Independent Candidate Enters Mount Vernon District Supervisor Race, Shares Priorities

FORT HUNT, VA — Incumbent Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck will face challengers in the general election, including an independent candidate.

Christopher Morgan recently announced he is running as an independent candidate for Mount Vernon District supervisor in the Nov. 7, 2023 general election. The other candidates are the incumbent Democrat Storck and Republican Richard Hayden.

Morgan lives in the Mount Vernon District resident with his wife, Sumrall, a preschool teacher, as well as a 5-year-old son. He is on the board of the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens' Association, chaired its Environment & Recreation Committee for two years and is president of the Stratford Landing Citizens Association.

Morgan told Patch several issues motivated him to join the race — the proposal to build a co-located Penn Daw Fire Station and homeless shelter near West Potomac High School, the $1 billion investment for Bus Rapid Transit, not enough focus on addressing crime and providing a "safe, quality, non-political education."

"Mount Vernon is where George Washington himself chose to live and should be the jewel of Fairfax County. However, with rising crime, crumbling roads and infrastructure, and trouble in our schools, it's not trending in the right direction," said Morgan. "I'd like to be able to leverage my experience and energy to make it better. This is where I chose to live and raise my family and while I've always been an active participant, I believe I can serve the community well in this capacity."

On crime and safety, Morgan points to crime trends in the district.

"We're seeing an uptick in shootings, in smash-and-grabs, and in larcenies. This also includes the fentanyl crisis that is in our streets and in our own schools," said Morgan. "We must end this immediately. People must feel safe when they're going shopping, traveling at night, dining out, and sending their children to school."

Morgan says strategies to pull people out of poverty can help address crime. As supervisor, he wants to support continuing education and jobs opportunities for all levels to help families build wealth.

Morgan has also criticized Storck's support for the co-located emergency shelter, which is proposed at the former Hybla Valley Nursery on 2801 Beacon Hill Road, Alexandria, VA.

Morgan noted the proposal would be within a 1.5-mile radius of six schools.

"Nothing against homeless individuals, but this facility will have no way to vet sex offenders and criminals and should not be adjacent to our students," said Morgan.

Morgan also spoke out about infill development, a trend in the Mount Vernon District that can involve by-right developments replacing a home with multiple homes. Storck had created an infill development task force to evaluate strategies to addressing this by-right development that the county cannot stop.

Morgan believes that while infill development can increase housing supply, it puts a strain on infrastructure. In cases of trees being removed from lots, Morgan says there have been examples of stormwater runoff and flooding issues as a result.

"I've been advocating for the preservation of our old-growth heritage hardwood trees for years," said Morgan. "The loss of canopy, the water absorption and carbon sequestering from roots, and the natural habits the tree provides for native birds and insects are critical to preserving our environmental resources and are part of the character of this area."

In Lorton, Morgan pointed to resident concerns about the federal government considering transferring 50 acres of public land in Mason Neck at Mustang Loop for an equine facility not open for public use.

Morgan's other priorities include opposing the trend of budget increases and property tax increases, prioritizing education over politics in schools, creating a 311 system to address resident requests for repairs, opposing the financial burdens the county's living shoreline policy puts on private property owners and more.

Morgan believes the next Board of Supervisors "needs balance" and an independent voice. He is optimistic about the district being open to an independent candidate. He cites the district including land once owned by George Washington and George Mason, two Founding Fathers, who avoided political parties to work for the country.

"In the present day, many of the people I have been meeting are tired of the divisive politics and partisan bickering," said Morgan. "I want to bring the conversation to local issues that affect our families and our quality of life and have the ability to work with all parties — political or otherwise — to find common sense solutions."

All Board of Supervisors seats are up for election on Nov. 7, 2023. Early voting will begin on Sept. 22.