2023 Candidate Profile: Sandra Allen Runs For Vienna Town Council

VIENNA, VA — Sandra Allen, a budget analyst, is running for Vienna Town Council in the Nov. 7, 2023 general election.

All six Vienna Town Council seats and mayor are up for election in 2023 due to a new Virginia election law. Previously, Town Council had staggered two-year terms with elections in May.

Allen is running for Town Council along with incumbents Charles "Chuck" Anderson, Howard Springsteen and Ray Brill and newcomers Jessica Ramakis, Roy Baldwin and Shelley Mountjoy. Mayor Linda Colbert is also running for re-election and does not have a challenger. Elizabeth Korondy is no longer running for Town Council, and Beth Eachus has a write-in campaign, according to the Gazette Leader.

Town of Vienna voters will have the Town Council and mayoral elections on the ballot, as well as Fairfax County races, Virginia House 12 and Virginia Senate 37. The Fairfax County races in the Town of Vienna include Hunter Mill District Board of Supervisors member and Fairfax County School Board member, as well as countywide races for Board of Supervisors chairman, three at-large School Board representatives, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney, Fairfax County Sheriff, and Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.

Early voting for the general election begins Friday, Sept. 22. More information on how to vote is available from the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

Patch asked candidates for Vienna Town Council to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Allen's responses:

Name

Sandra Allen

Office Sought

Vienna Town Council

Campaign Website

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093073237445&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Age (as of Nov. 7 election)

54

Education

Marymount University

Occupation

Budget Analyst

Family

-I was born in Bolivia, came to US at the age 13. We left behind a system of corruption where wealthy and well connected prosper.
-Discrimination existed against poor and indigenous population. Racism exists all over the world not just in US.
-I have two children, now they are adults.
-I am in a biracial marriage and multi generation household.
-My husband and I enjoyed biking, so when we found this home in Vienna close to the bike trail, we stopped looking.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband works for the Government

Previous public office positions or appointments

I have not held any public office or appointments

Why are you seeking this office?

Some Residents feel that they have been left out of the decision making. Our Local Government is catering the upper social class. While the rest of the residents are left to conform in silence.

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

-My experience here in Vienna brought me to this point. If there is no one that looks like me, representation does not happen.
-People are more willing to talk when they see someone that looks like them.
-I believe in a honest straight forward approach.
- I believe in ending retaliatory practices and encourage all (young and old) to speak up and reassure them that they will be heard.

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

-We need to make sure businesses abide by child labor laws and we must make sure that our local government is informed.
-Mental Health is aggravated by failures to act and respond to abuses on young - bullying and cyberbullying.
-Homelessness can impact anyone. We need to look in our own backyard first. We need to sustain economic changes that may come. I met two young homeless living and working in Vienna, but they were force out. That was cruel, they were educated in Fairfax County.
-We need a diverse tax base, so the burden does not fall on just homeowners.
- We need a task force that helps end the child abuses that are occurring in local schools. It is not just a Fairfax County problem, but it is a Vienna Community Problem.
-We must support freedom of expression no retaliation -Speaking Matters
-Home affordability is necessary-creating incentives and subsidies grants for young professionals such as police officers and others that are seeking to work and live in the community.
-We need to help the Elderly continue to be members of the community. Vienna should provide this at the community Center. Instead of having them be bus around to Fairfax County Senior Centers. They pay for their transportation and food and yearly dues, at an Affordable rate. This helps them be part of the community they lived all their lives.
-Business must adhere to Disability laws. Property Managers/owner must make sure ADA laws are present when construction occurs.
-Equal Representation for all not just for those with wealth and well connected.
-Construction concerns are impacting all. We need to take control of what is being done rather than having development control us. i.e., look into mix use development
-It is the wild west in construction-bartering was occurring with homeowners (water and electricity), and use of public Fire hydrant, electricity was allowed. This takes away from other business that work in this area and can create abuses. Local governments should Incentivizing business creation not compete with them. Specially, when Vienna does not enough manpower to oversee construction projects.
-We need to decide what type of community we are. Are we a Walkable community?
-We need to take steps to help residents enjoy their neighborhoods. Some streets have become cut-through for outside commuters going to Tysons or other areas. We need to consider a way to alleviate traffic.
-Putting Humps to slow down traffic is not the solution. I have seen roads that had this structure install to later be removed. We need better use of Taxpayer dollars.
-We want to know how decision are made who is authorizing the many changes in building codes.
-Making smart decision that will help the community.
-Stormwater drainage needs to be high priority.
-The mayor has office hours, do Town Council member have office hours?
-We need term limits for Committee members and we need diversity in these committees.
-We need a government that says yes “WE CAN DO IT.”

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

I have been working in the background providing feedback to leaders on many issues (Latino Voters at Risk, Youth and Woman Empowerment, Homelessness and Affordable Housing, Youth Joblessness, Multimodal Transportation, Equal Education and School Choice). I believe in advocacy, it works! Otherwise changes would have never happened.

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

I have worked hard to bring awareness to issues impacting the community. I didn't backdown on equal education, so when I realize there was little interest in addressing real issues in Education success, I decided to run for School Board. People needed to know what was happening.

I believe in helping others. I have always helped others through out my life and never expected anything in return. I thank my mother for instilling in me compassion and caring for others. She was a teacher and cared deeply for her student's success. Her students loved her and parents were appreciative for all her hardwork.