When 81 Reston Association members cast online ballots for the current board election on the first day of voting on Monday, they voted with incorrect ballots linked to other members.

The technical error prompted Intelliscan, RA’s independent election agent, to toss the ballots out and fix the issue.

“Intelliscan has since corrected the error and come up with a comprehensive plan to address those individuals who voted with an erroneous ballot,” said Mike Leone, RA’s spokesman.

Due to the botched ballots, Intelliscan has created a special log-in to verify the credentials of the 2,500 members who plan to vote online. Members must call Intelliscan to verify their credentials, after which the company will send a new voter link with the correct ballot to cast a vote. The company is also sending paper ballots to all members as a “safeguard.”

Both corrective actions are being administered at no additional cost to RA. The issue only impacted online ballots.

An alert to inform members of the technical error and apologize for the mixup has been sent to affected members. The email includes a link for members to cast their votes online.

“This process will ensure that RA members impacted will not be able to double vote,” Leone wrote.  RA says that the issue was a one-time error that has been resolved and will not impact the remainder of the elections.

Intelliscan said the issue was a technical error, as described by RA below:

Intelliscan received the Member file from RA to send out the pre-election email blast to collect any “bounce backs” from Members that had opted-in.  Voter codes were then populated.  Intelliscan realized after the pre-election email blast had been sent, that the corresponding addresses were incorrect for some Members and requested a corrected file from RA.  Additional Members where added and voters codes were repopulated within the Membership file.  Additionally, Intelliscan kept a separate “notify table” which held the names of Members that were sent the pre-election email blast.  Unfortunately, the codes in the “notify table” were not updated by Intelliscan to the correct voter codes prior to the second “kick-off” email blast.  Once RA realized that the emailed Members’ voter codes were incorrect, the association contacted Intelliscan and the voting website was taken down by Intelliscan. 

This is not the first time RA board elections have had hiccups. Last year, technical issues caused roughly 2,800 paper ballots to be returns as undeliverable. Intelliscan resent the ballots to the correct addresses and moved to extend the voting period.

Anyone with questions about the issue can contact Intelliscan by calling 252-560-8079 or emailing Michelle McRoy at [email protected].

Image via Reston Association

Voting Underway for Reston Association Election — The last day to vote is April 3 for RA’s 2020 election for the Board of Directors. Voting information is available online. [Reston Association]

Charges Pending for Home Burglary — A burglary was reported on the 1600 block of Hiddenbrook Drive on Feb. 29 at around 3:44 a.m. The homeowners said they were awakened by the sound of knocking on their front door. Two juveniles were located a short distance away. Charges are pending. [Fairfax County Police Department]

South Lakes Girls Finish Second — “Senior Hannah Waller finished her final season on the South Lakes High School girls indoor track team as a state champion, finishing first in the 55 meters with a winning time of 6.95. This effort helped to lift the South Lakes girls indoor track team to its third consecutive second place finish Feb. 28-29, at the 6A State Championships, at the Boo Williams Sportsplex.” [Reston Patch]

Photo by Marjorie Copson

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. This is the last candidate profile. Featured here is Kerri Bouie, who is running against Robert Petrine for an At-Large seat with a three-year term.  

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in  Reston? What brought you here? 

My parents moved to their current home in Reston when I was 9 months old. I left to attend Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA and moved to the West Coast afterward for a couple of years. I came back to my hometown to pursue greater opportunities in my career and contribute to the community that offered me so much growing up.

What inspired you to run for the board? (Note: If you are currently on the board or have held a previous position on the board, emphasize why you are running again).

I realized that there is no representation of members in my age group or background. It is very important to me that there is a new perspective being taken into account at each turn. We do not want to get lost in the past or agendas and preferences that have already been defeated.

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

I am concerned about the perception of how development will change our community and the struggles that our members face with various review boards. We want to work to provide transparency for all of our members. Our green and open spaces are a key attraction to Reston and what separates our community from our neighbors and these features should be preserved and enhanced.

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

I hope to engage more members to actively participate in RA, giving a voice to and providing services for those in need. I want to work to advance and encourage multi-modal transportation methods including trails, bike paths and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. I would also work towards absolute proficiency by eliminating the duplication of services and enhance the DRB experience. Implementing a 10-year capital improvement program to manage RA assets would be key to these goals.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

My professional experience is paramount to my goals; I have worked with Public Art Reston to develop Chalkfest, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the Reston Community Center, Fairfax County Park Authority and been involved in other community projects. As a Director at DC-based Wingate Hughes Architects, I will use my experience managing successful commercial, residential and hospitality projects for the greater good of our community.

