Farrell: Next Three Years RA's Most Crucial

John Farrell, Board of Directors at-large candidate, has been involved in various Reston projects, committees and initiatives in the more than 25 years he has lived the community.

Farrell, a land use attorney, was outspoken during the  redistricting process in 2007, is an advocate for reforming FCPS' discipline policy, and has spoken at recent RA meetings about changes and upgrades that need to be made to recreational facilities.

Making sure that RA's facilities are able to be maintained and improved as the association faces a crucial time in its growth are what spurred Farrell to run for a seat on the board, he says.

"The next three years are probably the most important in the life of RA," says Farrell, who has served on RA's Parks and Planning Advisory Committee. He has also served as president of Fairfax Girls Softball and as National President of Candlelighters Childhod Cancer Foundation.

"The adoption of the comprehensive plan will set the course for the next 20 years. RA needs more professional and informed leadership in the input it gives to the county."

Reston founder Robert E. Simon says he has endorsed Farrell, as well as Realtor Eve Thompson, for at-large seats. Two at-large seats are up for grabs.

Farrell says that RA "has been getting by on assets that were built 40 years ago."

"I would like to maintain the assets we have," he said. "We haven't been maintaining the assets. Many of the ballfields are 40 or more years old and have never been regraded or resodded."

Obtaining recreational proffers from developers who are expected to build in Reston as the opening of Metro approaches (in 2013) is one key to the future, Farrell says.

Also key: recognizing that Reston's new transit-oriented residents are going to want something different than the community currently offers.

"The new residents will live in high-rise residential," Farrell said. "They are a different demographic. They are not going to have large numbers of kids on the ballfield. They are going to be looking for a gym and a 50-meter pool. RA might not have to be the operator of the gym and pool, but if it is not in the language of the comprehensive plan, we are going to be scratching around looking for it.

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Reston Patch will have occasional stories about all six of the Reston Association board candidates as the March elections approach.

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