2022 Candidate Profile: Jon R. Stehle Jr. For Fairfax City Council

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Jon R. Stehle Jr. has served on the Fairfax City Council since 2016 and is seeking reelection to the council in the Nov. 8 general election.

Stehle Jr. is running against incumbents D.T. "Tom" Ross, Joseph D. Harmon, and So P. Lim, as well as fellow challengers Anahita N. "Ana" Renner, Billy Bates, 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

Jon Stehle

Campaign Website

www.jonstehle.com

Family - Names, ages and any pertinent issue you wish to share

Married to Dr. Stephanie Stehle 2 Children – Zoe Stehle and Cooper Stehle

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

U.S. Naval War College, MA National Security and Strategic Studies University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, MPIA Washington & Jefferson College, BA History, Minor Physics

Occupation - Please include years of experience

Councilmember, City of Fairfax 2016 to Present Director, Tyler Technologies 2020 to Present President, Virginia Municipal League 2021 to Present

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Elected to City Council in 2016. Previously served as the Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for the City of Fairfax.

Why are you seeking elective office?

The City is where Steph and I chose to start our family and we are proud that the City of Fairfax is Zoe and Cooper’s hometown. I am running for reelection to continue to: ensure our community gets value for our tax dollars with top-notch services, connect with local businesses to move our economy forward, and to work to maintain our City’s unique community feel.

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

Re-connecting – and I intended to continue the work we have done as a Council this year to re-build and strengthen our connections within our City and across the region, especially the work we are doing to create the Fairfax Village in the City.

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

In this next election, we are losing over 100 years of service to the City of Fairfax. If elected to this next team of council, I will bring my 6 years of experience as well as my record of collaboration within the City and across the Commonwealth. These connections will be critical as we reconnect and grow following our experience with the pandemic.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Maintaining out triple A bond rating through sound fiscal management is key to the future success of the City. I am proud of the work this Council has done on funding our five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to insure we are investing to support not only our citizens today, but also those of the future. Fire Station 33 is an excellent example of the type of project that addresses current and future needs. Investing in our schools through partnership with our new schoolboard will be a similar effort this next team of elected officials will begin to undertake. I look forward to bringing my collaborative and thoughtful approach to large capital investments to this effort.

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

In addition to my work as a Councilmember these past three terms, including working with businesses to stay open in the height of the pandemic, working with non-profits to address the increased demands, and collaborating with our university partners, I would highlight the work I have done this past year as the first elected official from the City of Fairfax to be President of the Virginia Municipal League (VML). Leading a statewide organization with diverse views, needs, and issues has helped shape my ability to listen and to look for solutions, even in the toughest of circumstances. This past year also helped me to better understand the importance of meeting people where they are to gain a more complete picture of their needs.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I am a member of EGLG (Engaging Local Government Leaders) and their motto “Work Hard, Be Kind” is one I share with others often.

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

My passion for service for our community goes beyond my work on Council. I am involved in with the Fairfax Police Youth Club, in particular the Lacrosse program. I serve on the executive committee of the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League and am a member and certified coach with USA Lacrosse. I am also a coach with the Reston Raiders Ice Hockey Program and am a member and certified coach with USA Hockey.

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: Ana Renner Running For Fairfax City Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Jeff Greenfield Runs For Fairfax City Council
• 2022 Candidate Profile: Billy M. Bates 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