Photo via Reston Association

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. This is the last candidate profile. Featured here is Robert Petrine, who is running against Kerri Bouie for an At-Large seat with a three-year term.  

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

My wife and I first visited Reston in 1969 on our first trip to DC and decided then that Reston would be our home if we could ever move to the area.  We fell in love with Reston’s diversity of people, housing, income levels and its embrace of living in Nature. It seemed like a place where learning never dies.  

When a job opportunity arose, we moved to Reston in 1976 and have been here ever since.

What inspired you to run for the board?

We are in the midst of redevelopment of the TSA corridor that has changed our community forever.  Going forward we should collectively have a voice in the planning process. In my opinion, the most effective way to influence that essential work is through RA as our collective representative.  

I have been working intensely for the past 4 years with other community members to understand and communicate development that has already been approved as well as what may happen to our community in the future. Careful planning will be essential to maintain the planning principles set forth in the current PRC zoning ordinance including Reston’s founding guidelines.

My professional background enables me to advocate for improving RA’s financial reporting to members – posting monthly financial reports is not enough. Members need to be clearly and concisely informed of how money is being spent – it’s their money.  They shouldn’t have to wonder how much amenities and programs cost to run and maintain. The information exists, and members shouldn’t have to search for it. 

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

Supervisor Alcorn’s proposal to reopen Phase II of the Comprehensive Plan may provide our community an opportunity to contribute to the plan review in a meaningful way.  We must make the most of that dialogue to promote and protect the interests of RA members. 

The Board and the membership need the knowledge I have of business and financial operations to immediately address RA’s related issues.  

Reston is one of 14 cities globally that has been designated a Biophilic Community.  We as a community need to continually build upon work that is already underway to ensure that Reston is at the forefront of planning for and adapting to climate change.  

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

• Ensure that the membership understands how RA assessments are determined; that the membership is regularly informed of RA’s finances in an easily understood way; and that an effective system of internal controls is in place and operating to established policies to meet the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities to RA members
• Work to strengthen the role of the advisory committees in setting issues and priorities for RA with regular, periodic reporting of their deliberations by committee chairs or their representatives at taped RA Board meetings.
• Ensure that Reston Association members are effectively represented on the taskforce to review the Reston Master Plan.
• Promote an appreciation of and stewardship for the open space that makes Reston unique in the DC metropolitan area.
• Encourage actions, both individual and collective, that minimize climate change.  In the long run, I believe that proactive solutions will save RA members significant future costs and promote a healthier community.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

• I have professional experience in finance, strategic planning, risk management, and financial regulation: 28 years of private sector experience as an auditor, accountant, and independent management consultant as well as the chief financial officer of two banks; and 20+ years’ experience as a federal bank regulator. 
• I have served on several professional boards and civic committees including the Electronic Funds Transfer Association, the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, the Education Committee of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and Metro’s Riders Advisory Council.  
• In addition, I bring to the RA Board a commitment to community engagement.  Specifically, for years I have regularly attended meetings at RA including BOD, Fiscal Committee, MTAC, BGC and BOC as well as Nature Center events.  For five years I served as the treasurer of the Fairway Cluster, and I have testified before the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission on local land use, the PRC zoning amendment, and transportation issues.

Photo via Reston Association

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. Featured here is Mike Collins, who is running against Jennifer Sunshine Jushchuk for the apartment owners’ seat, which has a three-year term.

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in an unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

My family and I have lived here since 2008. We moved here for a job opportunity and to be near my wife’s family.  

What inspired you to run for the board? 

I served on the board from 2010 to 2013 as the North Point representative. I ran in order to serve my community and bring some civility to an environment that had become somewhat antagonistic at the time. My main priorities were serving constituents, modernizing RA operations, holding staff accountable, and engaging in development issues. I ran again in 2016 based on the same priorities. This might sound weird, but I’m running again because I actually miss working on those things! 

