The Mayor Weighs in on Falls Church
Responsible Growth
Falls Church is a unique, charming oasis in the DC Metro Area. Without a doubt, one of the major challenges facing our community today is how to maintain the unique character of our Little City, while also keeping it economically viable.
As a commercial real estate and land use attorney, Dave has played a key role in a number of high-profile redevelopment projects, primarily in Arlington, that have brought substantial economic success, while preserving community integrity.
Here in Falls Church, Dave has led the way on important redevelopment projects that have made our downtown more vibrant and walkable, while spreading out the tax burden so that homeowners are no longer inordinately footing the bill.
World Class Schools
Falls Church City is known for its top notch schools. In the last several years that reputation has been tested by an aging infrastructure and overcrowding. Keeping the best interests of students and their teachers at heart, we have invested in a brand new, state of the art high school facility that provides every Falls Church school child a launching pad for 21st century success.
Dave is committed to City school excellence.
Inclusive Government
Good government in a democracy depends most heavily on its citizens.
Under Mayor Tarter’s leadership, the Little City has taken steps to increase transparency and invite citizen participation by instituting and promoting walking tours, open houses, community forums, and town halls.
Dave also understands the importance of regional cooperation to a small jurisdiction like Falls Church. Conflicts with our larger neighbors, like the water litigation with Fairfax County are counter-productive. As mayor, Dave organized the first ever joint meetings between the Falls Church City Council and our neighbors at the Arlington County Board, the Alexandria City Council, the City of Fairfax, and the Vienna Town Council.
Dave has raised the City’s profile through his service as the past President of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corporation, the regional body comprised of local governments representing the Washington, D.C. area’s 5.7 million residents and as Chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission promoting cooperation among the region’s local government and their 2.4 million residents. Dave was recognized by the Virginia Association of Planning Districts with the Gordon N. Dixon Award for outstanding regional leadership during the Covid pandemic.
Taxes
Dave believes that Falls Church currently depends too heavily on residential taxes. Falls Church’s future as an economically viable and independent municipality depends on a balanced tax base in which homeowners and businesses share the financial responsibilities
As mayor, Dave has kept the lid on residential taxes by spurring high quality commercial development in the Little City.
Dave is committed to ensuring the lowest possible tax rate for the citizens of Falls Church while maintaining a high quality school system and City services. He has supported flat tax budgets over many of the past years.
Maintaining Our Quality of Life
Falls Church is a unique and special community. We have great schools, charming neighborhoods, and big-city amenities in a small town setting. Dave is committed to preserving the small town charm and quality of life that got Falls Church ranked Healthiest Community in the country by US News and World Reports.
