Meet The Candidate: David Ortiz For Falls Church School Board

FALLS CHURCH, VA — In addition to voting for statewide office in Virginia, along with candidates for House of Delegates, residents of the City of Falls Church will be voting for candidates to fill seats on the city council and school board.

As part of 2021 election coverage, Patch has asked each of the candidates in Falls Church to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

This questionnaire was completed by David Ortiz, a program head for a federal agency with a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science, who is running for Falls Church City School Board.

Four seats are opening up on the school board in November due to a mix of resignations and incumbents passing on reelection.

In Virginia, school board positions are officially nonpartisan, meaning none of the candidates running for Falls Church City School Board will have party affiliations next to their names on the ballot.

In-person early voting began at Falls Church City Hall at 300 Park Avenue on Sept. 17. In-person voting will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also vote in person on two Saturdays: Oct. 23 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Nov. 2, election day, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Learn more about Ortiz and why he is running for Falls Church City School Board in 2021:

Candidate

David S. Ortiz

Age (as of Election Day)

51

Position sought (mayor, city council, school board, etc.)

Member, Falls Church City School Board

Family

Nicole Johnston, 44, Spouse
Son, 15, sophomore at Meridian High School
Daughter, 12, seventh grader at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I am a federal official and my sister, Anna Maria Ortiz, is Director of Natural Resources and Environment at the Government Accountability Office.

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 1998
M.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, 1994
B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, 1992

Occupation

I have led a program office at a Federal agency for the past five years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I have not previously held elected or appointed office.

Campaign website

https://ortiz4fccps.info

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for a seat on the Falls Church City School Board to maintain and improve the schools that have served us. In 2013, we moved to Falls Church City because of its excellent schools and supportive and open-minded community. The Little City warmly welcomed us, and we immediately felt at home. The commitment to education was apparent in the resources and programs at the library, and in the schools’ support for our children. Our son is in tenth grade and focuses on music and computer science. Our seventh-grade daughter is a very active student organizer and advocate. The schools have supported them every step of the way.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing the Falls Church City School Board is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-2021 school year was disruptive to the entire community. I am happy and grateful that children are back in school and that mitigations are in place to keep the community safe. The pandemic amplified two existing challenges that we must face: mental health and emotional growth, and equity. I intend to work with my colleagues on the school board, community, and teachers to address these challenges into our new strategic plan and follow through on its implementation.

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

I have over 20 years of experience executing the core functions of the School Board: strategic planning; budgeting; setting policy; and performance oversight. I know how to work with communities to develop a shared vision for the future and put it into practice. I have direct experience working in consensus-based governance organizations like that of the school board.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I believe that local officials acted in the best interests of the health of the community given the quickly evolving situation, limited information, and absence of a formal testing program. I also believe that the Falls Church City Public Schools could have better engaged the community and teachers in their decision-making process.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe that the voices of teachers should play a prominent role in the decision structure of the school board. Teachers are most families’ direct connection to our schools. Teachers inspire our children and hold them accountable. Teachers implement the policies the school board approves. Teachers are a source of innovation and creativity. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the school board to amplify teachers experiences when governing our schools.

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

As a professional, I have demonstrated experience in the four key functions of the school board:

• Strategic planning. I have developed and implemented strategic plans for public agencies. As a senior leader, I am responsible for overseeing the strategic plan for my office, ensuring that it has clear and measurable goals, and leading my team to achieve them. I led a team that contributed to the 2012 Louisiana Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, which the state implemented, taking positive steps to protect its coast and culture.
• Developing and approving a budget. I have been responsible for developing and executing multi-million-dollar budgets for federal agencies, ensuring that the investments achieve results for citizens.
• Setting policy. I have devoted my career to public policy. I was an engineer and policy researcher at the RAND Corporation for 15 years. Since leaving RAND, I have committed myself to federal service where I support developing and implementing public policy.
• Hiring and overseeing the superintendent. As a program manager at RAND and in my federal career, I am responsible for overseeing a complex body of work. I know how to work with performers and to hold them accountable.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Listen louder than you speak.”

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

I work in a consensus-based organization. I understand that making lasting progress as a member of the school board requires that members think beyond building a bare majority of four votes. Our children are best served when the board works together toward common goals.

RELATED: VA Election 2021: Early Voting Set To Begin In Falls Church