Welcome to my online constituent office. We hope you will find this website to be a useful one-stop portal for any needs you might have from the Virginia state government. We have included information to help you better understand how our government works.
You can also keep up with the policy-making process in the General Assembly during the weeks that I am working in Richmond by reading my blogs and Twitter updates.
As your State Delegate, I’m here to serve you so please contact me with any questions or services you need. I am particularly interested in hearing about ways to make our laws work better for all of us so please do not hesitate to send me policy ideas that I may be able to propose in Richmond. I am honored to represent you and I look forward to meeting you in person.
Thank you,
- DelegateKeam: Presented another Richmond report to civic group: Sully District Council. 35th Dist has only 1 precinct in Sully - called Vale - out of 18.
- DelegateKeam: Witnessing the investiture of new Fairfax Couny Circuit Court Judge Brett Kassabian whom we voted in this session. Congrats, Your Honor!
- DelegateKeam: At NoVA Asian American community town hall hosted by Virginia Asian American Advisory Board. I served on this Governor's board in 2001-09.
- DelegateKeam: Attending "Unlock Gridlock" forum in Tysons hosted by www.TeleworkVA.org and www.TeleworkExchange.com to find solutions for NoVA traffic.
- DelegateKeam: Providing another Richmond report to constituents; this time Providence District Council in Dunn Loring. Most active civic leaders I know.
Posts Tagged ‘Town of Vienna’
Delegate Keam Observes Memorial Day
A Day To Honor Sacrifice
American Legion pays tribute to veterans.
By Donna Manz, The Connection
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
In between barbecues, festivals, store sales and family outings, many Americans paused to honor U.S. troops in harm’s way and those combat casualties who sacrificed self on America’s behalf.
Vienna has no sacred wall of names to touch or statuary immortalizing veterans but it does have Vienna’s American Legion Post 180 to perpetuate solemn Memorial Day traditions.
On Monday morning, Post 180 presented its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Flint Hill Cemetery.
The Vienna Community Band opened the program with a patriotic and spirited repertoire giving way to the National Anthem.
Mayor M. Jane Seeman, State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34), Post Cmdr. Bob Hatter and Vienna historian Mayo Stuntz offered brief remarks before the honored guest speaker, U.S.A.F. Brig. Gen. Peter Sefcik Jr. addressed the assembly.
Calling himself honored and humbled to be there, Sefcik said, “Memorial Day is one of the most significant and solemn holidays we have in the U.S. It all starts with those willing to serve.”
“Today is a sad day, but it’s okay to smile and laugh, too,” said Sefcik. “You live in the best nation on this planet. We have freedom, and that’s something to celebrate and rejoice in.”
Sefcik, an active-duty reserve officer assigned to duties at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, is a Vienna resident and member of Post 180.
In attendance on the grass were State Del. Mark Keam (D-35) and Town Council members Laurie DiRocco, Edythe Kelleher and Mike Polychrones.
Petersen noted that Memorial Day is a significant day for the nation and the community, reminding guests that the country’s first leader came from Fairfax County.
Seeman commented on how moving it was to her to see all the flags on veterans’ graves at Flint Hill, thanking Post 180 for placing them there.
Ending the solemn ceremony, Commander Hatter and Vice-president of Auxiliary Martha Hatter lay the red, white and blue wreath. A three-volley gun salute punctuated the stillness, followed by Taps, as veterans stood in salute.
Following the Flint Hill ceremony, veterans and their families were invited to American Legion Hall for lunch.
The women of the American Legion Post 180 Auxiliary spent Thursday morning planting small flags at the gravesites of veterans buried there, all 125 of them. Many of the interred fought in the Civil War and first World War and World War II.
Not long after midnight on May 29, Post 180 representatives took to Route 123, posting American flags along Vienna’s main thoroughfare.
Sefcik talked about the price fallen troops paid defending liberty.
“They died in pursuit of the freedom and liberty we now enjoy,” Sefcik said.
ViVa! Vienna! honored Memorial Day with a tribute on Monday at 3 p.m. on the Town Green. U.S.M.C. Gen. Richard M. Lake of Fairfax County, director of intelligence and senior language authority, was guest speaker.
Students from George C. Marshall and James Madison high schools provided musical support to the program.
On Route 123 in Oakton, the Cox Farms marquee sounded the sentiment of the day. “Remember the Fallen” it read.
Delegate Keam congratulates Vienna election winners
PRESS RELEASE
Immediate Release: Thursday, May 4, 2010
Contact: Rob Abbot, (703) 380-8883
Delegate Mark Keam Congratulates Vienna Mayor and Councilmembers on their Re-Elections
VIENNA – Today, voters in the Town of Vienna exercised their civic duty and elected four candidates to lead the Town for another two years. All four winners were incumbents who ran for re-election to their current positions.
Delegate Mark Keam (D-Fairfax) congratulates Mayor M. Jane Seeman, Councilmember Laurie Genevro Cole, Councilmember Michael J. Polychrones and Councilmember Edythe Frankel Kelleher on their re-election.
