ECONOMY

Economic development is on the minds of mayors across the U.S. in 2022. Leesburg has grown beyond a bedroom community to be one of the largest towns in Virginia.

We need to engage all community members to plan for Leesburg’s future, take advantage of outside funding to help our local businesses, create redevelopment incentives, and encourage community investment.

I have spoken to the managers and owners of hundreds of businesses in Leesburg this year. I support connecting our government with big businesses and our community to support our small business growth better. Small businesses create economic growth at the heart of healthy, more vibrant communities.

COMMUNITY

Building a solid sense of community occurs when we promote citizen involvement and respect diversity and inclusiveness.

We navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure our residents continue to receive all the services they need and expect. The town never closed or shut its doors, and the council did not skip any meetings. With the help of our highly qualified and dedicated public servants, residents could stay engaged and informed with our community.

The Town of Leesburg finally has an office for the Mayor, allowing for constituent and business meetings in a more appropriate setting and enabling privacy when warranted. I continue to hold ‘Meet The Mayor’ events at local businesses, and it has been a great way to engage and hear what our residents have to say about Leesburg and how we can meet their needs.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is not just the environment.

We must balance our open space, housing, and commercial development. Maintaining that balance helps us create economic stability and a Leesburg where people want to work, play, and live.

We must always give a voice to people marginalized by race, sexual identity, or poverty. Leesburg has become more diverse, and with better representation, inclusion, and engagement, there can be stronger outcomes.

Residents and businesses must do something to slow climate change and defend against its increasingly fearsome effects, including flooding, heat waves, extreme weather, and more. Our decision-making should focus on how Town priorities affect the environment, the local economy, and social equity.