Susan Hartley Kuiler Running In Fairfax City Mayoral Race: Profile

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — While most of the attention this political season has been on the presidential race, Fairfax City residents will not only be voting for candidates running in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (11th District) races, they will also be casting ballots for mayor, city council and school board candidates.

Susan Hartley Kuiler worked for 40 years in the public and private sectors in software developmet. She is on the Nov. 5 ballot in the Fairfax City mayoral race, hoping to unseat incumbent Mayor Catherine Read.

As part of its coverage of the 2024 election, Patch has asked both of the candidates in the Fairfax City Council mayor's race to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins on Sept 20. More information about the election is available on Fairfax City's Voter Registration & Elections page. Non-city voters can visit the Fairfax County Office of Elections or the Virginia Department of Elections for more information.

Your Name

Susan Hartley Kuiler

Position sought

Mayor

Age (as of Election Day)

Campaign Website

Kuiler4Fairfax

City elections are traditionally non-partisan and candidates must run as independents, according to both the city charter and the Code of Virginia. No party affiliation or "mark" will appear next to any of the candidates' names on the Nov. 5 ballot. Have you been endorsed by a recognized political party or have you aligned yourself with a group of candidates representing themselves as independent, non-partisan candidates, including candidates running in other city races? Please check the answer that is most appropriate.

Please elaborate on your answer to the previous question and explain how this will affect the way you will serve as mayor.

I and other independent candidates are working together to call attention to the importance of independent, nonpartisan local elections. We run our own separate campaigns. We have come together as independents to underscore that addressing issues and moving this City forward must not be constrained by political party committees, cliques, or a small group of people who select and endorse candidates. To learn more about us, please visit www.independentfairfaxcity.com.

We must keep machine politics out of the City of Fairfax government by restoring our longstanding tradition of independent, non-party machine local governance. Machine politics have no place in our City government. They have already blighted governance at national and state levels, and we must not allow this kind of politics to become embedded here. Our City has a long tradition of independent, non-party elections that has been compromised in recent years. Consequently, we must honor our heritage of independence by restoring it to ensure sound, open government in our City.

The results of the recent Mason Dixon Polling & Strategy poll, published in the Fairfax Independent newspaper, confirm that City of Fairfax voters are dissatisfied with political party machines: By a wide margin, our voters support keeping elections for City offices non-partisan. Voters prefer candidates and elected officials who are responsive to voters’ concerns and who are not beholden to a small group of people in a local political party committee who select or endorse candidates. Historically, one reason tyrannical governments fail is that they set up political machines that prize loyalty and ideology over innovation, creativity, and exploration, which are especially important in developing alternatives and solutions to problems.

In short, City of Fairfax voters want to vote for their independence from political machines and local political party committees. Voters do not want to toe any political line that stifles innovation, creativity, and exploration of alternatives in defining and solving local problems.

Proud to uphold this long-standing tradition of political independence, I stand as a candidate for mayor who cares deeply about keeping local elections free from political party influence. I will strive to gain and maintain the trust and support of all City of Fairfax residents and not just a small group of people who are members of a local political party committee. As mayor, I will meet regularly with voters to engage them collaboratively by listening to their concerns and ideas for improvement. Furthermore, I will hold special meetings with neighborhood and community groups directly affected by proposed City projects to make sure we not only hear what residents say but identify and address consequences that the council and City staff may not have considered.

How does your status as described in the two previous questions help Fairfax City voters choose a candidate that aligns with their particular political beliefs?

Up until the last election in 2022, City of Fairfax voters selected candidates for local office by asking candidates about their perspectives on various issues or by visiting their websites, and not by asking candidates about their political affiliations or beliefs. Political ideology does not necessarily lead to effective governance. Furthermore, most voters did not know or care about a candidate’s political affiliation or particular political beliefs. Instead, they assessed the candidate’s character and views about issues affecting the City. Indeed, it was often difficult to determine whether an elected official was “a true blue” Democrat or a “true red” Republican based on their decisions as mayor or council members. The mayor and council strove to work collaboratively to serve best the City of Fairfax voters.

