Candidate Profile: Samantha Tungul For Manassas City Council

MANASSAS, VA — Manassas will choose Democratic nominees for three City Council seats along with congressional primaries during the June 18, 2024 election.

Democratic candidates who win in the primary will go on to the general election for the three City Council seats. Candidates are Ashley Hutson, Tom Osina, Mark Wolfe, Samantha Tungul and Anthony McGhee. Osina and Wolfe are running for re-election, while Hutson, Tungul and McGhee are seeking election as newcomers. Vice Mayor Pamela Sebesky is not running for another term.

City of Manassas will have the Democratic City Council primary, along with Republican and Democratic primaries for the 10th congressional district and a Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Early voting for the general election began on May 3 and continues through June 15. More information on how to vote is available from the Manassas Voter Registration and Elections Office.

Patch asked candidates for Manassas City Council to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Samantha Tungul's responses:

Name

Samantha Tungul

Office Sought

City Council

Campaign Website

www.samanthatungul4manassasva.com

Age (As of June 18 election)

38

Education

BA in Creative Writing from Roehampton University

Occupation

General Manager at Honey & Ivy, and Owner of String of Trills

Family

My husband, Jeremy Rood, is a Financial Manager at Cushman & Wakefield

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Previous public office positions or appointments

Chair of Manassas City Beautification Committee

Why are you seeking this office?

Our Vice Mayor is not seeking re-election, and I’ve always been interested in serving on our City Council.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

I believe my background and experience gives me a unique perspective the other candidates don’t have. As a former military brat, I moved around A LOT. By the time I was 11-years-old I had already lived in seven states. I also lived overseas where I received my undergrad in London, UK. It’s always interesting to see how other communities approach similar problems we all face, and apply the best solutions to our own community. It’s what I plan to do if elected.

What do you see as the top issues facing your city, and how do you address them in your campaign platform?

I like to describe my platform as an umbrella. The overarching theme is Community Care, and underneath the umbrella is smart, economic development, affordable housing, and sustainability. Those three platform pillars are what I’m focusing on, and what I would like to keep the focus on if elected.

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

I have a communications background, and being able to clearly communicate with residents is vital when serving in public office. What I’ve learned so far since knocking doors is people aren’t happy with our taxes being so high, and they don’t feel heard. I’d want to bridge that communication gap so residents remain engaged with what’s happening in their community. Likewise, I have 17 solid years as an administrative assistant, which may not sound like much on the surface, but many folks know what good admins are able to accomplish. I’ve supported various government contracts giving me another unique perspective the other candidates don’t have.

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

This is my first time officially running for public office. I’m passionate about serving so Manassas can be a leading example of how a community supports its residents, thus being a positive model for other communities who are looking to do the same thing. Manassas is a small City, but I believe we can have a big impact, and show what strong communities are capable of.