Four vie for two RA board seats
By Claire Compton
Candidates for the two seats up for elections on the Reston Association Board of Directors are not exactly newcomers to the hot-button issues in Reston.
Cheryl Beamer is the current Hunters Woods/Dogwood director, and ran for the position only last year after it was left vacant when Barbara Aaron passed away. She will be running against John Bowman.
Richard Chew and Barbara Zicari are running for outgoing director Bill Keefe's At-Large seat.
Chew has served in several volunteer capacities for the RA since he moved to Reston 13 years ago. In the past, he has been a member of the Elections Committee and the Cluster and Condo Advisory Committee.
Chew's priority as a board member would be to improve and conserve what he says is Reston's greatest asset, its open spaces. Chew said he believes the RA is doing a great job maintaining pathways and taking care of open spaces, but there's always room for improvement.
“Based on some of the information coming out of the environmental committee, we probably need to go a little further in terms of reclaiming the open space, getting rid of invasives and putting up trees,” he said.
As a former volunteer himself, Chew said he'd also like to see greater outreach to members to include them on committees.
“We need to find a way to engage more people in committees as well as the Reston Festival types of activities,” he said.
Zicari, who is running against Chew, also cited the pathways and common areas as a priority for the RA.
“The RA works really hard to keep them up. I'd like to see that continue as well as [create] recreational facilities for other things,” she said.
Zicari's two children attend Herndon High School. The Zicaris moved to Reston one year ago from Herndon, but the stay-at-home mom said she feels like she's been a part of both communities as a parent.
She believes her experience as a homemaker in the community will bring a diversity of viewpoints to the board.
“There are so many talented people on the board, so many professionals. My experience is from the other side, being a mom, I'd like to get in and give a fresh perspective,” she said.
Bowman, who is challenging Beamer, is a 23-year Reston resident and has most recently been involved in the Park and Ride Neighbors coalition that opposed a development proposal for the corner of Lawyers Road and Reston Parkway.
Bowman said it's time for the RA to “grow up,” and take a hard look at issues that may not be of immediate concern in Reston but affect its residents nonetheless.
“There are real issues that are going to affect the quality of life in Reston that are happening outside of Reston. I think Reston has to stand up and find a way to have a voice in it all,” he said.
Bowman said while he understands the RA has legal limitations, that doesn't mean it can't take a vocal stance on many issues.
Beamer did not respond by press time.
The RA will be holding two question and answer forums for the candidates. The first will be on Wednesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at 1930 Isaac Newton Square and a second will be held Wednesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods.