Thomas D. "Tom" Peterson
Candidate for Mayor of Fairfax
Background
- Occupation
- Fairfax City Council member; president and CEO, The Center for Climate Strategies
- Campaign website
- tom4fairfax.org
A Fairfax City Council member since January 2025 and former chair of the city's Environmental Sustainability Committee. President and CEO of The Center for Climate Strategies since 2004; previously an economist and policy official at the EPA for 10 years.
Documented positions
Taxes & budget
Pledges to avoid excessive debt and unnecessary tax increases.
ReportTom Peterson Puts Cost Of Living At Center Of Fairfax City Mayor BidCandidate questionnaire · Patch · patch.com
“avoiding excessive debt and unnecessary tax increases, and finding more cost-effective ways to meet our needs”
Voted to raise the meals tax from 4% to 4.5%.
The council adopted the 4.5% meals-tax rate 4-2 in May 2026, effective July 1, 2026.
ReportHow Four Fairfax Candidates Voted On Taxes, Trails, Housing And Willard-SherwoodNews coverage · Patch · patch.com
“Amos and Peterson voted yes; Hall and McQuillen voted no.”
Education
Supports prioritizing sales tax revenue for school construction.
ReportFairfax City seeks voter referendum on sales tax to fund school improvementsNews coverage · FFXnow · ffxnow.com
“he would prioritize school renovation and construction”
Housing
Opposes projects whose height, density or traffic outweigh benefits.
ReportTom Peterson Puts Cost Of Living At Center Of Fairfax City Mayor BidCandidate questionnaire · Patch · patch.com
“I would oppose or seek significant changes to projects whose excessive height, density, scale, traffic impacts or design outweigh their benefits”
Supports full impact studies before zoning for planned growth.
He notes the city's four Small Area Plans include benchmarks of about 4,700 additional housing units.
ReportTom Peterson Puts Cost Of Living At Center Of Fairfax City Mayor BidCandidate questionnaire · Patch · patch.com
“Before development at anything approaching that scale is enabled through zoning, we need current and complete analysis”
Voted for by-right detached accessory dwelling units.
He first voted to postpone the July 2026 ordinance; after the delay failed 3-3, the ordinance passed 4-2 with his vote.
ReportHow Four Fairfax Candidates Voted On Taxes, Trails, Housing And Willard-SherwoodNews coverage · Patch · patch.com
“Amos and Peterson supported the ordinance; Hall and McQuillen opposed it.”
Roads & infrastructure
Voted to cancel the George Snyder Trail project.
In January 2026 he opposed $4.6 million in added funding, then joined the 4-2 vote to cancel the trail.
ReportHow Four Fairfax Candidates Voted On Taxes, Trails, Housing And Willard-SherwoodNews coverage · Patch · patch.com
“Hall, McQuillen and Peterson then joined Billy Bates in voting to cancel the project.”
Health & human services
Opposed early Willard-Sherwood approvals; later backed construction.
He opposed all six land-use and design approvals for the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center in October 2025, then joined the unanimous April 2026 vote to proceed with construction.
ReportHow Four Fairfax Candidates Voted On Taxes, Trails, Housing And Willard-SherwoodNews coverage · Patch · patch.com
“Hall and Peterson opposed all six … All four voted in April 2026 to proceed with construction”
Other issues in this race
Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Thomas D. "Tom" Peterson on them.
- Economy & jobsNo documented position found.
- Government & transparencyNo documented position found.
All sources (5)
- Sample ballot, November 3, 2026 General and Special Elections: City of Fairfax (full ballot)
Election filing · City of Fairfax Electoral Board · fairfaxva.gov
- Candidate list, November 3, 2026 General Election: City of Fairfax (all offices)
Election filing · Virginia Department of Elections · elections.virginia.gov
- Tom Peterson Puts Cost Of Living At Center Of Fairfax City Mayor Bid
Candidate questionnaire · Patch · patch.com
- How Four Fairfax Candidates Voted On Taxes, Trails, Housing And Willard-Sherwood
News coverage · Patch · patch.com
- Fairfax City seeks voter referendum on sales tax to fund school improvements
News coverage · FFXnow · ffxnow.com
Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.