While the Commonwealth of Virginia’s decision (in response to lobbying by at least one major political party) to change our local elections from May to November increased voter turnout, it also increased substantially the partisanship in our local elections. For only the second time in our history (the first time was in the very distant past), the two local political party committees issued sample ballots that included endorsements of candidates for local offices. In 2022, the overriding issue was the extent to which a candidate was “aligned” with the ideology of a political party. Local issues were not necessarily front-and-center.

Based on the recent Mason Dixon poll, this is not what City of Fairfax voters want when they go to the polls to elect City of Fairfax officials. We need to reassert our independence from political parties, particularly local political party committees, by assessing each candidate’s character, governing style, experience, vision for the future of our City, and, if an incumbent, the candidate’s decisions and actions while in office. Does the candidate listen to voters in order to understand their concerns and ideas? Will the mayoral candidate work collaboratively with council members to achieve consensus or will the candidate work along political party lines? Is the candidate open to others’ views and alternative courses of action, or is the candidate driven by political party ideology? Is the candidate for mayor focused primarily on the well-being of the City of Fairfax residents rather than the well-being of surrounding jurisdictions? Will the candidate work collaboratively with other jurisdictions while focusing on the well-being of our City of Fairfax?

The City of Fairfax voters want a mayor who is not beholden to one or the other political party’s ideologies or who considers herself to be a “regionalist.” Instead, voters want a mayor who listens to them and works collaboratively with the council to achieve consensus about what our priorities are so that we can work together to keep our City beautiful, livable, and safe for all of us.

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

Erik Kuiler, my husband, and I share our home with two older dogs, whom we adopted from a shelter and who had been together all their lives until they were abandoned.

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

No.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Oakland University; Project Management Institute’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification; Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering Administration. Central Michigan University; SAIC courses: Cost Benefit Analysis and OMB Exhibit 300 Scoring; Project Management I and II, PMP Preparation; Earned Value Management System Training; various SkillSoft courses, such as Facilitating Works Groups and Meetings, Facilitative Fundamentals-Technique and Tools, and The Role of the Facilitator; ESI International’s Project Leadership, Management, and Communications; Knowledge Academy’s ITIL Foundation; and various Project Management Webinars offered by PMI Washington, DC Chapter.

Occupation - Please include years of experience.

I have worked in Information Technology (IT) in the public and private sectors for 40 years in software development, project and program management, and capital planning and investment control. My teams developed disaster response and recovery systems for FEMA and a variety of IT solutions for other agencies. In building these systems, all team members contributed, we reached consensus on what to do, and then I oversaw the execution of the solution. We were effective and efficient. As mayor, I will apply this same dedication and team-based approach to addressing the city’s tough problems. Before transitioning to IT, I managed a music and Hallmark card store that went from losing money for the preceding 7 years to turning a profit and did it during an economic downturn. I did this by building the team: I drew on each member’s skills and ideas and together we streamlined processes, developed good relationships with vendors, and we achieved the goal. I learned firsthand the power of a highly collaborative team. I understand what it means to generate enough revenue to make payroll, develop strong relationships with suppliers, develop effective marketing strategies, and build effective teams. From working for small business enterprises to working on large, complex Federal projects, I have developed the necessary leadership, personal, and technical skills to guide multi-disciplinary, collaborative teams to the successful completion of complex projects and programs.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

As president of the Cambridge Station Association, a self-managed City Homeowners Association, and as Grounds and Maintenance Chair, I have led groups of neighbors to accomplish much-needed common area tasks, oversaw street and parking lot repairs, issued lawn and tree maintenance contracts, managed challenging budgets, and worked to keep us on track and pulling together. In my professional career, I have participated in volunteer activities, such as Habitat for Humanity, hypothermia programs, and feeding the unhoused.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I decided to run for mayor because, as voters told me, the current mayor is not listening to residents’ concerns. By “listening,” I am referring to active listening, that is, listening to understand and not merely to offer negative rebuttals. I have lived in the City for 39 years and, after attending council meeting after council meeting, I realized that the incumbent mayor is neither listening to citizens nor resolving differences on Council in a productive manner. What we need is a mayor who will leave party politics at home and has the experience and skills to do the hard work of achieving consensus that will move us forward.

