Candidate Profile: Doug Francis For Vienna Town Council

VIENNA, VA — Doug Francis, a realtor, is seeking election to Vienna Town Council in the Nov. 4, 2025 general election.

All six Vienna Town Council seats and mayor are up for election in 2025. Before 2023, Town Council seats had staggered two-year terms with elections in May.

There are seven candidates for six Vienna Town Council seats, and Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert is unopposed in her re-election bid.

Francis is running for Town Council along with incumbents Sandra Allen, Chuck Anderson, Roy Baldwin, Jessica Ramakis and Howard Springsteen. Newcomer Dann Nash are also running. Councilmember Ray Brill is not seeking re-election.

SEE ALSO: Vienna Town Council Forum Set Before November 2025 Election

In addition to the town elections, Town of Vienna voters will have Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and Virginia House of Delegates 12th District on the ballot. There are also Fairfax County public school bonds up for a voter referendum.

Early voting for the general election begins on Friday, Sept. 19. 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 Francis's responses:

Name

Doug Francis

Office Sought

Vienna Town Council

Campaign Website

www.dougfrancis.org

Age (As of Nov. 4 election)

62

Education

BA, Boston University

Occupation

Real Estate

Family

Married with two adult children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Previous public office positions or appointments

None

Why are you seeking this office?

To serve and improve my community. I have been an active advocate for Vienna residents for almost thirty years. I have a list of accomplishments, including the flashing crosswalks on Beulah Road, proposing the Town's tree donation fund, as Vice President of the North East Vienna Citizens' Association (NEVCA), and as a past President of the Vienna Commons HOA.

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

We have lived in three of the four corners of Vienna over the 29 years that we have lived here. This experience gives me a unique perspective to bring to the Council on neighborhoods, lifestyle issues, and what makes each area special. Working with neighbors on local issues when I was President of the HOA and as Vice President of NEVCA also gives me valuable experience to bring to the Vienna Town Council.

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

As a long-time resident, I view aging infrastructure, public safety concerns, and fiscal responsibility as the top pressing issues facing Vienna.

Infrastructure improvements, particularly to the town's water, sewer, and stormwater systems, will represent a significant financial burden to fund necessary upgrades. Many of Vienna's water lines date back to the 1950s and operate at minimal pressure levels. The town's stormwater management systems have been overwhelmed in handling increased runoff from our expanded development over the last two decades. An extensive system overview and maintenance is a start, with plans to increase future capacity.

As a parent and daily walker, public safety remains a top issue at our homes, when crossing busy streets, and at community events. Enforcement of speed and stop sign violations, fresh street markings, and a driver/pedestrian safety campaign are important to me.

As a taxpayer, fiscal responsibility is a top issue for Vienna residents. It is essential to stress the need for careful evaluation of proposed projects to prevent overextending future town budgets, especially while addressing infrastructure needs.

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

Examples include working with the Town Council to address VDOT road construction issues, submitting a petition that the Council approved to improve pedestrian safety with flashing crosswalks on Beulah Road, and proposing the town's tree donation fund. As the President of the Vienna Commons HOA, I addressed daily student parking problems, replaced damaged trees with native street trees, negotiated landscaping and snow removal contracts, maintained the community budget, planned for the future replacement of our private road, and modernized our neighborhood children's play area.

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

Vienna voters can learn more about my priorities in a video introduction at dougfrancis.org