Sandi Slappey Brown Puts Taxes, City Services At Center Of Council Campaign

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City Council candidate Sandi Slappey Brown says rising taxes and the increasing cost of providing city services are among the biggest challenges facing voters, and she wants the city to seek new revenue sources that can ease the burden on homeowners.

Brown identified development, taxes and city services as interconnected issues in her responses to Patch’s candidate questionnaire.

“Many Fairfax City residents are concerned about rising taxes to pay for City services,” Brown wrote. “It costs more today than it did a year ago to provide the same level of services – both labor and materials costs are going up.”

Brown pointed to the Fairfax City Parks Foundation as an example of finding alternative funding for infrastructure that could free general tax revenue for other needs. She also called for expanding commercial activity and the city’s commercial tax base to reduce reliance on real estate taxes.

Brown, 59, is a social work manager who has worked in the field for 38 years, primarily in local government. She has served as a chief or assistant chief election officer since 2006 and was Fairfax City’s representative to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board from 2020 to 2023.

Brown is running for Fairfax City Council in the Nov. 3 general election.

The other candidates running for City Council are Stacy R. Hall, Rachel M. McQuillen, Anthony T. Amos, Russell A. Jones, Kelly M. O’Brien, Stephen S. Kim, Susan Hartley Kuiler, María José Padmore, Steve S. Chang and Jessica L. Lough.

Patch invited candidates to share their backgrounds, priorities and views on issues facing Fairfax City through its campaign questionnaire. Brown’s responses follow below.

Your Name

Sandi Slappey Brown

Position sought

Fairfax City Council

Age (as of Election Day)

59

Campaign Website

www.ssb4ffx.com

City elections are traditionally non-partisan and candidates must run as independents, according to both the city charter and the Code of Virginia. No party affiliation or "mark" will appear next to any of the candidates' names on the November 2026 ballot. Have you been endorsed by a recognized political party or have you aligned yourself with a group of candidates representing themselves as independent, non-partisan candidates, including candidates running in other city races?

I have been endorsed by a political party.

Please elaborate on your answer to the previous question and explain how this will affect the way you will serve on the city council.

First I want to clarify – the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee has identified candidates that it recommends; it is not formally endorsing any slate of candidates. I applied for a recommendation from the Committee and was selected. I have always identified as a Democrat. And while the elections are officially non-partisan, I
believe that letting voters know this helps them understand my underlying values – those of inclusion, respect, and a sense of responsibility for those around me and the environment we
live in. These values will drive my approach to serving on the City Council.

How does your status as described in the two previous questions help Fairfax City voters choose a candidate that best aligns with their particular political beliefs?

I am open about my political affiliation with the Democratic party. I welcome conversations with voters about what that means to me and appreciate hearing what it means to them.

Family

Tom Brown, husband. Two adult children – Ben and Kevin
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Industrial/Organizational Psychology; GMU; 2023. Masters in Social Work (MSW), Catholic University of America; 1991. Bachelor of Social Work (BSW); GMU; 1988.

Occupation

Social Work Manager; 38 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

Appointed as Chief or Assistant Chief Election Officer, 2006-2026. Appointed Fairfax City representative to Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board, 2020-2023.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have been a social worker for almost 40 years, working primarily in local government. I also have served as a chief or assistant chief election officer for 20 years - supporting free and fair elections is a core value for me. I grew up in a family committed to public service – both of my parents were Federal foreign service employees, and we lived in seven countries before coming
to the U.S. This upbringing gave me a worldview and an early understanding that communities thrive when different people and perspectives come together.

I’ve spent my career promoting the well-being of my community. I’ve recently added a degree in industrial/organizational psychology to strengthen my skills in leadership, communication, and organizational change. Serving as a councilmember is a natural extension of all I’ve done. I understand how local government works, and I understand the need to make sound decisions, considering all available information and perspectives, that serve the long-term best interests of the community.

I am seeking a seat on the Fairfax City Council to bring a balanced perspective that values both history and growth, support for small businesses and affordable and diverse housing options, and that embraces both long-time residents and those who wish to join our welcoming community. I will be a Council member that engages in constructive dialogues to hear many perspectives and makes decisions that move us forward.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The biggest issues facing Fairfax City voters are intertwined and involve development, taxes,and City services. Since the question below asks about development, I will focus on taxes and services here.

Many Fairfax City residents are concerned about rising taxes to pay for City services. I believe the Council and City staff are diligent in looking for ways to manage expenses. It costs more
today than it did a year ago to provide the same level of services – both labor and materials costs are going up. And having worked in local government for almost 30 years, I understand the need to shift focus as needs change over time. It is challenging to adapt to changing conditions in ways that are cost-neutral.

One example of a creative revenue strategy I recently learned about is the Fairfax City Parks Foundation which will be able to raise money for parks and recreation infrastructure. This frees
up general tax revenue to use elsewhere. I very much appreciate this kind of creative approach. I also believe we need to continue pressing for more and better commercial activity in the City. I
believe the new Economic Development Director is heading us on a good path for this.

Increased commercial tax revenue will help lessen the burden on real estate tax revenue. I have been interested in seeing the mixed-use project proposals and support the City’s position of
ensuring the right balance of commercial and residential uses in each project within the context of the communities where they will be.

What approach should Fairfax City take to new development and redevelopment? What types of projects would you support or oppose, and how would you balance housing needs and economic growth with concerns about traffic, infrastructure and neighborhood character?

