J. Walter Tejada* (D)
Office Sought: County Board
Age: 51
Residence: Dominion Hills.
Education: Course work, George Mason University.
Occupation: Vice chairman, Arlington County Board.
Web site:http://www.waltertejada.net
E-mail address: campaign@waltertejada.net
Offices and positions held: Member, Arlington County Board, 2003-present;
past chair, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Human Services Policy Committee; member, Urban Policy Task Force; past chair, Virginia Latino Advisory Commission; past president, Latino Democrats of Virginia; founding chair, Shirlington Employment and Education Center; past member, Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission; past member, Affordable Housing Task Force.
Why should voters elect you?
"I have a strong record of achievement on the board, rooted in commitment to justice and proven ability to unite diverse voices to find solutions."
What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
"The creation and retention of affordable housing. In the past four years, I helped secure more than 1,700 affordable housing units; these efforts must continue. We must be innovative in pursuing additional homeownership and rental opportunities. This includes supporting cooperative homeownership, exploring the use of accessory units like basement apartments, pursuing greater preservation of historic affordable properties, as we did in Buckingham, and providing resources to those needing assistance for housing and services. I also believe we should press the General Assembly to give Arlington greater resources and leverage to meet housing goals and targets."
What is your plan to address the traffic problems in Virginia?
The answer to our traffic problems lies in expanded use of transit, walking and biking. Thatâs why I have supported projects like the Columbia Pike streetcar and many metro improvements along the Orange and Blue/Yellow Lines. In fact, in my time on the County Board, we have demanded that most developers in Arlington contribute financially to transit programs. Part of our smart growth philosophy in Arlington has been to concentrate density around metro stations to maximize walking and transit usage, and we have worked with other jurisdictions in the DC region to make metro trains longer, roomier, and more comfortable. I have also supported miles of new sidewalks and bike lanes along Arlington roads. Arlington has won national awards for walkability and smart-growth transit-oriented development, which has also preserved most single-family neighborhoods from re-development.
Do you think current policies governing growth & development in your area are too restrictive, not restrictive enough or just right?
just right
-- The Washington Post | Submit a correction request.
