Back on the Grid

Hey all,

71 days until the election! We’re entering the real crunch time before the big day and my team and I will be campaigning hard with the time we have left. Like many northern Virginians, I’m just arriving back from my last trip of the summer. I’ve split the past week between Colorado and New England, enjoying a much appreciated reset before the big push to Election Day. I’m writing this post from a mile above New Jersey, en route to Reagan Airport, to share what’s been on my mind and how it relates to my campaign.

PRE-TRIP

• Tabling at the Fair: my campaign had a table at the Arlington County Fair! We shared it with Rives for Arlington School Board (my fellow Forward Party endorsee!). It was a great opportunity to meet and hear from Arlington voters. I had conversations with people who’ve lived here since the 80’s and people brand new to the community. My dedicated team of volunteers stepped up at the tail end of the fair after I had to leave for my trip. Big thank you to those super stars!

Vell and I engaging with voters at the Arlington County Fair

COLORADO

• Doing Hard Things: My husband Ross and I joined some friends for a 4-day / 3-night trek through Colorado’s White River National Forest. Our crew carried our food, water, shelter, and everything else we needed on our backs for just shy of 30 miles. It was a satisfying challenge and a reminder that I can do hard things—a mentality I'm carrying back to the campaign trail as an underdog candidate from outside the mainstream parties. Thankfully, as on the trail, I’m grateful to have the support of an awesome team—doing hard things is easier together! If you want to be part of this team, please sign up here (we particularly need volunteers for election day!).

• Going Off the Grid: Disconnecting from my devices was one of my favorite parts of our excursion. Unplugging has huge mental health benefits and I try to do it regularly, whether for a few hours or a few days. This topic has been on many Arlingtonians’ minds as we begin a school year notable for its new cell phone restrictions. Looking beyond our schools, I found myself wondering: how can Arlington adults experience the benefits of unplugging too? Are there ways Arlington County can facilitate this / partner with organizations that encourage it?

• Repping Our Fitness Culture: Arlington is regularly ranked as one of America’s fittest places to live and Ross and I represented it well as we climbed up and down Four Pass Loop! Each pass had 12,000+ ft altitude.

Our backpacking crew about to depart for our trek around Four Pass Loop

Hiking through sunny and rainy weather during our time off the grid

RHODE ISLAND

• Swimming in the Bay: When I lived in Rhode Island, open water swimming in the Narragansett Bay was one of my favorite things to do. I even raised money to compete in the Save The Bay swim multiple years. Last weekend, I squeezed in a swim from Barrington Beach with old friends. One of my visions for Arlington's future is a Potomac River clean enough to swim in. When that day comes, I hope to be the first one in the water!

• Seeing the Same But Different: While catching up with friends in Providence (and also earlier in the trip in Boulder) I was interested to discuss their local issues. We compared what the nation-wide housing problems look like in our respective communities and learned from each other’s perspectives and experiences. Getting outside my bubble helps me stay creative and open minded.

Post-swim shot at Barrington Beach

MASSACHUSETTS

• Celebrating Milestones: I got to spend my mom’s 60th with her. Happy birthday to my beautiful and caring mom!

• Spreading Campaign Cheer: My nephews, like most kids, enjoy a good sticker. Even if they can’t vote for me, they do wear my campaign stickers well. If you want a sticker or button, message me at engage@madison4countyboard.com and I’ll make sure you get one.

• Getting Inspired: We watched a new Disney movie called Young Woman and the Sea, which I recommend. It’s a story about open water swimming, so obviously up my alley (see above). It’s also about incredible pioneers of the movement toward equal inclusion of women in sports. Watching everything Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle went through a century ago, I felt so grateful to have had the opportunity to follow my athletic dreams as a top high school and college track athlete. It was special to watch the movie with my parents who (like Trudy’s mom) were tireless supporters and believers in those dreams. We watched it the same weekend Arlington was honoring our own incredible swimmer Torri Huske who was returning from a very successful Paris Olympic Games. I’m bummed I missed her welcome home party because of my trip but proud that our community shaped such an outstanding athlete. Another of my visions for Arlington's future is continuing to offer top-of-the-line community spaces. These spaces will help us enrich the lives of all Arlington's residents and nurture future talent like Torri's.

My nephew doing what kids do with stickers

TRANSIT:

• Catching the Metro & Bus: I used our convenient public transit system going both to and from the airport. I took the Silver Line Metro to Dulles on the way out and the Blue Line Metro plus an Arlington Transit bus from Reagan on the way back. Having accessible airports and good public transportation is a huge value to our community! I’m grateful for this and want to ensure we maintain and continue to improve these systems, as I list in my campaign priorities.

Rocking the double backpack on the Metro

Bus ride home

Thanks for reading!

Madison