Kara Pitek’s life has been dedicated to serving the community. Whether it’s working in non-profit organizations to help families with affordable housing, being a consistent voice for equality, or serving as Chairwoman of the Potomac District Democratic Committee, Pitek has made it a mission to elevate the well-being of others.

Now, she has taken that passion for service onto an even greater stage, recently announcing her candidacy for the 31st District of the Virginia House of Delegates. The district, currently represented by Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, covers parts of Prince William and Fauquier Counties. Guzman, who won the seat in 2017, announced earlier this year that she will be running for Lieutenant Governor in 2021.

“We flipped the seat in 2017, and I was concerned that we would not have another strong candidate to keep it,” said Pitek in a recent interview. “I decided to answer the call because I knew that I could represent the district well as its delegate.”

Growing up in the Bronx, Pitek credited her parents for her upbringing to community service. “They taught me at an early age the meaning of giving back,” said Pitek. “I learned about what it meant to grow up in a family that was heavily involved in politics, and who fought for fairness and justice. It has really helped shape who I am today.”

It was growing up in subsidized housing that gave her a first-hand understanding of what families are going through, and she believes that will translate in her policies as a delegate. “We need people who have experienced the challenges of getting affordable housing, and more importantly we need leaders who will enact policies that will provide assistance so that every family can have a place to live.”

She also credits her faith as a foundation for how she sees the world, telling the PW Perspective, “Growing up in the Jewish faith, it provided me a worldview in which everyone needs to be able to have the same rights to live and be protected. I try to learn as much as I can about the diverse viewpoints and how I can help as much as possible.”

Pitek discusses how living in Prince William County has given her a close-up view of how the criminal justice system should be reformed, especially in Black and Brown communities. She advocates for more training among the police force to bridge the widening gap in the areas in which they are assigned.

“We need to make sure that there is more diversity within the police department to represent the communities where they live,” said Pitek. “There also needs to be across the board bias and diversity training so there is a better understanding of one another.”

She also talked about removing mandatory minimum sentences and wrongful imprisonment. “Our jails are overcrowded, and it’s disproportionately stacked against Black and Brown individuals who are put in and cannot afford to get out. We need a complete overhaul of the system.” She believes that the legalization of marijuana, which would make Virginia the first southern state to do so, would go a long way towards the reduction of minorities in prison.

The mother of two young sons, she is an advocate for supporting educators, especially in the difficult process of teaching during the pandemic. “We ask a lot of teachers,” said Pitek. “We need to support them more and provide the tools necessary to help them get through this as much as possible.”

She also goes on to discuss how site-based management should not be in public schools. “Providing each school autonomy gives our schools the choice to be exclusionary or discriminatory to the LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities. We need to ensure that all groups and clubs that our high schoolers want to initiate have the opportunity to thrive!”

Concluding the interview, she mentions how the greatest challenge she would face as Delegate is restoring faith in the government process. “People need representatives they can trust,” she said. “The more we get out in the community and talk with people to hear their concerns, the greater connections we can create. As leaders, we need to appeal to our constituents.”

This evening Pitek will be hosting a comedy fundraiser via Facebook beginning at 8:30. Her plan behind the fundraiser was to help put a smile on people’s faces in these challenging times. According to a statement on the fundraiser website, “This year has been especially tough for a lot of us. With the Corona Virus Pandemic, a bitter Presidential Election, the loss of loved ones, and so much more, I thought it might be a good idea for us to get together and lighten the mood.” For more details on being a part of the festivities, click on the link.