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

Overall, of course, the issue on everyone’s mind is development and we’re all concerned about traffic and the character of our community. A less-discussed issue is the impact gentrification could have on lower income people and the cost of living in Reston. Not everyone here is well off and, believe it or not, there is some older housing that remains very affordable. That was part of Bob Simon’s vision and we need to be vigilant about it. Second is bike/pedestrian access. Most of the paved paths in Reston were built for recreation – not commuting, shopping, etc. That needs to change as we grow. Third is the need for additional recreational facilities. Just visit Baron Cameron or any other park on a weekend! New facilities don’t necessarily have to be provided by RA, but we can advocate for them and partner with others to make them happen.  

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

First and foremost, I hope to bring a unique perspective to the board. My prior experience can provide insights on subjects RA is dealing with now – many of which have been issues for several years. Second, I hope to use the role of the apartment owners representative to help make sure RA is serving apartment dwellers. They are members too, but we don’t hear much from them at the board level. Finally, I hope to work on the revisions to the Reston Deed (our “Constitution”) particularly in the area of how we set assessments.  

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

I am a lawyer with professional experience in litigation, risk management, and regulatory compliance. I’ve also served as a legislative aide and outreach director for members of Congress, including Congressman Gerry Connolly. Most recently, I was a board member for the Fellowship  Square Foundation, which provides housing for very low-income seniors in Reston (at Lake Anne and Hunters Woods, and elsewhere in the region.

Photo via Reston Association

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. This is the last candidate profile. Featured here is Paul Berry, who is running against Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza for an at-large seat with a one-year term.  

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

I’m in the middle stages of my professional career and a relative newcomer and Reston appealed to me as a place to live for all the amenities that let us work, live, and play in a rich, diverse community. I walk to work on a beautiful running trail and frequently elect to run my small business out of any one of the many fun cafes near my home. As a gubernatorial appointee I have the opportunity to travel all over the commonwealth, and I truly believe Reston is the template for smart growth in Virginia.

We enjoy one of the highest qualities of life of any area in the mid-Atlantic, and all that is thanks to RA members’ active participation. From the clusters on up, RA members have formed an incredible community organization that is driven by volunteers, friends, and neighbors that care deeply about shared values. I’m passionate about stewarding RA resources in a way that makes those values a reality.

What inspired you to run for the board?

I’m running for the Board of Directors because I have a desire to serve Reston the same way I am serving Virginia. I’m currently a public servant helping Governor Northam’s executive branch develop policy around Latinx healthcare, small business, and creating a welcoming, diverse commonwealth.

I’m also the son of a public-school teacher and grew up giving back to the community in the school vegetable gardens, in stream clean-ups, and visiting our friends and neighbors in retirement homes. Service is a conversation that should flow through all our neighborhoods, and I want to amplify how RA is able to reach out. If elected to the Board I will continue to pursue better strategies for stewarding our resources and adjusting that plan as clusters and districts express the need for change.

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

As the Reston Association enters the 2020’s the Board needs to embrace a long-term plan that spans our new decade. My biggest concern is the rollout of the biennial budget and making effective use of member association dues. This starts with prioritizing member feedback into what that budget does and does not try to accomplish. 

My next concern is how we are using our shared spaces. Shared spaces bring us together and create the sense of community that makes Reston special. Whether it’s the Lake Anne farmer’s market, summer camps, or the many public art installations scattered around town, it is critical to ensure that everyone who lives here can access these spaces and interact together.

Reston is the best place to live because of the unique balance of work and play opportunities always within a short distance from home. I want the Board to form a sensible trajectory for increased pedestrian and commuter traffic from the Phase II Silver line expansion. Related, the Board should be concerned with the way we design and renovate the shared spaces and neighborhoods that will undergo changes to traffic patterns from increased visitors to our community spaces, shopping centers, and restaurants.

In short, I am focused on efficiency and member communication, and want the entire Board to be mindful of where growth in expenditures is likely to happen and be clear when it is hesitant to advance projects with an unclear fiscal outcome.

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

I hope to accomplish three things if elected. First, I want to establish a way for clusters to voice concerns and give feedback on board decisions. I see the board as an ongoing opportunity for lines of communication and I want to emphasize accessibility and face-to-face meetings. This is what makes the shared concept of Reston so fantastic – we address issues collectively and in an open setting. Second, I want to develop a 2020 Data Plan for RA. As a tech industry executive, I am constantly asking myself and my team how we can innovate around what we are currently doing. The data RA possesses already provides measures of success and can illuminate where improvements need to be made.

In short, I’m proposing we apply common-sense budgeting and management principles to the overall plan for our community, but at the scale of private industry. The best part is this costs nothing but creative time amongst the board and interested members and it can lead to new ideas and resource savings.

