Ten adult candidates running for four available seats in the upcoming McLean Community Center (MCC) Governing Board election made their cases May 1 at the McLean Citizens Association board of directors meeting.
Here are the candidates:
• Tarek Atia is a journalist, entrepreneur and teacher who most recently directed an arts-and-culture center at American University in Cairo.
“As McLean changes and as it grows, the community center is doing an amazing job and it can only do a better job as it becomes a part of the revitalization that’s about to take place in McLean,” said Atia. “A place like the McLean Community Center could be a fantastic place where a civil dialogue takes place about what the future of McLean should be all about.”
• Jonathan “Slade” Broom, a McLean resident since 2013, is a coach with McLean Little League. He has owned two small businesses, managed a $60 million budget at the International Trade Administration and now works at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
“I believe in the mission of the MCC to excite, enrich and engage the McLean community, from its youngest residents to its senior citizens,” he said. “As a board member, I will concentrate on expanding family focused and sensory-friendly events, listening and finding collaborative solutions, and providing responsible financial management.”
• Matt Colsia, an incumbent MCC Governing Board member, retired two years ago after 26 years in the U.S. Army. During his time on the Governing Board, the group has improved accessibility at the Old Firehouse Center, begun security enhancements at the community center, collaborated on the McLean Central Park upgrade project and provided lighting improvements at the Alden Theatre, Colsia said.
“If re-elected, I pledge to continue these efforts, ensuring that our community center remains a beacon of growth and safety for all residents,” he said.
• Mike Drabyk, who has lived in McLean for more than a quarter-century, fondly recalled how his daughter had taken part in a youth Christmas pageant at the Alden Theatre.
“My family and I find the McLean Community Center to be both inclusive and welcoming,” he said. “Moving forward, I want to do my part so that others can continue to appreciate what the MCC has to offer.”
• Doug Jeffery, who moved to Northern Virginia in 1997 and has resided with his family in McLean since 2019, has worked for more than 16 years at a large financial-services firm in Tysons. He also spent four years as an assistant coach for Oakton High School’s girls’ varsity volleyball team.
“I really want to get involved with the MCC because McLean is our home and we love it,” he said. “We just want the opportunity to serve the community that we love so much . . . It’s vitally important that MCC serve all the different constituents of our community.”
• Ronald Keesing, a 20-year McLean resident, said he hoped to bring his expertise in technology and ethics to the MCC Governing Board. Keesing, who leads the artificial-intelligence practice for a major government contractor in the region, also has spent eight seasons as a McLean Softball coach.
“I think it’s so important, as has been emphasized, to find ways to bring the community together, focus on what unites us, focus on including all members of this incredibly diverse community,” Keesing said.
• Lisa Mariam, who is finishing her first term on the Governing Board, lives in McLean with her family. She has been involved in multiple community activities, worked for ArtsFairfax and recently joined the federal government. She for the past three years has chaired the Governing Board’s 50th-anniversary-committee and hopes to complete that work, which will result in celebrations next year.
“I also believe the McLean Community Center has the power to bring people together, despite our differences, and it’s very important to have this nonpartisan center in our community,” she said.
• Michael Monroe, who works in the finance industry and serves on the McLean Revitalization Corp., has lived in McLean for 10 years.
“I’d like to use my experience to help continue family friendly, enriching programming that’s inclusive and represents the people for whom the community center was established, which is all of us,” he said. “I’d love to promote collaboration between all the different groups within McLean, especially for the 50th anniversary.”
• Peter Pin, a 24-year-McLean resident, said he hoped to increase MCC’s community engagement and help the facility “go from good to great.” Pin hoped the community center would be able to draw upon the expertise and talents of the many CEOs and other capable leaders living in McLean.
“I think there’s so much out there that we don’t realize we have that we can bring in even more to the center, on top of the great things that they do,” he said.
• Peggy Richardson, a Realtor who has served on volunteer boards such as the Women’s Civic Alliance and Arlington Community Foundation, said she has the skills to bring people together.
“MCC is a great community that caters to an eclectic and diverse group of taxpaying citizens,” she said. “As a board member, I will use my past and present experience, listen to the needs and wants of everyone in our MCC community and bring them to the table.”
The three top adult vote-getters will receive three-year terms; the fourth-place finisher will serve for one year.
Five youth candidates also will be running for two seats with one-year terms. Those seeking to represent the Langley High School area include Anastasiia Dudnik-Dubiniak, Sonya Thott and Luke Understein. Candidates hoping to represent the McLean High School area are Aanya Jain and Aaron Stark.
Absentee voting for the election began March 27 and ballots must be received at the McLean Community Center no later than May 13 at 5 p.m. In-person voting will occur at Lewinsville Park in the voting tent at T.G.I.F. Carnival Rides on May 17 from 4 to 8 p.m. and May 18 (McLean Day) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
