Let’s face it: the current Arlington County Board is unresponsive, slow, and plans poorly. It has failed on so many critical issues. Despite warnings and signs, it continues to prioritize luxury amenities and foolish spending over our basic needs such as public safety, affordable housing, protecting our local businesses, and schools.
The County Board needs a big change. This one-party rule by Democrats makes our government complacent and without any drive for solving problems. It instead just tinkers with the status quo while running up more debt and raising taxes and fees. It’s time for a government that reflects new ideas and practical solutions.
Adam Theo is an Independent Progressive Libertarian running for Arlington County Board to apply those practical solutions to real problems. He will pull bold new ideas from across the country as well as “tried-and-true” practices we’ve used before to get it done. He is using 2021 to establish a campaign organization and build name recognition, with the intent of running again in 2022 and/or 2023 to take a seat on the Arlington County Board.
He could use your help. Ready to make change in Arlington?
About the Candidate: Adam Theo
Hello. I’m Adam Theo (but I usually just go by my last name of “Theo”). I have worked as a communications consultant and video producer within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the past nine years alongside police, firefighters, and national security researchers from across the country to promote new technologies and best practices for national security and public safety. For almost a decade I proudly served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a structural civil engineer – practicing carpentry, roofing, masonry, welding, forming concrete and asphalt, and even a bit of plumbing.
More recently, I’ve served my neighborhood as Secretary of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association (BVSCA), learning of concerns over unsafe streets and noisy development. I’m also a voting delegate to the Arlington County Civic Federation, keenly following their task force on voting and government reform. By 2017 I became disaffected with traditional Democrat-Republican partisan politics and followed my principles to the Libertarian Party (LP), quickly becoming the Chair of the local affiliate from 2018 to October 2021. During those three years I more than tripled the active volunteer base; established dedicated communications, policy, and community service teams; and expanded the LP’s coverage into Loudoun County.
Ready for the “bad stuff”? In my teenage years I became involved in petty financial crime, which resulted in going through the criminal justice system and serving four months in county jail in Florida, where I saw first-hand the injustice of the criminal justice system for minorities. Twice in my life I’ve been homeless – first in Florida in my mid 20’s and again as I moved up here to the DC area in 2009. I also refused to pay income taxes for many years when younger as a protest against unfair tax laws, overseas military campaigns, and bailouts of banks. I have long since reformed, repaying all taxes owed, and cleaning my record with the IRS and state.
To my knowledge I would be the only Arlington County Board member who has served in the military, experienced incarceration and homelessness, and worked professionally alongside law enforcement. It is these formative life experiences that make me uniquely suited to empathize with and serve all Arlingtonians.
Read more…
On the Issues
Lower Taxes and Smarter Spending
By reducing property taxes and emphasizing essentials over luxury amenities.
Prioritize Public Safety and COVID Recovery
By building safer streets, reforming police to protect the public and our civil liberties, and getting vaccines to where they are needed.
Missing Middle and Affordable Housing
By rezoning along bus routes and investing in community land trusts for a strong middle class.
Government Accountability and Election Reforms
By fully-funding the county auditor and improving how we elect our local officials.
C’mon, I know you’re curious.
Donate
You have the ability to help this effort by donating what you can for operational and promotional costs. It’s sad to admit, but the Benjamins really do matter.
My Latest News
The Season for Second Chances
Second chances, redemption, and renewal are important themes of the holiday season (especially in so many made-for-TV holiday movies!). I have my own story of second chances and renewal that I’d like to share with you.
Fill the Gap on 15th St S
There are a small handful of concerns with the Pentagon City Sector Plan, first of which is the gap in the protected bike lane plan along 15th street.
Taking a peek at election results
This “dry-run” campaign to get operations set up and warm myself up to debates met my expectations, with a 5.7% vote across the county (pdf) with literally no campaigning or serious fundraising in 2021 – no mailers, no ads, no door-knocking.Why am I optimistic about 5.7%? Data. I love looking through the numbers. Not only cost analysis (more […]
“So how was the vacation?”
This was an early-access story from Theo, exclusive to subscribers of the campaign’s email list a few days before it goes up on the website. Subscribe there to get future stories first!
ARLnow Candidate Essay: Adam Theo
Last week, [ARLnow] invited the four candidates running in the general election for a seat on the County Board to write a post about why [ARLnow] readers should vote for them next Tuesday (Nov. 2).
EcoAction Arlington Environmental Forum for County Board Candidates
Join EcoAction Arlington for a forum to discuss climate change, energy, smart growth, resiliency, equity, and natural resources with the candidates for the Arlington County Board election on November 2: Mike Cantwell (I), Audrey Clement (I), Takis Karantonis (D), and Adam Theo (I). The event was be moderated by Silvia Lucero, EcoAction Arlington board member.