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

In an age of diminishing resources and tight budgets, we must listen to residents not only to achieve consensus on and set priorities but also to find the best solutions that are within our means and that will work in City to the benefit of all.

While there are many issues facing voters, the primary issue is that elected officials need to listen actively to residents to understand residents’ concerns, and direct City staff to do the same. We also need to solicit ideas for improvement from our residents, who are creative and savvy and, during my talks with them, have offered practical, low-cost suggestions for improvement.

Here are just a few examples of issues that voters have described to me as I have door-knocked in neighborhoods though our City. Voters are concerned about rising crime, particularly violent crime, and the crime reports substantiate their concerns. While voters praise our police officers, they are concerned that the current mayor and some council members are dismissing residents’ concerns. Parents are less likely to allow their children to play unaccompanied by an adult in City parks, and, in many instances, parents are no longer going to nearby parks. Frequently, people walking along our trails no longer feel safe unless accompanied by at least one other person.

Security is about more than keeping homes and businesses safe from robbers and vandals. It includes people feeling safe in our parks and on our playing fields, while waiting at bus stops to ride home or to work, and while walking their dogs or strolling along a trail or in a park. We must give the police and allied social service agencies the tools they need to look after not only our safety but also the safety of public and private property.

Another example: Voters told me that they are frustrated because the Council and City staff have implemented traffic calming measures without consulting the residents most affected by such measures. Bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers have complained that the measures pose a safety hazard and do nothing to “calm” traffic. City staff have admitted that the measures implemented on University Drive, which caused accidents and did not slow speeders, turned out to be a failed pilot project. For another project, City staff did not describe the traffic calming measures during the public neighborway meeting, much less solicit residents’ input about how to implement the neighborway.

A third example: As I campaigned in neighborhoods throughout the City, voters told me they are concerned about housing development promoted by the City, especially high-density housing. While residents support development of housing that people of various income levels can afford, they are concerned that the City of Fairfax is becoming a place where only those who can afford condominiums or homes that start at $900,000 are welcome. They are also concerned about the quality of construction. For example, Scout at the Circle still has water leaking issues; the parking garage at Boulevard VI (the old Paul VI site) floods because rainwater is not directed underground but pours off the roofs.

A fourth example: In neighborhoods across our City, voters have told me they are quite concerned about climate change vulnerabilities, particularly when hundreds of trees in our scarce forests and wild spaces are being destroyed to build bicycle roads when other safe, more cost-effective alternatives exist that use the existing transportation infrastructure. Trees capture pollutants and mitigate the risk of flooding by absorbing rainwater and slowing erosion. Yet, the current mayor and some members of the council continue to promote these destructive projects as measures to combat climate change.

Here is what I will do to engage our City’s residents because they not only deserve to be heard but also have a lot to contribute. I will meet with residents regularly in an open discussion forum. I will actively seek out neighborhood and community input and City staff ideas with the goal of making sure our government is responsive to the issues of importance to the community. Concerns like keeping a lid on taxes, for example, can be better addressed when there is sufficient discussion to learn from residents, City staff, and experts and then to figure out what the City can do to improve its services and keep taxes in check.

Safety is a concern shared by many, and an issue where there is not a simple, one-off solution. In reality, there are opportunities to improve our sense of safety and reduce criminal activity but without community input our leaders are throwing darts in the dark. I will listen. I will then create a path to action that best addresses our concerns while staying within our means. None of us wants empty words, political slogans, or worse, to be ignored. We need, and can achieve, practical, cost-effective solutions.

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

As I have knocked on doors to engage residents, I have learned that the critical differences between the incumbent and me are that I listen to understand residents’ concerns and do not counter with political slogans or platitudes. Rather, I discuss my proven record of working collaboratively with people. When new facts emerge about a City project, I will, as I did in business and in my work in IT, evaluate alternative courses of action and determine whether the project design or scope needs to be modified or the project cancelled. Arguments that we must return or “will lose if we do not use” the “free” grant money obtained from the state or federal governments need to be examined. My experience indicates that state and federal governments understand that projects may change when new information becomes known; the recipient of the grant needs to explain and make a compelling argument for the change.

