Meet Thomas D. “Tom” Peterson

Local Roots. Proven Leadership. A Heart for Fairfax.

Fairfax is home.

I grew up in Fairfax County and have proudly called the City of Fairfax home since 2002. My wife and I chose to raise our family here because we believe in this community—its neighborhoods, schools, parks, local businesses, and the people who make Fairfax such a special place to live.

Serving Fairfax has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Before being elected to City Council, I served for three years as Chair of the City's Environmental Sustainability Committee. Today, I remain committed to thoughtful, fiscally responsible leadership that protects what makes our city special while preparing wisely for the future.

I believe leadership begins with listening, bringing people together, and focusing on the long-term interests of the community rather than short-term politics. Local government should be transparent, accountable, and responsive, encouraging meaningful public participation and respectful collaboration.

That belief inspired Fairfax Common Ground and continues to guide my service every day.

I don't simply want to help manage Fairfax—I want to help steward it.

Because I believe something very simple:

The future of Fairfax should not be dictated to the community. It should be created with the community.

Experience That Builds Confidence

My experience spans local, state, and national government, nonprofit leadership, business, and higher education. Each role has reinforced the same lesson: good leadership is about listening, bringing people together, and turning ideas into practical results. That's the approach I bring to serving Fairfax—thoughtful, accountable, collaborative, and focused on building confidence in our city's future.

  • For more than four decades, I have served in leadership roles across federal and state government, nonprofit organizations, business, higher education, and the private sector. This has included formation and facilitation of many high level formal decision making bodies with public and private stakeholders.

    Those experiences have given me the opportunity to build organizations, solve complex problems, develop practical public policy, and bring diverse people together around shared goals.

    Each role has reinforced the same lesson: the best leaders listen carefully, work collaboratively, and focus on delivering real results.

    That's the approach I bring to serving Fairfax every day—practical, accountable, and focused on stewardship rather than politics.

  • Many of the issues that affect Fairfax—transportation, housing, economic development, environmental stewardship, and public safety—extend beyond our city boundaries. That's why it's important for Fairfax to have a strong voice in regional decision-making.

    I am honored to represent our community on several Metropolitan Washington and Northern Virginia policy and planning organizations, where I work with local and regional leaders to advance practical solutions, build partnerships, and help bring new opportunities and resources back to Fairfax.

    By working collaboratively across the region, we can better protect Fairfax's interests while preparing our community for the future.

  • Strong local businesses are the foundation of a thriving community. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to build organizations, manage budgets, lead teams, and work with clients, partners, and communities to solve complex challenges.

    As Founder and CEO of a national nonprofit organization, I have spent more than two decades building and leading a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that serves governments, businesses, and nonprofit partners across the country. Earlier in my career, I served as a Vice President of a firm specializing in healthcare finance and investment banking.

    I also developed and operate a successful historic tourist home in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, giving me firsthand experience with the opportunities and challenges of owning and managing a small business.

    Supported by an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and more than four decades of leadership across government, business, nonprofit organizations, and higher education, these experiences have shaped a practical approach to leadership grounded in fiscal responsibility, entrepreneurship, collaboration, and delivering results.

    Healthy local businesses create jobs, strengthen our tax base, support community organizations, and help preserve the vibrant downtown and neighborhoods that make Fairfax such a special place to live. That's why supporting local businesses and encouraging responsible economic opportunity will continue to be one of my priorities as Mayor.

 

About Tom

  • Public service is personal.

    Like so many Fairfax residents, I care deeply about the future of our community. I want Fairfax to remain a place where families can afford to live, children receive an excellent education, neighborhoods retain their character, local businesses thrive, residents feel safe, our natural resources are protected, and government earns the trust of the people it serves.

    Fairfax is a remarkable city. Its small-town character, engaged residents, outstanding schools, beautiful parks, vibrant businesses, and strong sense of community make it one of the best places in America to live.

    As our city grows and changes, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to protect what makes Fairfax special while preparing thoughtfully for the future. That requires careful stewardship, responsible fiscal management, meaningful public participation, and leadership that brings people together around practical solutions.

    My mission is simple:

    To help restore confidence in Fairfax's future by protecting what makes our city special, strengthening our financial foundation, preserving our quality of life, and working with our community to build an even stronger Fairfax for generations to come.

  • B.S., Biology — William & Mary
    M.S., Environmental Management — Duke University
    M.B.A. — The University of Texas at Austin

    My education has been strengthened by more than four decades of leadership across government, business, nonprofit organizations, and higher education. In particular, my MBA has helped me build and lead a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, develop and operate a successful small business, and bring practical financial, operational, and strategic management experience to public service.

    Today, those experiences continue to shape how I serve Fairfax—with thoughtful stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and a focus on practical solutions that deliver results for our community.

  • I believe strong communities are built through education, civic engagement, and public service. In addition to serving on the City Council, I teach graduate students at Johns Hopkins University and George Mason University, as well as continuing and professional education, helping prepare future leaders to address complex public challenges through practical problem-solving, collaboration, and thoughtful planning.

    Teaching keeps me connected to new ideas, emerging research, and the next generation of public servants—perspectives that continue to strengthen my work on behalf of Fairfax.