Stacy Hall Focuses On Housing, Taxes And Affordability In Fairfax Council Race

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City Councilmember Stacy Hall says affordability — from housing and taxes to everyday expenses — is the most pressing issue facing city voters as she seeks reelection in November.

“Residents feel it in housing costs, taxes and everyday expenses, while the city faces rising costs of its own,” Hall said in response to Patch’s 2026 candidate questionnaire. “Council cannot control every household expense, but it can be clear about the cost of its decisions.”

Hall, who joined the City Council in January 2025 after previously serving on the Fairfax City School Board, said she would scrutinize the upfront and long-term costs of major projects, pursue additional housing options through responsible development and make affordability a central consideration in city budget decisions.

Hall is running for reelection to the Fairfax City Council in the Nov. 3 general election.

The other candidates running for City Council are Kelly O’Brien, Rachel M. McQuillen, Anthony T. Amos, Sandi W. Slappey Brown, Russell A. Jones, Susan Hartley Kuiler, Stephen S. Kim, María José Padmore, Steve S. Chang, and Jessica Lough.

Patch invited candidates to share their backgrounds, priorities and views on issues facing Fairfax City through its campaign questionnaire. Hall’s responses follow below.

Your Name

Stacy Hall

Position sought (mayor, city council, school board, etc.)

City Council

Age (as of Election Day)

47

Campaign Website

www.StacyForFairfax.com

City elections are traditionally non-partisan and candidates must run as independents, according to both the city charter and the Code of Virginia. No party affiliation or "mark" will appear next to any of the candidates' names on the November 2026 ballot. Have you been endorsed by a recognized political party or have you aligned yourself with a group of candidates representing themselves as independent, non-partisan candidates, including candidates running in other city races? Please check the answer that is most appropriate.

I have aligned myself with a group of candidates representing themselves as independent and nonpartisan.

Please elaborate on your answer to the previous question and explain how this will affect the way you will serve on the city council.

As when I ran in 2024, my thoughts and decisions on City Council will remain my own. I will listen to residents, examine the facts and costs, and vote for what I believe is best for Fairfax.

How does your status as described in the two previous questions help Fairfax City voters choose a candidate that best aligns with their particular political beliefs?

Fairfax City elections are, and should remain, nonpartisan. I am running as an independent candidate and combining outreach with a group of other independent, nonpartisan candidates. That association helps voters understand who I’m working with, but my record and positions are the best guide to where I stand. I hope voters of every political persuasion will judge me by how I approach local decisions: listening to residents, being transparent about costs and tradeoffs, supporting strong schools and safe neighborhoods, and protecting the character of our city. I will continue to do the research, engage residents and make my own decisions based on what I believe is best for Fairfax.

Family

My husband, Russ, and I have two sons, Ryan (a senior at Fairfax High School) and Andrew (a sophomore at Fairfax High School), and two dogs. Fairfax is the only home our children have ever known. Our family’s roots here are a big part of why I care so deeply about the city’s future.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Delaware, with minors in Economics and Biology.

Occupation

I am the Controller for a company that advances care and innovation in the animal health sector since 2010. Prior to that, I was a public accountant for 9 years. I also run my own small business in the city, providing accounting, bookkeeping and tax services.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

I have served on the Fairfax City Council since January 2025. Before that, I served one term on the City of Fairfax School Board. I have also served on the city’s Environmental Sustainability Committee while on School Board

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking reelection because Fairfax is my home, and I want residents to have a strong voice in the decisions shaping it. My service on the School Board and City Council has shown me how much local decisions affect our schools, neighborhoods, taxes and quality of life. I want to continue asking hard questions, making city finances easier to understand, and working toward practical solutions that serve residents today while protecting what makes Fairfax special for the next generation.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing Fairfax voters is affordability. Residents feel it in housing costs, taxes and everyday expenses, while the city faces rising costs of its own. Council cannot control every household expense, but it can be clear about the cost of its decisions. I will scrutinize both the upfront and long-term costs of major projects, look for ways to expand housing options through responsible development, and insist that residents understand the tradeoffs before we commit their tax dollars. Fairfax can invest in strong schools, public safety and essential services while making affordability a central part of every budget decision.

