SUPPORT MAYOR READ, DONATE →

"Over the last 2 years, we’ve made a lot of progress in Fairfax City, but there is still more work to do. I am running for re-election to keep Fairfax City moving forward!"

DEMOCRAT FOR MAYOR

Get Involved

About Catherine

Mayor Catherine Read has lived in Fairfax City for over 24 years in the Daniels Run Woods, Providence Square, and Fairchester Woods neighborhoods. Her three children graduated from Fairfax High School, and she graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Government & Politics (’84). Catherine and her husband, Tom Greeson, are active in local and state politics and enjoy living in the Fairfax City community with their dog Reggie.

In November 2022, she was elected Mayor of the City of Fairfax. She was sworn in on January 1, 2023, becoming the first female mayor in the city's history. As Mayor, she represents our city on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. She also serves on the George Mason University's Schar School Alumni Chapter board and the Virginia Poverty Law Center's Advisory Board.

Prior to becoming mayor, Catherine worked with numerous nonprofits on legislative advocacy at the state, local, and federal levels. She previously served on the boards of directors of Britepaths, Equality Virginia, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC, and GrandInvolve. She has been a proud Rotarian since 2008.

Awards include Virginia's 11th CD Democratic Committee's Frederick W. Silverthorne Award (2018); The Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (vaaeyc) Media Award (2019); The Chris Atwood Foundation Superhero Award (2024); Pathway Homes Spirit of Hope Award (2024); The Center for Nonprofit Advancement's Phyllis Campbell Newsome Award (2024)

www.CatherineRead.com

www.ReadThinkAct.com

ReadC blue blazer closeup low-res 20240906-2024-09-06 11.43_edited.jpg

Partnerships, not Partisanship.

The only candidate endorsed by Fairfax City's state and federal partners:

Congressman

Gerry Connolly

Senator

Saddam Salim

Delegate

David Bulova

Mayor Read's First Term

Creation of the Homelessness Task Force

New Redevelopment

Public Restrooms

Creation of the Homelessness Task Force

1/6

Fairfax Forward

Mayor Read's vision for a second term.

Attainable Housing and Smart Development

In our growing region and city, we must prioritize making housing attainable for all. Too many of our teachers, firefighters, police, and other essential workers can no longer afford to live in the community that they serve.

Make Housing Affordable for All: Advocate for policies that increase the availability of housing, such as ADUs, so we meet our goals and make housing more affordable. Keep requirements for developers to include affordable options in certain new projects, and add dedicated city funding for affordable housing.
Smart Growth: Promote smart growth principles that focus on sustainable, mixed-use development to reduce urban sprawl, enhance walkability, and preserve green spaces.

A Fairfax for All: Community Engagement and Equity

Enhanced Public Services: Work to improve access to essential public services, ensuring they are equitable and accessible to all community members.
Civic Participation: Promote greater civic engagement by creating more opportunities for a wider and more representative range of residents to participate in local government.
Diversity and Inclusion: Foster a culture of diversity and inclusion within the city by supporting initiatives that celebrate different cultures, provide anti-discrimination training, and ensure representation of all community members in decision-making processes.

Sustainable Environmental Practices

Decisions made in local government over the next few years will have far-reaching impacts on climate change. We all believe that addressing climate change is a necessity, and we will fight to build the infrastructure needed to tackle this problem head-on.

Green Infrastructure: Invest in green infrastructure projects such as green roofs and rain gardens to improve air quality, manage stormwater, and reduce the urban heat island effect. We will defend the progress our city has already made, including the stormwater utility.
Renewable Energy Initiatives: Support the expansion of renewable energy sources and work towards making municipal buildings energy-efficient and carbon-neutral.
Public Transit and Bike Lanes: Keep investing in the CUE bus, prioritize walkability, and continue to develop a comprehensive network of bike lanes and bikeshare stations to reduce reliance on cars, one of the largest sources of carbon emissions.

Strategic Economic Development and Small Business Support

Support Local Businesses: Create programs that offer support to small businesses and startups, especially those owned by women and minorities.
Workforce Development: Work with regional partners to invest in job training and workforce development programs to equip residents with the skills needed for the modern economy
Fair Wages and Benefits: Advocate for policies that ensure fair wages, benefits, and workplace protections for all workers in the city.

Safety and Security for All

Gun Violence Prevention: Prohibit guns in public spaces that are being used for events. Upgrade the violation of the prohibition on guns in city parks and buildings from a class 4 misdemeanor to a class 1 misdemeanor.
First Responders: Support recommended police and fire recruitment and retention efforts and staffing increases, as well as the establishment of a law enforcement civilian review panel to strengthen the relationship between the community and the police.
Traffic Safety: Add additional safety signage to sidewalks, shared use paths, and bike lanes. Continue working to strengthen protected pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.