Questions
FXBG Advance: Have you previously run for office?
Finn: No
FXBG Advance: Have you previously held office?
Finn: Yes
FXBG Advance: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
Finn: No
FXBG Advance: Briefly explain what experiences you would bring to this office should you be elected.
Finn: As a professional urban planner and former chair of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission, I bring extensive experience in navigating urban development, land use policy, and strategic planning to address the long-term needs of our city. In this leadership role, I facilitated complex public hearings, fostered transparent decision-making, and collaborated with city officials, community members, and stakeholders to advance housing, infrastructure, and quality-of-life initiatives.
Additionally, as a working mom raising two children in Fredericksburg, I bring a grounded, firsthand perspective on the daily challenges that families face. Balancing career, parenting, and community service has shaped my ability to prioritize, empathize, and advocate for policies that create real benefits for families and working individuals alike. My experiences both professionally and personally enable me to listen build consensus, and implement creative solutions tailored to our community’s unique needs.
FXBG Advance: Briefly explain two issues that are most important to you as a candidate.
Finn: Too many neighborhoods in Ward 3 feel disconnected from the rest of Fredericksburg. I want to be a strong voice for them, ensuring they’re linked to City resources as well as physically linked into the City's network. The small area plans outline these necessary improvements, and it is important to me to see they remain a top priority.
Ward 3 also has an opportunity as many of its existing shopping centers face likely redevelopment. I am committed to ensuring that redevelopment efforts support and strengthen existing neighborhoods by creating new opportunities, services, and housing options that meet the needs of residents. Thoughtful, community-focused redevelopment can foster vibrant, accessible neighborhoods.
FXBG Advance: Briefly explain why you would be a good fit for the office you are pursuing.
Finn: My service leading the Planning Commission, combined with years of community engagement and personal experience as a working parent, uniquely positions me to represent the needs and aspirations of Fredericksburg’s residents. I have demonstrated my capacity to navigate complex issues with fairness and collaboration. I care deeply about creating a vibrant, inclusive city where everyone can thrive, and I am ready to work hard to sustain and enhance our community’s quality of life.
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Re; Susanna Finn's 'combined with years of community engagement'. It's right telling that she was the HOA President of the Great Oaks neighborhood, and not once did she tell them that 4 DATA CENTERS are planned within 200 ft. of their backyards.
Didn't even communicate directly with Chris LaMonte, owner of 'The Good Car Wash', that the 1500 Gateway Project DATA CENTER applicant was going to block his egress in/out of his business, which would close it down.
We get it. She can't single out an applicant. But she could have done a newsletter/website page to Ward 3 as the Councilor-appointee (albeit 'with controversy') to let us know what is happening. Community engagement? Nah.
College Heights had a similar incident: No communication that she was proposing a Neighborhood Commercial Overlay District on its corner lot houses on College Ave. The 1920s large houses. The first layer of protection to 'encroachment' by developers, the 'onion peel' they attempt to do, which changes the character of the neighborhood.
Her 'paternalistic/Father Knows Best' justification for CH is all on Regional Web TV, Planning Commission 10-24-24.
Representatives from the Fredericksburg Neighborhood Coalitions researched NCODs (how they evolve to shoddy over time, e.g., pea gravel in the backyards for customer parking).
FNC reps also went out to Great Oaks to personally talk with residents to give them a 'heads up' on the proposed 1500 Gateway Data Centers project on the Hylton tract. Chris, owner of Good Car Wash was directly contacted, too to keep him informed.
Council knew what a 'hot potato' 1500 Gateway project was in a LOCAL election year. They turned it down. hmmm.
Applicant came back on an appeal. asking for a 90-day extension on the appeal. Which was supposed to expire on 9-9-25.
Applicant wanted to move it to 12-9-25.
Sound fishy? Yes, that Dec 9 date is AFTER the election.
Most residents don't have the time of day to follow LOCAL Council to see what they're up to.
We no longer have a healthy newspaper to follow local govt. Be the 4th Estate local govt 'watchdog'.
Fredericksburg Neighborhoods Coalition formed in response, to mobilize and unite neighborhoods so we could divvy up the work of reading city documents to see what is happening in the city.
We know that the majority of Council is not reading the documents. These docs are released on Thurs/sometimes Friday before the Tuesday Council meeting. They take at least 6-8 hours to read and understand.
In the numerous Meet and Greets for the New Majority Non-Partisan candidates -the TRANSPARENCY candidates who will NOT accept a political party endorsement for LOCAL candidates, and who have the time to read their board docs, residents mention that they know 'this Council is mainly seat warmers for a YES vote'.
FNC has field specialists: attorneys, realtors, developers, architects, small business owners, retired employees in NoVA local govt. and those who know how to research to find primary source info and go down 'rabbit holes' to get it.
The ones on Council now, including Susanna Finn's controversial appointment, resulting in a city lawsuit with a settlement in favor of the plaintiff?
They're Teachers, social workers, and a UPS driver, who just don't have it in them after a long day on the job. We notice. We hear the fatigue in their voice. Their irritability to residents speaking at the public comment mic.
We hear the 'I agree with what he said. She said'. and look at each other: 'They didn't read the documents again'.
So FNC sent out a notice to neighborhoods and a few residents responded to the 12-9-25 extension for the appeal of 1500 Gateway Project for 4 DATA CENTERS next to the Great Oaks neighborhood.
Their public comments: No, we know what you're up to. You're waiting until after the election. No.
Chris wrote an eloquent public comment that we think was the key to getting that 7-0 Council to go along for once, because we caught on to them, to say 'NO'.
He said, you're going to shut my business down.
Did Susanna Finn do any of this outreach to Great Oaks? as per her statement: 'combined with years of community engagement'. No.