Candidacy Announcements: Buschow and Riccards
Our friends at the CBC asked us to share the announcements of two candidates for the upcoming May elections, Patrick Riccards (school board) and Barry Bushow (city council). Here they are in full:
Patrick Riccards to Run for Falls Church City School Board
Local Businessman Seeks to Bring “New Educational Leadership for a New Era,” Will Seek CBC Endorsement
FALLS CHURCH – Local businessman Patrick R. Riccards today announced his candidacy for the Falls Church City School Board. A nationally recognized education policy expert, Riccards will also seek CBC endorsement on February 20.
“Just last week, The Washington Post announced that Falls Church City Schools stood as the top school system in the DC region,” Riccards said. “In these challenging economic times, we must ensure we continue to make the necessary investments in our schools, our teachers, and our children. I am entering this race to ensure all Falls Church families continue to have access to the very best public education possible.”
Riccards is currently CEO of Exemplar Strategic Communications, a Falls Church-based education policy consultancy. Working with leading non-profits, government agencies, and advocacy groups, Exemplar focuses its work on topics of educational research, student achievement, and instructional improvement.
He has been a leader in education consulting for the last decade, serving in senior positions for two of Washington, DC’s top public affairs agencies serving the educator sector. He has also helped build a number of education start-up companies. Riccards began his career on Capitol Hill, serving in senior positions for U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd (WV), U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley (NJ), and U.S. Rep. John W. Olver (MA).
“I want to join the Falls Church City School Board because I believe our school system can have a positive impact on the challenges Falls Church faces today,” Riccards said. “Our community remains strong when our schools are strong. The future success of the City rests with our public schools.”
As part of his campaign, Riccards pledges to work to:
- Guarantee that all Falls Church City families have access to a high-quality, globally competitive public K-12 education;
- Equip all Falls Church City students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in both postsecondary education and careers;
- Provide all Falls Church City children with high-quality teachers equipped with the education, knowledge, and support necessary to ensure the highest levels of student performance; and
- Ensure that, in these difficult budget times, our education dollars are being spent on those priorities that are proven effective in boosting student learning and achievement.
In 2008, the Falls Church City Council appointed Riccards as the City’s representative on the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia, a regional board that ensures healthcare quality and access across the region. Previously, he served as chair of the Arlington County School Board’s Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee, committee chair for Inova’s Year of the Child, and board member for the SER Child Development Center.
Riccards is a nationally recognized education policy strategist and regularly speaks to organizations about strategic, policy, and communications development in the education sector. Pat’s blog, http://blog.eduflack.com, is regularly recognized as one of the top education blogs in the nation. And last fall, PRWeek magazine named Riccards one of the top communications professionals in the nation, the first time an individual from the education sector has ever received the honor.
“In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to speaking with as many City residents as possible to hear their thoughts and ideas regarding the future of our school system,” Riccards said. “If elected, I pledge to work closely with the community to listen to everyone’s concerns and priorities and ensure those issues are thoroughly heard and considered by the elected school board.”
The son of educators and a graduate of a public high school in West Virginia, Riccards is a proud alumnus of the University of Virginia. He and his wife, Jennifer, have lived in Falls Church since 2006, when they adopted their son Michael (almost age 4) from Guatemala. Michael’s sister Anna (2 ½) joined the family in the fall of 2008.
“I am running for School Board because I want to make a difference for families across the City. I ask for your support. I ask for your ideas. And I ask for your vote in May,” Riccards said. “We all benefit from stronger schools.”
For more information on Patrick Riccards and his campaign for Falls Church City School Board, please visit www.riccards.com or contact Pat at patrick@riccards.com.
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From Barry:
As a resident of the City of Falls Church for more than 44 years, I have had the privilege of not only growing up in our community, but also serving as a volunteer in many capacities. Now, I would now like to continue my service to the community as a Member of City Council with the endorsement of the Citizens for a Better City. Therefore, I am now declaring my candidacy for City Council and ask for your support at the CBC convention on February 20th.
Currently I serve as Treasurer for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and have served on the board for 20 years; Secretary for the Falls Church Scout Building Association, member of the GEORGE Task Force, and a twice past President of the Falls Church Lions Club.
Previous volunteer efforts include:
- Chairman of the Advisory Board to Recreation and Parks
- Chairman of the Open Space Committee
- Economic Development Authority(EDA) (2 terms)
- Vice-Chairman of the Community Center Renovation Ad Hoc Committee.
- President of the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS)
- Cub Scout Leader for Pack 681
- PTA member
- Founder, Friends of the W&OD Trail Association
In 1999, the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce awarded me with the Caroll V. Shreve Award for Community Service, and the Falls Church Lions Club has named me as Lion of the Year three times.
For the last 25 years I have been employed as a technical assistant contractor for TRW and Northrop Grumman, which division was recently sold to TASC, Inc. I currently support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Project Management Consultant. My education consists of 12 years in the City of Falls Church public schools, a B.A degree in Economics from Virginia Tech, and a Graduate Certificate in Contracts Management from the University of Virginia.
My live has been enriched by having a Falls Church childhood, a wonderful family, and the opportunity to work with past and present icons of Falls Church — including Don Frady, Edna Frady, Walter Mess, Lou Olom, Ric Terman, Hap Day, and Barbara Cram along with the late Mr. Shreve and his sons. . I am a sports enthusiast and enjoy watching our GMHS sports, hiking and biking along the W&OD Trail, and nature photography.
I believe our wonderful and unique small businesses must be allowed to continue in this dynamic and redeveloping region. While we need big business we must not forget the character of our city. Appropriate land management and economic development are the tools we will need to meet this challenge. Business retention and expansion are critical to our community. Additionally, I believe it is important to rebuild our volunteer base for city Boards and Commissions.
At this critical time in our economic history it is imperative that we all work together to keep our Little City of Falls Church a vibrant place to work, live and play. I ask for your vote.
Barry
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