She discusses how her experience, passion and trust makes her the “People’s Candidate” for a 2023 run

Recently, longtime Virginia resident Kim Short, who has a wealth of experience in service from her days serving in the Army, made the announcement that she plans on running for Potomac District Supervisor in 2023.

One of the most important things that she brings to the table is a life dedicated to service. After serving for 25 years in the Army, she discusses how being in different parts of the world helped her to understand issues from many perspectives.

“I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people during my travels, and it helped me to see that the way we do things in America is different. What we consider to be priorities aren’t necessarily the same in other countries.”

What that brought her was an understanding of leadership, and she goes into detail about what works in that aspect. “Leadership is one of the most valuable teachings that I took away from my time in the Army, and you learn that great leadership is always taking care of people first.”

She has served as the Vice President, The ROCKS, Inc a non-profit organization that provide mentorship. professional development, and social interaction to strengthen the officer and civilian corps of Joint Forces. he reflects on how the mantra of providing for others is a must. “A great leader understands the needs of their people, and the things that affect them. It’s what I will bring to the district.”

Speaking of the Potomac District, she brings a wealth of experience in public health, and discussed why it’s such a priority in her life. “Health, as defined by WHO (World Health Organization)eH is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Ignoring the possibilities of health and wellness, impacts us in a big way. During the pandemic, we lost so much – jobs, people, social interaction and our mental health was especially impacted. I made the determination that if we are going to prosper as a community, we must focus on improving health and wellness in all aspects.”

It’s this determination that enabled her to serve on a variety of projects in support of the City Manager and Deputy City Manager of Manassas.

“Working on these projects helped me to ascertain the needs of both Manassas and Prince William County.   I was able to partner with several organizations (Community Services Board, Area Agency on Aging, Public Health, Extension Services) and elected officials in order to better support the people of the community.”

So, how would that experience translate into elected office? As she prepares for a 2023 run, she discussed her strengths in relationship building on all levels.

“Whether it’s on the federal, state or local level, relationships with key officials are critical in order to close the deal for issues that matter to the most constituents.  Additionally, “I am able to meet the people where they are and listen to their concerns.” We have to get back to making that the focus of serving, instead of implementing legislation that is not in the best interest or doesn’t directly impact the lives of the people.”

Circling back to her experience in public health, she says that is a primary focus because of its reciprocal effects. “Two things that matter most to me, health and love. If you are healthy, that means you can achieve wealth.  Health must be considered as one of the most important aspects of our lives, and we need to emphasize that in our outreach to people.  A Healthy Community is a Wealthy Community”

What would she like to see happen as supervisor? “I want to reach across the aisle, know the stakeholders who can help move the football down the field, and call the right people to get things done.”

She discussed what’s at the core of her decision making. “It’s about having a love for people, caring for human beings, and discovering all the details of whatever legislation we put in place to ensure that the end goal helps the most people.”

One of the issues she focused on in her community was the yard waste mandate. “Is it actually being executed? No less than five times have I had to call the service provider to pick up yard waste. If it’s mandated, why are The People left with the responsibility of ensuring it happens? These are the types of legislative challenges that must be avoided.”

She continues. “I want to act on those things that people can feel, because if they don’t feel a positive impact on their lives, there’s no reason to spend enormous hours and efforts to implement it.”

It’s one of the reasons she’s running as “The People’s Candidate.”

Her website can be found here for more information.