After 97 days, the Braddock District once again has its own representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Rachna Sizemore Heizer was formally sworn in yesterday (Tuesday), having won last week’s special election for the seat. She officially succeeds James Walkinshaw, who resigned after being elected to Congress earlier this year.
Shortly after 5 p.m. — once the oath of office was delivered by Circuit Court Judge Stephen C. Shannon — Sizemore Heizer’s tenure officially began.
“Today is not about one person,” she said in her first speech as Braddock supervisor. “It is about stewardship, about caring for this community that we love so much — this community that took care of my family when I needed it the most — and I’m here now to make this community work for everyone.”
As part of her remarks, Sizemore Heizer expressed the need to put the “local” back in local government — one of her main priorities as she steps into her new role.
“Government can sometimes feel distant or unresponsive, but here in Braddock, I want to demonstrate what those who came before me have demonstrated: that your local government is accessible, engaged, accountable, and here to make your life better,” Sizemore Heizer said.
“We hear you,” she added, “and we’ll work tirelessly to address your concerns and make this a better place to live. That commitment starts with excellent constituent services, strong communication and being present in the community — not just in this building, but in our neighborhoods, in our schools and in our parks, listening and engaging.”
No stranger to local politics, Sizemore Heizer comes to the Board of Supervisors after representing the Braddock District on the Fairfax County School Board since 2023. Her run for higher office, however, has allowed her to take a stance on a broader slate of issues.
Among the topics raised during her campaign for the seat were the need to preserve Lake Accotink — which she called “a local treasure” in her speech — and “ensuring that community voices continue to shape … all that we do in Braddock.”
But the issue of improving affordability has long been at the forefront of local political debate, leading Sizemore Heizer to highlight the importance of a strong economy.
“We must continue to support strong schools, safe communities, excellent parks, and to do that, we must build a strong local economy with good paying jobs so everybody has a real chance to thrive,” she said.
Though Sizemore Heizer’s swearing-in gives the county a complete 10-member board, her ascension to the new role is significant for another reason: she is officially the first Asian American member in the board’s history.
“Representation matters — not as a symbol, but because it tells every child in every family that they belong here, that they are valued, that they bring something to us to make us better, and that their voices deserve to be heard,” she said.
