2022 Candidate Profile: Billy M. Bates Runs For Fairfax City Council

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Billy M. Bates is a student at George Mason and is running for one of the six seat on the Fairfax City Council in the Nov. 8 general election.

Bates is running against incumbents Jon R. Stehle Jr., D.T. "Tom" Ross, Joseph D. Harmon, and So. P. Lim, as well as fellow challengers Anahita N. "Ana" Renner, Kate Doyle Feingold, Craig S. Salewski, and Jeffrey C. Greenfield for one of the six seats on the council.

Patch asked each of the candidates in the city council race to fill out the following questionnaire.

Name

Billy M. Bates

Campaign Website

BatesforFairfax

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Education

College student

Occupation - Please include years of experience

College student for 1 year

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Environmental Sustainability Committee high school liaison

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm running to make my hometown of Fairfax City safer, more affordable, and more inclusive, while protecting the progress the current Council has made from being rolled back.

The single most pressing issue facing the City of Fairfax is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing the City of Fairfax is development, and I support being more accepting of significant affordable and low income housing projects, greater density and walkability to support the economic viability of our activity centers, and the creation of an adequate street grid and more of a mix of residential and commercial uses to reduce traffic by eliminating bottlenecks and reducing car trips.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the most progressive candidate in the race, I have the most transparent, comprehensive policy platform, I've lived in Fairfax City all my life (as has my father, except for a few years living just outside the city), and I've been endorsed by U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly and former Governor Terry McAuliffe. I've interned with each of their campaigns, as well as a state Delegate's office and OneVirginia2021. I am also majoring in physics at George Mason, set to graduate December of next year, and am the only candidate with a chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, or physics background (I have credit for at least a couple courses in each of these areas), which would enable me to utilize quantitative analysis and in-depth research in making decisions on behalf of city residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I support a variety of other actions to benefit Fairfax City, including the creation of a civilian law enforcement review board with full powers, the enhancement of our gun ban on city property, continuing free CUE bus service for the foreseeable future, allowing clinics, including reproductive health clinics, by right in all commercial districts without the burden of steep special use permit fees, as was the case prior to 2013, and requiring city staff to be vaccinated against COVID, as current guidance indicates vaccination protects others the individual comes in contact with, in this case city residents.

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

I have been a senior at George Mason since last December, and was on track to graduate this December, a month before turning 20, although I choose to stay an additional year to major in physics. As an intern for state Delegate Alfonso Lopez, I conducted policy research regarding current political issues. I actively participated in meetings of the city's Environmental Sustainability Committee for a year as the high school liaison. I have also been involved in contacting elected officials and advocating for specific issues at the federal, state, and local level for the past 5 years.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

To always be true to yourself and your values, and always stand up for what's right.

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

I love Fairfax City, and I want it to be the best that it can be. I believe the platform I have laid out on my website outlines the best way of making that happen. Fairfax will always be my home, no matter what happens this November.

Related:

• 2022 Candidate Profile: So P. Lim Running For Fairfax City Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Joseph Harmon Running For Fairfax City Council
• Fairfax City Residents Meet One-On-One With Mayor, Council Candidates
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Jon R. Stehle Jr. For Fairfax City Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Ana Renner Running For Fairfax City Council
• Fairfax City Residents Meet One-On-One With Mayor, Council Candidates
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Jeff Greenfield Runs For Fairfax City Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Craig Salewski Runs For Fairfax City Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Tom Ross Runs For Fairfax City Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Kate Doyle Feingold For Fairfax City Council