Little seeks Fredericksburg’s mayor seat, says city needs an updated strategic plan

Ann Little is running for Mayor of the City of Fredericksburg.

She’ll face incumbent Mayor Katherine Greenlaw in an upcoming city-wide election on May 19. That election was postponed from May 5 by order of Gov. Ralph Northam, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Little has a green thumb that has helped her grow her businesses. She has founded many companies including AGL Marketing in 1977, Through The Garden Gate Landscaping Company in 2004, and Tree Fredericksburg in 2008.

Little has served on several city boards such as Social Services, the Clean and Green Commission, and the Soil and Water Board. She’s also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Fredericksburg NAACP.

Potomac Local News asked her a few questions to help our readers know a bit more about the candidate.

For more information on Ann Little go to her campaign website LittleforMayor.com

She will be on the ballot for Election Day on May 18 19.

What issue in the City of Fredericksburg has the highest priority for you? If elected as Mayor what steps would you take to make any needed changes?

Unmanaged growth brings many problems, and has a huge impact on the affordability of housing, crowding in schools, and many other issues. If we grow too fast, we will need to raise taxes to pay for more city services for these new residents. With unmanaged growth, our city gradually loses its special character. Currently, there are 1,500 housing units under construction while our schools only have space for 300 new students. The city says we cannot afford a new school for 10 years, but I believe we must find a way to build a new elementary school now. Our children’s future depends on it.

To manage growth, our city needs a real strategic plan. A strategic plan is an economic plan that balances growth, taxes, and the infrastructure needed to support our residents – schools, fire, police, and more. This starts with bringing community leaders together to create a vision for our city that we can all agree on and then forge a path to managing our future with a solid plan. I would push hard for a strategic plan – a roadmap for success for our community.

The city has a comprehensive plan that outlines decisions on land-use, public safety, as well as provides policy guidance for city leaders and staff. It was last updated five years ago

What do you believe are the most important needs for business and economic development in Fredericksburg?

I believe we need to focus our efforts on our current businesses and find a way to help them succeed and grow. 80% of economic growth comes from current businesses. We need to foster opportunities for our business community and help attract the right workforce to our area. Our schools should be focusing on creating more opportunities for our students with career and technical training.

We should be partnering with Germanna College and [University of Mary Washington] to find more ways to educate and train a better workforce. I would like to see an advisory group of business leaders formed to help guide the city out of this virus crisis. I am a proponent of opening up the government to bring in as much available talent and expertise that we can find.

What are some other concerns in Fredericksburg that have caught your attention? Any that may have caught you by surprise?

I was aware of the issue of affordable housing, but I did not realize how many people it affected in the city. We cannot continue to raise property taxes and expect working families to be able to live in Fredericksburg. 39% of the residents of Fredericksburg are classified as the “working poor” – nurses, teachers, municipal workers, fire, and police personnel.

A family of four with an income of less than $60,000 falls into this category. I have been knocking on doors, and many people, especially the elderly, told me that they are struggling with paying their bills now, and more property taxes will drive them out of the city. Affordable housing is not just a city issue. It must be addressed in conjunction with our regional partners, the state, and the federal government. We can help ease the tax burden by managing our growth which in turn mitigates the need for higher taxes for increased infrastructure improvements. An intense multi-faceted approach is needed to address this issue, and if elected, I will make this a priority.

Please describe your particular qualifications to serve as Mayor. Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

I have a business background. I founded and ran my own sales and marketing company for 25 years in the five-state mid-Atlantic region. I had over 40 employees, and I know how to manage people and finances. Being an entrepreneur, I know how to get things done. I am good at identifying a problem and bringing others in to help craft a solution. I believe that having the community invested in decisions leads to a stronger, more resilient city.

When I first moved to Fredericksburg, I saw that the tree canopy was shrinking. I started small, planting a few trees with a dedicated group of my neighbors and friends. That was 12 years ago. To date, we have planted over 8,000 trees with over 5,000 volunteers and changed the culture of our city to where people value trees and love our tree-lined streets.

What are some special features of Fredericksburg that make it a good place to live?

The people of this city are what make Fredericksburg special. I have been lucky to be part of some of the great things that our community has to offer. I work with the university and the students on environmental projects, and I was also a member of the Town and Gown Committee for many years. I was on the board of the Friends of the Rappahannock and led their campaign to save the 4,200 acres along the river from development. I served, and still am, on the committee that designed the trails system that we all use and love.

I had the privilege of serving as Chair of the Clean and Green Commission for eight years with a fabulous group of volunteers – their work still continues to this day and has made our city a much better place to live. We are a city with a great heart. I hear from many people every day that they want changes in how things are decided and who gets to participate in those decisions, but deep down, everyone loves this city and wants to help maintain that special quality and charm of Fredericksburg.