by
Hannah Jane Costilow
| 05/09/2025
by Danielle Finley, Associate Director of Political Engagement
Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines. In this Issue: 1. Real estate tax cut and meals tax added as Fairfax County reveals budget 2. Key takeaways from the Fed’s latest decision to hold rates steady as it warns of stagflation 3. State Sen. Stella Pekarsky joins race to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly 4. Gerry Connolly backs former chief of staff to fill his Northern Virginia seat 5. Mayor Gaskins calls for “bold and creative thinking” as leaders gather at Alexandria Economic Summit.
Despite a challenging fiscal year, Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors approved its latest budget with a decisive 9–1 vote. "Today was less difficult because we had a very strong 9 to 1 vote on our board for the package I brought forward," said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, noting broad support for the proposal that restored key services while avoiding a real estate tax rate increase.”
The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it will hold interest rates steady as the US economy begins to show the effects of President Donald Trump’s haphazard trade war. The central bank kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, extending a holding pattern that began in January.
Another Democrat is angling to potentially succeed Rep. Gerry Connolly. State Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D-36) will campaign for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District seat, stating in an announcement video first shared with FFXnow that she wants to run to provide not just a voice, but also action for those “terrified and angry” about the currently Republican-led federal government.
By Gregory Svirnovskiy, Politico
A former aide to Rep. Gerry Connolly has quickly jumped into the race to replace the longtime member of Congress from Northern Virginia — with the blessing of his former boss. James Walkinshaw, a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors who served as Connolly’s chief of staff for more than a decade, cast himself as a fierce opponent of President Donald Trump’s agenda as he announced his candidacy Tuesday for the seat in the heavily Democratic suburb of Washington.
Alexandria’s economic leaders and city officials are charting a new course for the city’s economic future at the Alexandria Economic Summit, which began at 3 pm on Thursday (May 8) at the Westin Alexandria. The summit, described as a continuation of similar efforts from 2007, brings together city leaders, business representatives, and economic development experts to create a comprehensive strategy for Alexandria’s growth.