs to support families, enacting real statewide change, and service on the Community Services Board and ultimately to the School Board, where I became the first Indian American and first Asian American woman elected countywide. I’ve built a life focused on service - first to my community through coaching and volunteering, then to other special education families, and eventually as an elected official determined to ensure every child has access to an excellent education.

On the School Board, I paired my professional experience with my values and built a proven track record of delivering and getting things done: four years of teacher and staff pay raises after a decade of stagnation, passage of collective bargaining, expanded literacy and advanced math opportunities, and a firm stand against extremism and attempts to rewrite our history. As chair and budget chair, I proved I can lead through crises, manage complex systems, and bring people together to solve hard problems. My record shows I don’t just talk about values—I live them. And I’m ready to bring that same combination of expertise, perseverance, and proven results to the Board of Supervisors.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me came from my mother, a refugee as a child who earned a PhD in mathematics/computer science and went on to be one of the early women working in STEM in Silicon Valley in the 1970s. She told me “Barriers don’t define you — your determination does.” I carried that lesson into my own life, but it became truly real when my son was diagnosed with autism. Advocating for him taught me how to lead with resilience, compassion, and courage — and how to use my voice for those who most need it. Together, my mother’s example and my son’s journey showed me that real leadership means pushing through obstacles, standing up for others, and creating opportunity where it’s needed most.

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

What I want voters to know is that I am someone who leads with empathy, listens with intention, and works with a deep belief in service and what our community can achieve together. I’m motivated by strengthening the “community of communities” that makes Braddock special—places where neighbors know each other, where families feel supported, and where every person belongs. I believe government should make people’s lives easier, not harder, and that red tape should not unduly get in the way of innovation and progress. I’m focused on the practical, everyday issues that matter: improving transportation, protecting our schools, parks, and natural resources, supporting small businesses, and ensuring that families and seniors can afford to stay in Fairfax.

I also want voters to know that I believe strongly in lifting up the next generation. As a professor, I see firsthand the pressures young people face, and I’m committed to building an economy that offers real pathways—apprenticeships, certificates, and degrees—to good jobs close to home. I care deeply about creating a Fairfax where every child has access to excellent schools, where diversity is seen as our strength, where we support our public servants and federal workers, protect our democracy, strengthen our economy, and where everyone feels safe, respected, and welcomed. Above all, I approach public service with heart, integrity, and a clear sense of purpose: to build a resilient, inclusive, and thriving Fairfax for all of us.

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 is 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 is 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 ...

• Ken Balbuena Running For Braddock Supervisor: Candidate Questionnaire
• 3 Braddock Supervisor Candidates Address Furloughs, Lake Accotink Preservation
• 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