What approach should Fairfax City take to new development and redevelopment? What types of projects would you support or oppose, and how would you balance housing needs and economic growth with concerns about traffic, infrastructure and neighborhood character?

Fairfax needs thoughtful redevelopment that strengthens our tax base, provides housing options and brings useful businesses and public spaces to the city. I would support projects whose scale fits their location and whose benefits are backed by credible plans for traffic, schools, utilities and other infrastructure. I would oppose proposals that ask nearby neighborhoods to absorb significant impacts without adequately addressing them.

Housing needs and neighborhood character both matter. That means considering where different types of housing make sense, how people will get around, and whether a project contributes to a welcoming, financially healthy city over the long term. Residents should be able to see the plans, understand the tradeoffs and have a meaningful opportunity to shape the outcome before decisions are made.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I can speak to what I bring to this race rather than presume to define every other candidate. I have served on both the City Council and School Board, and I bring more than 25 years of professional financial experience to city budget decisions. I am willing to support a proposal when the details justify it and to raise concerns when they don't, even when that is the less popular position. Residents can look at my record and know that I will ask questions, explain my reasoning and make my own decisions, while working to keep the perspective of residents in the forefront.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My priorities include strong schools, safe neighborhoods, responsible development, support for local businesses, and protecting Fairfax’s green spaces and tree canopy. I also want city government to be accessible and transparent; residents should know what is being proposed, what it will cost, and how to make their voices heard before a decision is made. This is YOUR city, and YOUR voice matters.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I started serving Fairfax as a parent at Providence Elementary, where I volunteered with the PTA for nine years, including three as president. That experience taught me that listening to families matters most when you can turn what you hear into action. I carried that approach to the School Board and now to City Council. I understand the city’s decisions as an elected official, a parent, a taxpayer and a local business owner.

I’m proud of the work I’ve done to make those decisions clearer to residents. On Council, I’ve pushed for more public discussion of the budget to make it more understandable to our residents (including our open house in April 2025 and our hybrid engagement event in April 2026), and worked with staff to distinguish ongoing maintenance costs from true capital projects. When the early financial outlook for the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center concerned me, I asked questions and worked with others toward a stronger cost-sharing and cost-recovery plan. Once the plan improved, I voted to move the project forward. I supported adopting Fairfax City’s Code of Ethics because residents deserve clear standards for the people who serve them.

I also pay attention to smaller decisions that affect daily life. When two home daycare permits came before council, which included a standard of barring outdoor play until 9 a.m., I moved to change that time to 8 a.m.; the amendment passed. City staff is now working through making 8 am the new normal, rather than something that can only be achieved when a special user permit comes before council again. Whether the issue is a major capital investment or a family’s childcare, I listen, examine the details and follow through.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

With a comic-loving husband and two sons who have watched every Marvel movie more times than I can count, I’ve heard that line a lot. I used it in my 2024 candidate questionnaire because it captured how I hoped to approach public service. After serving on City Council, it means even more to me.

A Council vote can affect a family’s tax bill, a child’s school, a neighborhood’s trees or a project the city will live with for decades. That responsibility calls for more than good intentions. It means listening to the people affected, asking difficult questions, understanding the costs and being willing to explain my decision. I was proud to support Fairfax City’s new Code of Ethics because those expectations should apply to everyone entrusted with serving our community, including me.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want voters to know that I will never treat a decision as a foregone conclusion before I have heard from the people it affects. Fairfax faces real choices about growth, school funding, taxes and the future of our public spaces. Those choices deserve more than a reassuring slogan. Residents should know what a proposal will cost, what alternatives were considered and who will feel its effects.

I also believe we can disagree without dividing our city. A resident who raises a concern about traffic is not against housing. Someone who asks about the cost of a new facility is not against the people who will use it. And protecting trees does not mean opposing safe places to walk and bike. These are the conversations Council needs to have honestly, with room for more than one point of view.

I’m asking for your vote because I will keep showing up, asking questions and speaking plainly about the tradeoffs. You may not agree with every vote I cast, but you will always know that I took your concerns seriously. This is YOUR city, and YOUR voice matters.

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