Lastly, I want to bring onto the board a plan for regularly connecting RA with the rest of the county. Mine is an approach that gives RA the proactive ability to contribute to development plans and concepts while they are being discussed, and not after the fact. I’m very supportive of how Supervisor Alcorn has been receptive to community dialogue and it is my intention to match that with time investment from the Board perspective as much as county elected officials are open to doing so.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

I am offering my experience as a small business owner and over a decade of public and private sector experience working in tech, economic development, and public policy. Budgets and resource stewardship are my fortes – I’ve managed budgets in the millions while running statewide operations in Virginia all the way down to holding fiduciary responsibilities for neighborhood sized non-profits. No solution is one size fits all.

Prior to my current role as Director of Data Intelligence and Virginia Operations Chief I worked in geospatial city planning and city management research. This entailed studying and making recommendations for designing new urban structures and redesigning or repurposing extant buildings, roadways, and local services. I designed solutions for populations ranging from megacities to towns and villages.

I graduated from Brown University, and have two Master’s degrees from the University of Geneva and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. My academic work and theses examined how states create legal environments that facilitate business growth in open, fair playing fields for entrepreneurs, workers, and investors. Fiscal impact is not simply dollars and cents and should be measured in the ways it creates challenges and opportunities for the most important resource a community has: its members.

Photo via Reston Association

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. Featured here is incumbent Caren Anton, who is running unopposed for the Hunters Wood/Dogwood District seat, which has a three-year term.

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in an unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

I have lived in the same house in Reston since 1989.  I moved here from Burke with my then husband.  We were attracted to the beauty, cultural and economic diversity, and strong sense of community.  Having grown up in a planned community in suburban Chicago, I felt at home.  And we found we could get the most for our home-buying dollar here, with a variety of styles from which to choose.

What inspired you to run for the board?

After 20 months on the Board in many ways I feel I am just hitting my stride.  I originally applied (in 2018) and ran (in 2019) because I felt passionate about advocating for the district in which I had spent almost 30 years.  I want to continue the work I started.  (See #4).  I am also excited to continue working closely with our new CEO in his second year.

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

As with most Restonians, I am worried about overdevelopment and insufficient infrastructure to support it and the resulting threat to our precious open space.  One of the reasons we left Burke all those years ago was traffic congestion and the amount of time it took to get from point A to point B.  Now the same thing is happening in Reston.  Another concern is lack of affordable housing, which is not just a local crisis but a national one.  The condos and apartments cropping up seemingly every week are generally quite expensive.  I am pleased that bringing more affordable housing to the Hunter Mill District is one of Supervisor Alcorn’s priorities, and I enthusiastically support his desire to convert some of our underused office park spaces into affordable housing.  Finally, our population, like our facilities, is aging.  I am concerned that, for many seniors, remaining in Reston is becoming more challenging, especially for those of limited financial means.  This goes hand in hand with my concern about affordable housing.

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

I hope to continue to do what I can to raise the profile of Hunters Woods/Dogwood.  I was very pleased to have successfully shepherded the Board’s long-delayed approval of the construction of the Butterfly Meadow Overlook across from the Pony Barn.  And I am excited to be working with our community’s stakeholders on repurposing the ballfield behind Hunters Woods Plaza. I hope to continue on the Board Governance Committee to help complete an updated Conflict of Interest Policy and develop a Code of Ethics.  And despite the Board’s decision to eliminate the 55+ Advisory Committee (a decision I supported), I want to continue to find ways for RA to help our seniors age in place.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

Each Director brings his or her unique strengths and experiences to the table.  My “right brain/left brain” approach stems from my background as both an accounting and performing arts professional. In both of my careers I have learned to interact closely with a wide variety of personalities in often stressful situations.   I consider myself a keen observer of people, and I thrive on grass roots level engagement to gather information to assess the needs and expectations of the Members.  I’m a you-can-catch more-flies with-honey-than-with-vinegar type of person, and I believe making any gains towards problem solving will require healthy, civil interaction with my fellow Board members, the Association’s executives, the staff, and the County.

Photo via Reston Association

On Wednesday (Feb. 26),  Reston residents can attend a candidates’ forum with candidates running in the upcoming Reston Association Board of Directors election.

The public is invited to the debate-style forum at the RA headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive) beginning at 6:30 p.m. All seven candidates will available for a meet and greet as well, according to the event listing.