At last count, there were 24 significant projects in some stage of development, from pre-application to construction. That is a lot for our City! Most seem to be asking for special exceptions and end up in many rounds of negotiation with City staff, relevant commissions and boards, and City Council as the developer gets feedback and makes adjustments. I am interested in how we can be clearer up front about what we’re looking for, and in how we can streamline this process so we can shorten the time to fruition. I believe the zoning ordinance amendments are a good approach to that. They more clearly state our expectations, and what
the City is willing to do for developers (e.g., increased height or density) when they offer to build something we want (e.g., more and better green space or improved transportation elements).

I am very interested in exploring approaches to bringing more commercial space to the City, both to attract more visitors and to expand the commercial tax revenue, offsetting real estate tax
revenue. I believe that having people live near the commercial centers supports the vibrancy of these areas, and promotes walkability. We have many mixed-use projects being proposed at
this time and need to evaluate each for what it brings to our City overall, and to the neighborhood it would become a part of. We want to manage the growth and change in our activity centers and neighborhoods so that their essential character remains. We also need to look at the data on traffic, infrastructure, and City services - understanding historical trends and future projections - to guide these decisions.

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

I bring more than 30 years’ experience as a social worker, most of it in local government. My training and experience have taught me how to understand people in their environments – in the neighborhoods and communities. My approach to work is centered on learning and growth – listening to various perspectives, bringing out voices that are often not heard, reviewing data and information, and hearing the stories that bring it all to life. I engage in difficult conversations from the same place – seeking to understand. I ask questions and listen to learn, and strive to explain my position in ways others can understand. I find this approach often leads to strengthened relationships – not always agreement, but a better understanding of each other. So that as decisions are made, even when there is disagreement, there is transparency about the rationale and considerations.

Voters can see my approach in action as I have been attending numerous board, authority, and commission meetings to learn about the critical work they do to advise City Council. I have spent many evenings attending meetings including Planning Commission, Board of Architectural Review, Housing and Healthy Communities Board, Parks and Rec Board, School Board, Environmental Sustainability Committee, Commission on the Arts, Commission for Women, and Village in the City Board. I put in the time and do the work that is needed to meet the people and gather the information for the job at hand.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

There are three open seats on City Council. I am seeking one of them. I will speak to my approach to governing and do not feel the need to comment on the performance of the current Council. I commit to serving with respect for my fellow elected officials, for the City staff, and for the residents we serve. I commit to having constructive dialogues in which I will learn from others and will share my perspective. I commit to doing the work behind the scenes to be prepared for Council meetings and for decision-making. I commit to transparent decision-making and sharing my rationale so that others can understand the factors considered. Overall, I commit to representing the interests of Fairfax City and those who live and work here.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My top three priorities are related to development, housing, and trust in government. As development was covered in an earlier question, I will address the other two here.

I am interested in how the City can continue to seek diverse types of housing that will welcome in new residents – including market-rate, attainable, and affordable housing. I am speaking with realtors, developers, and residents to better understand what paths there can be for this. I understand that investors are seeking profit and want to explore ways the City can incentivize the types of housing we want so that we can find solutions that work.

I appreciate the partnerships that make things possible, such as the partnerships that are building Beacon Landing to provide permanent housing for those who are currently unhoused, and the partnerships that will enable the Fairfax Presbyterian Church to build affordable housing on their land. I appreciate creative approaches such as the new ordinance for detached Accessory Dwelling Units – these may enable homeowners to offer a new type of housing to new residents.

Another priority area for me is about trust and stability in government. My approach emphasizes cultivating trust among residents, business owners, city staff, and city leaders through transparent and rational decision-making. I will work hard to strengthen our relationships to ensure that as we work together, we have a smooth flow and common purpose. I promise to be open-minded and transparent about decision-making. I will do what I say and keep my commitments. Wherever we fall on the continuum of agreement, I will respect differing perspectives and seek to understand.

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

I have had a very successful career as a social worker, primarily working in the macro sphere, leading operations teams to support child welfare services. I had a lead role in creating an onboarding academy to ensure new practitioners are prepared to do their job. I have a lead role in implementing an AI-note-taking resource to reduce the administrative burden on the practitioners and free them up to spend more time with families. I lead efforts to provide data to inform decision-making and to advocate for needed change. This has been a rewarding career supporting our workforce and our community.

I returned to school from 2021 to 2023 to earn another master’s degree in organizational psychology, demonstrating my ability to work hard and accomplish objectives. I sought this program because this field provides the foundational research and practice guidance for areas such as leadership, organizational change, employee motivation and satisfaction, and workplace communications. These are all issues I deal with on a daily basis, and I knew I would benefit by learning more about them.

Another area I am proud of is successfully running elections as a chief or assistant chief election officer for 20 years, serving in both Fairfax County and Fairfax City. Our election professionals are top notch; they ensure all elections diligently follow the law and provide us the structure and resources to manage the election processes and produce timely, accurate, defensible results every time.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

There are two pieces of advice that stay with me. The first is “work is done through relationships.” It is key to get to know those around you, in all spheres of life and work, and be collaborative to accomplish whatever the task is at hand. The second is “learn the rules of the game and play it backwards and forwards.” This guides me to do the work to always learn, to ask questions, to be curious, and then to apply that knowledge to accomplish what I set out to do.

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

I look forward to opportunities to continue meeting with residents, business owners, and those who care about our City. I am learning so much every day, and will bring all of this with me into my role as a Council Member. I will do the work you need to get done to represent the best interests of our City.

Also See ...

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• Fairfax City Democrats Recommend Lockhart For Mayor, Four Council Candidates
• Fairfax City Voters Now Know November Choices For U.S. Senate