2023 Candidate Profile: Lisa Downing Challenges McKay For Fairfax County Chairman

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Lisa Downing, a retired CIA employee, is seeking to unseat the current chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chairman in 2023.

Downing is challenging current Chairman Jeffrey McKay in the Democratic primary on June 20, 2023. She worked for the federal government for 30 years before retiring in 2019.

Early voting began May 5 for primary elections in Fairfax County. All Fairfax County registered voters can cast a ballot in the Democratic primaries for Board of Supervisors chairman, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney and sheriff. Board of Supervisors districts will primaries are the Dranesville, Mason, Mount Vernon and Springfield districts. Select areas will have primaries for Virginia House and Senate districts.

SEE ALSO: 2023 Democratic Primary: In-Person Voting Starts Friday In Fairfax

Patch asked primary candidates for Board of Supervisors chairman to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Downing's responses:

Name

Lisa M Downing

Office Sought

Chair, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Campaign Website

lisadowningforfairfax.com

Age (As of June 20 election)

65

Education

Master in Public Administration, The George Washington University
Bachelor of Science, SUNY Maritime College

Occupation

Retired

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Previous public office positions or appointments

None. I retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 2019 after 30 years in Federal Service.

Why are you seeking this office?

The Board of Supervisors has lost sight of the fact that its purpose is to act according to the needs of the residents of Fairfax County. I want to restore the primacy of residents, by ensuring the Board of Supervisors acts on behalf of residents instead of for special interests.

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

— I have experience from other governmental organizations that have faced budgetary uncertainty and survived by understanding that priorities must be met even at the cost of other programs. I have a Masters degree in Public Administration. My opponent can only draw on what he knows from working within Fairfax Government. His inability to manage the county is represented by the low salaries our teachers, police officers, and firefighters receive compared to surrounding localities.
— I believe the Board of Supervisors and the county government report to and act for the betterment of the residents of the County. The incumbent has consistently ignored the voice of the people in order to fulfill the agenda of special interests.

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

— Education and public safety are the most important services Fairfax County provides to its residents, and I will ensure that they are fully funded every year.
— Fairfax County made the right decision to focus on Affordable Housing. However, teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, small business owners, and many county employees cannot obtain the American Dream in Fairfax County: they cannot purchase a home. They are a commuter workforce, and unable to vote in the county they serve. I will institute a program to increase the availability of homes that Fairfax workers can purchase.
— I believe that every decision and every policy forwarded by the county needs to take into account its environmental impact on, and equity outcomes in the community. I will establish an independent ad hoc advisory panel to inform the Board of Supervisors of these issues.

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

— I have survived many experiences that allow me to understand the concerns of the majority of Fairfax residents. I was afraid of the violence that was prevalent in my high school. I was the first woman of color to enter the regiment of cadets and graduate from SUNY Maritime College. I endured the animus directed at the women because we did not belong at the school. I was the recipient of racial bias and slurs. After college, I faced unemployment, underemployment, and housing instability. Many times during my working years, my ideas were dismissed because I was a woman. Because of these experiences, I can not and will not dismiss the voices of the underrepresented in Fairfax County.
— I spoke Truth to Power at college and throughout my career. Many times this worked against me personally, but in the end Power yielded to Truth.
— I served as the treasurer, and then president, of my condo association. I successfully represented their rights before the Planning Board to prevent the extension of a frontage road that would negatively affect our community. I improved the investment of short-term and long-term assets that were available to upgrade infrastructure. As a result, our property values increased.
— At the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), I projected fiscal year and long-term funding requirements that were based on priorities. This ensured that no matter how the budget fluctuated, we funded the most important operations.
— During my time at the CIA, I managed teams that provided logistics, contracts, IT, security, budget, and finance support.
— When I worked at the CIA, I would not go home without surveying my desk and asking three questions: Will anyone go to jail? Will anyone get injured? Will anyone die? If the answer to one of those questions was “yes,” I would not go home until the danger was resolved. The questions are different for Fairfax County. Before the Board of Supervisors makes any decision, I will ask them: How will this affect the surrounding neighborhood? How will this affect our Equity goals? How will this affect our Environment? Fairfax is a community and all decisions must be for the betterment of the residents of today and tomorrow.

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

As an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency, I worked on behalf of one customer: the President of the United States. As the Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I will have one customer: the residents of Fairfax County.

SEE ALSO: 2023 Candidate Profile: Jeffrey McKay For Fairfax County Chairman