In this election, candidates will be competing for four open seats and the RA encourages all members and residents to vote. A minimum of 10 percent voter turnout is needed to make the results official.

The election will take place from March 2 until April 3, according to the RA, which added results will be available online later in April.

Those who cannot attend the forum in person, can watch it online and are even able to submit questions through email until the end of today (Feb. 24).

Participating candidates are below:

At-Large (3-year term):

• Kerri Bouie
• Robert T. Petrine

At-Large (1-year term):

• Paul Berry
• Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza

Hunters Woods/Dogwood (3-year):

• Caren Anton

Apartment Owner (3-year):

• Mike Collins
• Jennifer Sunshine Jushchuk

Beginning later today, Reston Now will begin publishing candidate statements written by those running.

Photo via RA/Facebook

Reston Association’s elections committee has certified seven candidates to run for open seats on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Each year, members have the opportunity to elect three new individuals to the nine-member board. Caren Anton, the director for the Hunters Woods and Dogwood District, is the only candidate seeking re-election for the three-year term. The seat is uncontested.

Kerri Bouie, the director of interior design at Wingate Hughes Architecture, is up against Robert Petrine, who has 28 years of experience in the private sector, for an at-large seat with a three-year term.

For the at-large seat for a one-year term Paul Berry, who brings more than 10 years of experience in private business, is up against Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza, the owner of Kiln & Co. at Lake Anne Plaza.

Mike Collins, an attorney who also served as a director from 2010 to 2013, and Jennifer Sunshine Jushchuk, vice president of technology, talent at consulting at the Rural Broadband Association, are competing for the apartment owners’ seat, which also has a three-year term.

The month-long voting period kicks off on March 2 and ends on April 3 at 5 p.m. Election results will be announced at RA’s annual members’ meeting in April.

Candidate statements are available online.

Photo courtesy Reston Association

Moving Day for Fire Station 25 — “Station 25, Reston, A-Shift had a busy day moving to their new temporary station, located at 1840 Cameron Glen Drive. FCFRD personnel will be operating out of the temporary station while the new Station 25 is built. Crews will maintain continuous emergency response to the Reston community during construction. The existing station on Wiehle Avenue will be demolished in the next several weeks.”

Three Suspects Rob Bicyclist on Washington & Old Dominion Trail — A man was riding his bicycle along the trail near the 1000 block of Crestview Drive when three victims showed him a weapon and took his belongings. The incident happened on Jan. 24. [Herndon Police Department]

Reston Association Board Voting Begins in March — Voting for the month-long election for the Board of Directors begin on March 2. Ballots will be mailed to members and voting can be done online or by mail. [Reston Association]

Playing Games at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods — Residents can gather at the center today (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. to play board games and other tabletop games. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own game collections. [Reston Community Center]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

The Reston Association is seeking several candidates for seats on its Board of Directors for the upcoming election in March.

There are currently four open positions on the board for 2020 and include two at-large positions, an apartment owners’ seat and the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District seat.

One of the at-large positions is for a one-year term while the other is for a three-year term.

Candidates must be a Reston Association member to qualify for a position and announce their candidacy by Jan. 24. People can email RA if they have questions.

There will be a meeting on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Reston Association Headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive)  for anyone interested in candidacy.

Photo via YouTube/Reston Association

Reston Association’s newly-elected Board of Directors will fill a vacancy on its board after Sridhar Ganesan resigned earlier this year due to personal and business reasons.

Two applicants have applied for the open at-large director seat, which will have a special term through the next election in April 2020.

The board will vote on the appointment on Thursday (May 23) at its regularly scheduled board meeting.

Edward Abbott, a Reston resident of 39 years and chairman of RA’s elections committee, said he wants to work with the board to ensure Hank Lynch, RA’s new CEO, implements the goals and plans he has outlined.

Abbott, who cited his experience as a lay member of RA’s Design Review Board, said he wants to ensure the board’s actions are also “in the best interests of its members.” He also hopes to make progress on finalizing RA’s code of ethics.

Doug Britt, the second candidate and a Reston resident of 44 years, says he wants to ensure “growth does not outpace infrastructure” and maintain Reston’s connection to nature.

Britt, who notably led the first Reston Annual State of the Environment Report project and served on RA’s lakes, boats and docks working group and its environmental advisory committee, also stressed the need for “substantive communications between the board, staff, and public.”

