3 Candidates Vie For 3 Vacancies On Reston Community Center Board

RESTON, VA — Reston Community Center Board of Governors released its slate of candidates for the 2022 Preference Poll on Tuesday.

Incumbents Beverly A. Cosham and Paul D. Thomas along with Shane M. Ziegler are running to fill the three vacant seats on the board charged with developing policy and providing financial oversight for RCC.

Each property in the Small District 5 will receive a ballot in the mail with a return envelope. Voting will begin on Sept. 9. Mail-in ballots must be returned no later than 5 p.m., on Sept. 29. SD5 residents may also fill out their ballots online or drop-off their completed ballots in the ballot box in the lobby of both RCC facilities.

Voters will have an opportunity to hear Cosham, Thomas, and Ziegler speak during a Candidates Forum on Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m., at RCC Hunters Woods, located at 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191.

Even though there are only three candidates running to fill three vacancies, RCC's agreement with Fairfax County requires that the preference poll and Candidates Forum take place.

The three candidates submitted the following statements to RCC:

Beverly A. Cosham

What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?

My previous experiences and participation in civic activities that I bring to the RCC Board are my years of service to the community and the arts. I am a founding member of the Reston Chorale and the Reston Players. I served on the board of the Lorton Arts Foundation, the Advisory Board of ArtsFairfax, the Actor’s Center and Reston Community Orchestra boards. I was a member of the Lorton Land Reuse Committee. I have served on the RCC Board of Governors since 2001.

How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?

As an incumbent, I have experience creating and realizing RCC Strategic Plans by working with the board and staff to create programs and partnerships that better serve this growing and diverse community.

As the community grows, it will be more important than ever for RCC to bring people together in positive arts, aquatics, leisure and learning experiences. We need to deliver our programs and services in new parts of Reston even as we continue to maintain our established presence and partnerships. RCC’s Fee Waiver program and participation in Opportunity Neighborhoods are vital to bringing enriching experiences to everyone regardless of individual circumstances.

RCC is the heart of Reston and strives to keep Bob Simon’s founding values at the heart of our efforts; we want Reston to be a welcoming place to live, work and play for all.

Paul D. Thomas

What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?

My wife and I both grew up in Reston, and are raising our kids (ages 17 and 21) here. In addition, my parents live in Reston, and I’m a former teacher and coach. Since 2008, I have served on several non-profit and county boards:

• Reston Community Center Board of Governors
• Fairfax County Human Services Council
• South Lakes High School Band Booster Association
• Reston Association Board of Directors
• Reston Historic Trust Board of Directors
• Reston Swim Team Association Board of Directors
• Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force

How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?

The Community Center is an essential element of the Reston community.

New real estate development will continue in Reston for years. Though RCC has no control or voice in approving the development that comes, we need to make sure that RCC's facilities and offerings continue to support and bring together our growing, evolving community without raising the tax rate. Everyone benefits from the tremendous value RCC brings to our community with:

• Summer camps
• Performing arts at the Center Stage
• Indoor pools
• Art studios, a wood shop, and community meeting spaces
• Classes of all sorts
• Outdoor concerts and festivals
• And very importantly: Fee waivers that allow those who need help to access everything RCC has to offer.

If selected to continue with the Board of Governors, I will work to ensure that the arts, recreation, inclusion, and accessibility remain at the core of RCC’s work.

Shane M. Ziegler

What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?

I recently launched a non-profit organization in the Reston Community called Reston Forward. One of the core objectives of our group is to ensure that “new” Restonians are ingrained and connected to their new home. As new people move into our growing community, we help facilitate ways for them to get involved. We do this through Civic Education, Community Service, Networking, and Advocacy. People want to be involved in the community they live in, but they don’t always know the best way to get started. Bringing awareness about the many amazing groups that already exist is key to our longevity.

How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?

One of my objectives as a member of the RCC Board of Governors would be to educate and engage newer members of Reston on RCC’s four lines of programming and existing facilities. Doing this will allow lifelong members of our community to connect with their new neighbors, effectively, “Enriching Lives. Building Community”. We want young professionals and newcomers to stay in Reston as they are starting families of their own. Additionally, as our community continues to grow, it is important to think about the future and identify the leisure experiences and spaces that these young families want access to. As Reston and Fairfax County continues to diversify, I want to ensure our newcomers feel a sense of inclusiveness and belonging to this special community.