Georgina Cannan Running In 2026 RA Board Of Directors Election

RESTON, VA — Seven candidates are running in the month-long Reston Association Board of Directors election.

All RA members who are in good standing are eligible to cast ballots starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 and ending at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. The 2026-2027 Board of Directors will be announced at the Annual Members' Meeting on Tuesday, April 14.

A 10 percent quorum is required for the results of the election to be official.

Paper ballots will be mailed to eligible RA members, who may also choose to vote electronically. Questions about the RA election may be sent to electionscommittee@reston.org. Request your electronic ballot by emailing: eballot.request@reston.org.

At-Large Director (3-year term):

• John Farrell
• Greg McCandless
• Daton Lynch

Lake Anne/Tall Oaks District Director (2-year term)

• Georgina Cannan
• Nathen Phillips
• Ramon Pardo

Apartment Owners' Representative (3-year term)

• Margaret Perry

In order to help voters learn more about the candidates and their positions, Patch invited each candidate to fill out a questionnaire. The following are Georgina Cannan's responses.

Name

Georgina Cannan

Please specify which seat on the Reston Association Board you are running for:

Lake Anne/Tall Oaks District Director

Education

MS in Cybersecurity, Brown University; JD, The George Washington Law School; BA, Wheaton College in MA

Occupation

Consultant in risk management, election security, and policy development.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

President of my cluster association board

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

I bring a combination of deep neighborhood roots and high-level governance experience that sets me apart in this race. I've lived on Lake Anne for nearly a decade and currently serve as President of my cluster association, so I understand how RA board decisions translate into real impacts at the neighborhood level. I also understand how to make a board run effectively and efficiently because I’ve run meetings, prepped materials, driven the agenda, and built consensus in my own cluster association meeting. At the same time, my experience in senior roles at institutions like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.S. House of Representatives means I've managed large budgets, led complex initiatives, and aligned diverse stakeholders at the highest levels. I'm not learning governance on the job — I'm bringing that experience home to serve Lake Anne and Tall Oaks.

What issues define your campaign platform?

Three priorities drive my campaign. First, protecting and maintaining the amenities and infrastructure that make Reston special — pools, pathways, green spaces, lakes — through proactive investment rather than deferred maintenance. Second, responsible fiscal stewardship — transparent budgeting, sound reserve planning, and equitable prioritization of capital projects so every member dollar is managed with care. Third, environmental stewardship — protecting Reston's tree canopy, improving stormwater management, and ensuring our natural assets are preserved for future generations. This includes opposing any development of the Reston golf courses and the building of a casino — we need to protect our green spaces and our character. These aren't abstract goals; they reflect what I hear from neighbors in Lake Anne and Tall Oaks every day.

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

Serving as President of my cluster association has given me firsthand experience navigating the practical realities of community governance — working with neighbors, coordinating with RA partners, and finding solutions to issues that affect people's daily lives. Before that, in senior roles at CISA and the U.S. House of Representatives, I led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, managed large budgets under public scrutiny, and made decisions that required balancing competing priorities with limited resources. These experiences taught me that good governance is about preparation, transparency, and genuine accountability — exactly what the RA Board requires.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

Success to me means leaving Lake Anne and Tall Oaks in measurably better shape than I found them. I'd consider my term a success if I helped advance a capital maintenance plan that addresses deferred infrastructure needs, strengthened the transparency and clarity of RA's budgeting process so members feel genuinely informed, and ensured environmental sustainability was a standard lens — not an afterthought — in every major RA decision.

Most of all, I want residents to feel they had a real voice on the board. That means getting out in the community — attending the Lake Anne Farmers Market, showing up to neighborhood events, and making sure my votes reflect what I'm actually hearing from the people I represent.

What is your vision for the Reston community?

Reston was founded on a bold idea: that thoughtful planning and a genuine sense of community could create a place where people of all backgrounds thrive together. The history of Reston, and how that history manifests itself now, is what drew me to move here almost a decade ago. I think that history is more important now than ever. My vision is to protect and renew that promise and to help build an understanding of the importance of the Reston story with our new residents. I want a Reston where green spaces are cared for and accessible, where infrastructure is maintained before it fails, where fiscal decisions are made transparently, and where every resident — regardless of where they live — feels the association works for them. Lake Anne in particular has a rich history and a vibrant future, and I want to be part of shaping it with intention and care.

The best advice shared with me was:

The best advice I received was this: public service means the “public” comes first. It sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget. Good representatives listen more than they speak, ask more than they assert, and measure success by what improves for the people they serve — not by what they personally accomplish. That's the lens I bring to everything I do.

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

Reston is my home, and not by accident. I grew up in Northern Virginia and chose Reston deliberately, drawn by its history, its values, and its green spaces. I'm running because I love this community and believe it deserves board members who combine real governance experience with genuine neighborhood investment. I'm not a newcomer to Reston, and I'm not a newcomer to public service — I've spent my career working in complex institutions where the stakes were high and accountability mattered. I want to bring that same rigor and dedication to representing Lake Anne and Tall Oaks. If elected, my door — and my email — will always be open. Good representation starts with actually listening, and that's a commitment I take seriously.