Their candidate statements are in their entirety and in unedited form below:

Edward Abbott

I have lived in Reston for 39 years. While our sons were growing up, I volunteered on their swim, baseball and soccers teams. More recently I was a lay member on Reston’s Design Review Board and am currently Chairman of the Elections Committee. Since coming to Reston, I have worked at the highest level for a large federal regulatory agency, a congressional technology office, testified before Congress and founded a successful engineering and management consulting business. I have served on numerous corporate boards, evaluated personnel and organizations for large corporations and state agencies. I have performed detailed analysis of complex systems and conducted comprehensive multi-billon dollar cost estimates for large industrial projects. Finally, prior to coming to Reston, I served on a school board in a rural district in upstate New York.

The Board recently hired a new CEO. He has outlined his plans and goals for the association. They appear sound and should improve the Association’s operation and member experience. As a Director, I would work with the Board to oversee the progress in implementing those plans and goals and providing guidance as needed. Also, I would work with the Board to assure that the Board’s actions are in the best interests of its members, in conformance with the governing documents and conducted in accordance with good business practices. Finally, I will work with the Board to finalize the Code of Ethics.

Doug Britt

I’ve lived in Reston for 44 years. I started a company here in 1984 and served as a contractor to Reston Home Owners Association providing lake monitoring services. My professional background is in the fields of life sciences, natural resources management, and sustainable development. I served as President and COO of four professional services firms where I was responsible for day-to-day operations, strategic planning, policy development, and profit and loss. Since retiring in 2015, I have been supporting numerous RA initiatives. I am a volunteer stream monitor, work WNC events, and drafted Reston’s successful Biophilic Cities Network application. I serve on the Lakes, Boats & Docks Working Group, and the Environmental Advisory Committee where I designed and led the RASER project, which was selected for RA’s 2017 Volunteer Group of the Year Award. I also was very honored to be selected as RA’s 2018 Volunteer of the Year.

I want to use my special skills and experience to give back to this community which means so much to me and my family. This is a critical transition for Reston as it undergoes redevelopment while the entire metropolitan area girds for more population growth. I understand we must accommodate growth, but not at the expense of our quality of life, nor to the detriment of our recently acquired “Biophilic Cities” designation (i.e., the unique way Reston connects its people to nature where they live, work and play). I believe Reston is special in how it was conceived and designed; its best features still reflect Bob Simon’s original vision and founding principles. Consequently I will strive to see that growth does not outpace needed infrastructure and that our connection to nature is preserved and remains an iconic part of the Reston experience. I will also stress substantive communications between the Board, staff, and public.

(Update at 2:31 p.m. to include information about the timing of Ganesan’s resignation)

Sridhar Ganesan has resigned from his position as vice president of Reston Association’s Board of Directors roughly one week after the results of this year’s board election were released.

Ganesan was appointed to a one-year, at-large seat in 2017 and served as treasurer. The next year, he was elected to an at-large seat. His term expires in 2021.

After missing several board meetings earlier this year, Ganesan said he realized that it would be difficult to balance his commitment to the board with his business obligations. The Reston resident recently took on two major projects in Frederick, Md. and another abroad, making it challenging to balance both obligations.

Ganesan told Reston Now he did not want to officially announce his resignation during the board’s election process in order to prevent confusion. He had hoped to leave in the beginning of the year so that the new board-appointment member could serve a more complete term.

Mike Leone, Reston Association’s director of communications and community relations, told Reston Now that Ganesan notified the organization of his resignation on Sunday (April 14). In order to make it in time for the latest election, Ganesan would have had to make an official announcement about his intention to resign by the end of November or early December. His new business obligations surfaced earlier this year, he said.

Reston Association released the following statement from Ganesan:

“I very much appreciate the confidence placed in me by the RA membership and the support I received from them, the RA staff and my board colleagues, especially during 2017-2018, when I helped implement new operational policies and procedures, as well as internal controls at RA. I am also happy that during my two years on the RA board, I helped forge and maintain a strong partnership between RA and Coalition for Planned Reston (CPR), which resulted in holding off the Fairfax County from raising the density cap for Reston PRC district.”

The board has issued a call for candidates to fill the seat vacated by Ganesan. Candidates can apply by submitting a statement of candidacy to the assistant secretary by May 16 at 5 p.m. The board will review candidate applications that are certified by staff at a May 23 board meeting.

The term will run through April 2020 and be up for election in 2020. The elected candidate will serve the final year of the term.

Photo by Reston Association