City & town
Mayor of Fairfax
- Vote for
- 1
- Term
- 2 years
- Candidates
- 2
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
What this office does: The mayor, elected citywide, presides over City Council meetings and represents the City of Fairfax.
Taxes & budget
Kirsten Sides LockhartNo party listed
- Proposes new non-property-tax revenue for a balanced budget.
- Opposes relying solely on yearly tax increases.
Thomas D. "Tom" PetersonNo party listed
- Pledges to avoid excessive debt and unnecessary tax increases.
- Voted to raise the meals tax from 4% to 4.5%.
Education
Kirsten Sides LockhartNo party listed
No documented position found.
Thomas D. "Tom" PetersonNo party listed
- Supports prioritizing sales tax revenue for school construction.
Housing
Kirsten Sides LockhartNo party listed
- Supports data-driven development review guided by adopted plans.
- Supports regional cooperation on transportation and affordable housing.
Thomas D. "Tom" PetersonNo party listed
- Opposes projects whose height, density or traffic outweigh benefits.
- Supports full impact studies before zoning for planned growth.
- Voted for by-right detached accessory dwelling units.
Economy & jobs
Kirsten Sides LockhartNo party listed
- Proposes incentives for activity-center development and pressure on idle owners.
Thomas D. "Tom" PetersonNo party listed
No documented position found.
Roads & infrastructure
Kirsten Sides LockhartNo party listed
No documented position found.
Thomas D. "Tom" PetersonNo party listed
- Voted to cancel the George Snyder Trail project.
Health & human services
Kirsten Sides LockhartNo party listed
No documented position found.
Thomas D. "Tom" PetersonNo party listed
- Opposed early Willard-Sherwood approvals; later backed construction.
Government & transparency
Kirsten Sides LockhartNo party listed
- Pledges to increase resident participation in city decisions.
- Supports restoring the mayor's role in setting council agendas.
Thomas D. "Tom" PetersonNo party listed
No documented position found.
Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.