Supervisor Penny Gross Not Seeking Re-Election; Newcomer Announces Campaign

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Longtime Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member Penny Gross announced Tuesday she won't seek re-election in 2023.

Gross, a Democrat who represents the Mason District of Fairfax County, is in her seventh term on the Board of Supervisors. She plans to retire at the end of her term after the 2023 election. Upon her announcement, Democrat Andres Jimenez announced his bid for the Mason District seat.

Gross said she is proud to have played a role in making Fairfax County a good place to live, work, play, learn and worship for the diverse community.

"There is lots more to do, but there always will be lots more to do. I love my job, I appreciate and respect my colleagues and treasure all of Mason District and the residents who have placed their trust and confidence in me for the past 27 years.

Gross was first elected to the board in 1995. She has been vice chair since 2009 and chairs the board's Personnel Committee. She is a previous chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Northern Virginia Regional Commission boards and now represents Fairfax County on them. Gross was previously president of the Virginia Association of Counties, vice chair of the National Association of Counties’ Energy, Environment, and Land Use Committee, and previous president of the National Association of Regional Councils. She is a past chair of the Local Government Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Executive Council and continues to serve.

Before joining the board, Gross worked for 20 years as staff in congressional offices. From 1985 to 1997, she was on the Lincolnia Park Civic Association board as well as the Mason District Council of Civic Associations board from 1988 to 1995. She has held various PTA positions and is an honorary life member of the Virginia State PTA. She helped found Friends of Mason District Park and co-managed Girl Scout Service Unit 52-4 for nine years. Gross and her husband, Hal, live in Lincolnia.

Chairman Jeff McKay said there will be opportunities in the coming months for the board to celebrate Gross and her legacy.

"There will be a lot of time for us to reflect on this in the months, but I think the simplest thing to do today is just to share with you how grateful I am for everything you've done for the county and for the residents of Mason District," said McKay. "And how proud I am for the legacy that you built for others and the leadership attributes that you brought to the table in an always reasonable well-organized respectful well-thought-out way."

All Board of Supervisors seats will be up for election, as well as the Fairfax County School Board and Virginia House and Senate seats. The Mason District includes areas of Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Seven Corners, Lake Barcroft, Lincolnia and Springfield.

Jimenez is the first Mason District representative candidate to announce a campaign for 2023. He is currently an at-large Fairfax County Planning Commissioner and executive director of Green 2.0. He has past experience working in the New York City mayor’s office and on Capitol Hill. Jimenez is a member of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and a board member of the Culmore Clinic, which provides medical care and counseling at little or no cost to people in need in Bailey's Crossroads.

"Mason District is home," said Jimenez in a statement. "This is the community my wife and I chose to raise our children in, and this is where I’ve been proud to work as an advocate and public servant for many years. Now, I’m excited to be running to represent the great neighbors and residents of Mason District on the Board of Supervisors."

Pandemic recovery, affordable housing, transportation solutions, climate change, revitalization of older commercial areas, and investments in staff and schools were mentioned in Jimenez's campaign announcement. Jimenez lives in Falls Church with his wife, Shanna, two daughters and three rescue pets.

Jimenez also thanked Gross for her service on the board.

"I want to thank Supervisor Gross for her decades of service to our community and our workers, particularly as the leader of the Board’s Personnel Committee and former chairwoman of the Environmental Committee," Jimenez said. "She’s been a friend and a champion for so many, and I know we all have a great deal of admiration and thanks for her lifetime of service."