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

The incumbent mayor and some council members do not listen to residents’ concerns in order to understand residents’ concerns. Instead, when the mayor and some council members disagree with residents, they often do not state why beyond platitudes such as “I want to get people out of cars.” The incumbent does not encourage City staff to listen to residents’ concerns. The incumbent does not advocate for the preparation of inflation- and risk-adjusted cost-benefit analyses. Indeed, for the George Snyder Trail, the advisory group decided not to explore alternatives. When the incumbent learned of this, she did not even suggest that the council direct staff to analyze alternatives.

Based on my conversations with voters and attendance at council meetings, the incumbent does not work collaboratively with council members and does not encourage City staff to do so. As a result, we have major projects that are over budget and behind schedule because the incumbent and some council members have not evaluated project progress and directed staff to explain why the projects are over budget or behind schedule and what can be done to bring the project back on track.

We live in an age of finite resources, and, in order to meet the challenges of the future, we must ensure that our money is spent wisely. At present, project expenditures appear to be made without a broader view of the City’s long-term plans. This approach leads to spending money on many new projects while higher priority items are neglected, underfunded, or unfunded. To meet the fiscal challenges of the future, we must have the requisite oversight and processes in place to ensure that our money is spent wisely and reflects our priorities. We need to make sure that fiscal guardrails are in place to ensure that our money is spent to fund its intended purposes.

The incumbent has suggested that we need to increase taxes to bring our taxes in line with the county but does not explain specifically what the tax increase will be used to fund or why they must be brought in line with the county. As a result, we have no idea whether our budget, given current spending levels, is sustainable. Passing a financial audit that focuses primarily on adherence to accounting principles is a good thing but does not indicate whether the City is on a sound fiscal footing.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

These are the issues — not in any particular order — that define my platform, some of which I described previously, and all of which voters have discussed with me:

• Ensure public safety
• Spend tax dollars wisely
• Keep residents informed
• Preserve our greenspaces
• Conduct sound land use planning
• Support our local businesses
• Increase support for the arts
• Safeguard our children
• Keep our schools strong
• Address climate change vulnerabilities
• Keep party politics out of City government
• Foster collaborative governance
• Address homelessness
• Promote a diversity of housing options

To learn more about my views, please visit https://kuiler4fairfax.com

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

My experience includes developing and evaluating inflation- and risk-adjusted cost-analyses of alternatives, risk assessment, and budget analysis.

I worked in retail for several years. I managed a store that went from losing money for the preceding 7 years to turning a profit and did it during an economic downturn. I did this by building the team: I drew on each member’s skills and ideas and together we streamlined processes, developed good relationships with vendors, and we achieved the goal. I learned firsthand the power of a highly collaborative team.

As president of a City Homeowners Association and as Grounds and Maintenance Chair, I have led groups of neighbors to accomplish much-needed common area tasks, oversaw street and parking lot repairs, issued lawn and tree maintenance contracts, managed challenging budgets, and worked to keep us on track and pulling together.

I worked in IT in both the public and private sectors for 40 years in software development, project and program management, and capital planning and investment control. My teams developed disaster response and recovery systems for FEMA and a variety of IT solutions for other agencies. In building these systems, all team members contributed, we reached consensus on what to do, and then I oversaw the execution of the solution. We were effective and efficient. As mayor, I will apply this same dedication and team-based approach to addressing the City’s tough problems.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

There are three pieces of advice that people have shared with me and that, for me, comprise the best advice. My dad used to tell me to “be myself.” A high school teacher quoted Oscar Wilde to drive home my father’s advice: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Another teacher, in explaining that we may embark on various adventures at different stages of our lives, quoted George Elliott: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

And Christopher Robin, to encourage Winnie the Pooh, said to Pooh: “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” A.A. Milne knew how to encourage children

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

My husband and I have lived in Fairfax City for more than 39 years. After having lived in the Midwest and on the West Coast, Fairfax City is our home. We care for the city: We buy from the shops here, we enjoy each other’s company in the restaurants here, we sit quietly in our city’s parks to enjoy breaks from our busy lives, and we walk our dogs in our neighborhood.

Also See...

• Poll Fuels Debate Over Partisan Vs. Nonpartisan Elections In Fairfax