Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins likely will face three challengers in November in a crowded race to represent the Hunter Mill District.
Independents Mike “Spike” Williams and Marie Huhtala, as well as Geraldine Butkus of the Independent Greens of Virginia, all have filed paperwork with Fairfax County to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.
The race appears to hinge on the issues of transportation, growth and development in the district, an area bordered by Dulles Airport to the west and Tysons Corner to the east and including both Reston and Vienna.
Two of the challengers — Williams and Huhtala — say the county’s handling of a proposal to build 150 high-density dwellings on the site of a park-and-ride on Lawyer’s Road originally motivated them to run. Critics said the area was ill-suited for the new units and attacked county officials for refusing to disclose key details on the development.
At a December community meeting, Hudgins “didn’t indicate that she would even consider turning down the proposal,” said Huhtala, a former U.S. ambassador to Malaysia.
“That got a lot of us really mobilized,” she said. “A lot of us felt that someone had to step up.”
The county later dropped the plan.
Hudgins defended her record, arguing she’s sought diversity of housing and examined “whether the community will be served” by each project. She touted her efforts to ensure more affordable units are included in developments.
Williams is running under the slogan “Controlled Growth for a Balanced Future” and criticized Hudgins for approving too much development.
“I think that our transportation in general in the Hunter Mill District has reached … the point where its insufferable,” he said.
Butkus could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
