Meet Dave

Dave offers more than just a fresh perspective on the critical issues facing our City. He has the background and experience to affect real change and achieve better results.

A commercial real estate and land use attorney in Northern Virginia for 20 years, he has dedicated his legal career to facilitating smart, well managed growth for the betterment of communities. Dave has played a key role in a number of high-profile redevelopment projects, primarily in Arlington, that have brought substantial economic success while preserving community integrity.  His road map for Falls Church includes utilizing these successful models for Smart Growth here.  Click here to see some of his and his firm's projects.  

The Sierra Club recently recognized Dave's vision for a vibrant, walkable downtown Falls Church with their endorsement of his candidacy.  In making their endorsement, the Sierra Club praised his “solid understanding of smart growth challenges, bicycling/walking/transit options, and use of LEED in commercial developments”.  Click here to read more.

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Dave has seen areas such as Clarendon and Shirlington, decaying neighborhoods in his youth, transformed into attractive, desirable communities with self-sustaining financial situations.  He believes Falls Church can also convert its aging commercial corridors into a vibrant, walkable downtown that provides the economic underpinnings for great schools and plentiful community services.

As a principal of a small law firm, David understands the challenges of businesses and working families and will bring this needed perspective to City Council.  His legal peers have given him an "AV" (Preeminent, Highest Legal Abilities, Highest Ethical Standards) rating.  He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia.

For the past four years, David has served as the Chair of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority.  During his tenure as Chair, the EDA has:

• Partnered with the City to bring BJs Warehouse Club to Falls Church under a highly beneficial tax-sharing plan.  It was the second largest retail project in the Washington, D.C. area in 2009.  The Falls Church BJs replaced an aging industrial plumbing supply house with a thriving national brand and new tax revenues could amount to a three-cent discount on the City tax rate for residents.
• Retained the Virginia Tech graduate planning department to re-plan parcels of Falls Church for expanded economic growth.  The West Jefferson Street conceptual plan (just one of these plans) is the basis for the City's first area plan.
• Branded Falls Church with the “Little City” campaign.  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently recognized this progressive effort at its 2011 Trademark Expo.
• Spurred activity downtown by funding events for visitors and businesses.  These successful activities included (among others):  Watch Night, Tinner Hill, Creative Cauldron, First Fridays, and the Annual Run for the Schools.  
  

Dave was also the Interim Falls Church City Attorney in 2008, working closely with City staff and familiarizing himself with the inner workings of Falls Church government.

Dave is also working to ensure that Falls Church seizes the opportunity to use its 2.2 miles of area wisely, as a walkable/bikable community that's green, quiet and beautiful.  To that end, he serves on the Falls Church Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Calming Committee.   He has walked or biked one or more of his children to school for the past 6 years. 

Dave is global as well as local.  He has lived and worked overseas in Riga, Latvia; Tokyo, Japan; and London, England.