“I want to congratulate the winners and thank them for their tireless service to the Town of Vienna,” Delegate Keam said. “I have enjoyed working closely with every member of the Town Council and I am excited to be able to continue representing the residents of Vienna together with these four leaders as well as with Councilmembers George Lovelace, Laurie DiRocco and Howard Springsteen.”
Delegate Keam continued, “I particularly want to thank Mayor Seeman for the generous time she has given to educate me on issues affecting the Town. As a first-time elected official, I truly appreciate the Mayor’s advice and mentoring, which has help me settle into my job as Delegate.”
Delegate Keam represents the 35th District in the Virginia House of Delegates, which includes the entire Town of Vienna and portions of surrounding areas of Dunn Loring, Tysons, Oakton, Fairfax and Fair Oaks.
Delegate Keam has made advancing the Town of Vienna’s interests in Richmond one of his top legislative priorities. He introduced the following four bills in this General Assembly session, which were drafted with significant input from the Mayor, Councilmembers and Town Attorney:
1. HB 1124 would have required increased state payments to localities like Town of Vienna for roads where traffic volumes exceed the statewide average by more than 20 percent. This bill was tabled in Transportation Committee.
2. HB 1125 would have authorized localities like Town of Vienna to administratively impound vehicles of drivers who are charged with driving without a license for a second or subsequent time. Because a similar bill introduced by Delegate Tom Rust and Senator Chap Petersen were enacted into law, HB 1125 was left in Courts Committee.
3. HB 1126 would have revised the Uniform Statewide Building Code to allow localities like Town of Vienna to maintain grading regulations for construction of single-family homes on small lots. This bill was left in Courts Committee.
4. HB 1127 would have limited abusive attorney subpoenas issued to elected or appointed officials to testify on matters involving their public duties. This bill was left in Courts Committee.
While three of these bills did not advance in this legislative session, Delegate Keam is continuing to seek other ways to address these Town concerns.
Mayor Seeman and the newly re-elected Councilmembers will take the oath of office for their new term at a Town Council meeting in June.
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To follow Delegate Keam’s work in Richmond visit: www.DelegateKeam.org; www.twitter.com/DelegateKeam; or www.facebook.com/DelegateKeam
Tough Road Ahead for Vienna Roads…
This afternoon, I presented HB 1124, before the Transportation Committee. My bill would have increased by 20% the state’s portion of funding to towns or cities for their road maintenance if these local roads handle 20% more average daily traffic volume than the average for the rest of the state. This was my effort to allocate state funds to the roads that need the maintenance the most, and not to treat all roads the same, as the Commonwealth currently funds these projects.
Keam-Petersen Vienna Town Hall
On Saturday, January 23, 2010, Delegate Mark Keam and State Senator Chap Petersen met with dozens of constituents to discuss their work in Richmond and to address the public’s concerns.
Town Hall meeting with State Senator Chap Petersen
On Saturday, January 23, I held my first town hall meeting with Senator Petersen, in the heart of the Town of Vienna. Big thanks to the American Legion Dyer-Gunnell Post 180 and it’s Auxiliary for hosting the event, as well as to Mayor Jane Seeman and other leaders of the Town of Vienna for inviting citizens to join us. We had a great turnout of almost 100 constituents who were eager to learn the latest happenings in our State government and who came with lots of good questions for us.
As summarized on Chap’s blog (http://oxroadsouth.com/2010/01/24/town-hall-in-vienna.aspx), the two of us gave an overview of the economy and political climate in the Commonwealth, and focused on the critical budget process we’re about to take on. There is really no good news on any front. The national and state economic indications are still somewhat gloomy, with unemployment numbers and housing markets still far behind. The new Governor and the General Assembly must cut almost $4 billion in our biennial budget for 2010-2012 to meet our balance, and there are no easy answers to where we will find the savings.
The biggest cost factor for Fairfax County is what happens with our local composite index (LCI) which determines how much state support our schools receive (http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/budget/compositeindex_local_abilitypay/index.shtml). The background on this complicated issue has been written extensively by other Northern Virginia lawmakers so I’ll just cite these sources here to save repetition:
http://delegatedavealbo.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/school-funding-local-composite-index/
http://scottsurovell.blogspot.com/2009/12/richmonds-attack-on-middle-class.html
http://oxroadsouth.com/2010/01/19/fighting-the-lci-freeze-on-the-senate-floor-2.aspx
Bottom line is that we are now facing a shorfall of over $61 million for Fairfax County schools because the outgoing Governor’s budget would “freeze” the downward adjustment of our LCI at a time when the index finally recognizes that Fairfax is not as ”wealthy” as we once were.
I have introduced 2 bills (HB 1128 and HB 1129) to address this patently unfair treatment of Fairfax students, parents and taxpayers, and I hope to have my bills considered soon. I’ve also co-patroned budget amendments to fix the LCI formula for this upcoming budget cycle.
The town hall was a great opportunity for me to reconnect with constituents after the holiday season which was followed by a hectic move down to Richmond. After spending 10 days in the Capitol and getting used to the arcane ways of the legislature, I was very happy to return home and see some friendly local faces. It is truly an honor to be able to represent the fine citizens of Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring and Fairfax. I look forward to returning every weekend to see the great folks of the 35th District.