By Mary Tanzer

Gary Aiken, Republican candidate for Mason District Supervisor, recently spent his morning in a local farmers market — greeting shoppers, listening to their concerns about Mason District, and asking for their votes.

One shopper asked, “What are you going to do for us? What is your plan?”

Gary had six major issues on his mind: budget, development, transportation, crime, business, and education. Gary believes Mason is ready for a change, and he is offering voters a new direction:

• End budgetary inefficiencies and gross mismanagement — for the past 24 years our county board has been penny-wise and pound foolish, sticking us with new and higher taxes every year.
• Address office vacancy rates as well as the underutilized density in Baileys and Seven Corners.
• Revitalize downtown Annandale.
• Bring innovative workforce housing initiatives to Mason District.
• Address the growing transportation issues that plague Mason District where the only “solution” in the past 24 years has been to paint bike lanes.
• Fight for safe neighborhoods and end the senseless anti-Semitic and racist attacks. While Mason is the most diverse in Fairfax County, which is our strength, our immigrant and lower-income communities remain the most vulnerable to crime.
• Open Mason up for business. Let’s address the quality of life issues, infrastructure problems, and high cost of doing business to attract new information and bio-tech firms to Mason.
• Influence our school system to set the right priorities.
• Let’s be sure we know what “One Fairfax” really means. It sounds good, but everyone needs to understand what it really entails.

It’s time for a change in Mason District and Gary Aiken is that change.

Let’s not be complacent: get involved, and on November 5 get out and vote!

For more information about Gary and his vision for a better Mason District, go to thegpac.com.