DRANESVILLE, Virginia — As residents in Virginia gear up to vote for their community representatives on Nov. 7, one contender stands out. Puneet Ahluwalia, vying for the Dranesville District Supervisor seat in Fairfax County, sat down with Vision Times to discuss his vision and aspirations for the county’s future.
With a firm belief that the county needs a redirection in its political course, Puneet bases his campaign on principles of honesty, integrity, and working for the people.
Having lived in Fairfax County for over three decades, Puneet and his wife, Nadia, chose America as the place to establish deep roots in. Through building businesses, raising their family, and experiencing the local education system firsthand with their three children, the Ahluwalias understand the essence of the American dream.
“I’ve been a resident of Fairfax County for over 30 years,” said Puneet. “My wife and I have raised our three kids in McLean and we do business here in Fairfax; we are proud residents.”
Concerns and solutions
Puneet parallels between what he observed as a journalist in India and what he describes as the “unchecked and unaccountable behavior” of certain politicians in Fairfax County. Highlighting concerns like the Board of Supervisors giving themselves significant pay raises while proposing tax increases for residents, Puneet hopes to be a beacon for the people while working to address these issues.
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“I want to find ways to reduce taxes, identify fraud, abuse, and wastage in the county system,” he states. With 52.2 percent of the county’s property taxes allocated towards education, Puneet says he is keen on ensuring that the money is utilized wisely.
With SAT scores dropping by 27 points in the county, Puneet’s office aims to bolster educational standards, address the reason behind the drop, and empower teachers to offer tangible tools to help the county’s students succeed.
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“We need to bolster education and provide more stem education to provide [students] with the various opportunities that are existent within the Fairfax County area,” he said, adding, “We need to bring back more substantial education into our schools.”
Bolstering police forces
Public safety is another pillar of Puneet’s campaign. Addressing the shortage of police officers in the Dranesville district and the county at large, he emphasizes the importance of increasing the police force. Puneet also highlights the need to tackle crime and gang-related issues head-on, for the safety and prosperity of businesses and nearby communities.
“Crime and gangs are rampant because we have a 200-300 police shortage,” said Puneet, adding, “Businesses are being affected because gangs are spreading drug abuse and sex trafficking. They’re going into their stores and stealing things; our communities do not feel safe”
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In order to help communities feel “more secure and increase their quality of life,” Puneet says the county needs to prioritize ways to bolster the different police departments while finding ways to prosecute criminals and support local businesses.
Hoping to position Dranesville as an “economic driver for the whole region, and not just for Virginia,” Puneet says supporting small businesses is key to achieving sustainable growth, fostering innovation, and creating more jobs.
A call to action
But Puneet’s campaign doesn’t just stop at highlighting the issues. It extends to helping make parents partners in their children’s education, preserving the environment, enhancing recreation opportunities, and supporting small businesses as key economic drivers.
“I want to bring prosperity, accountability, and diversity of ideas to this role of Supervisor,” he shared. “I want to have a discussion which will lead to policies that will improve the quality of life for the residents of Fairfax County.”
Puneet also appeals to the Asian American community — a significant demographic in the county — to support his campaign, emphasizing that their values align with the broader American dream. “This is about the future of our community, our county, and our kids. So it’s important for Asian Americans to come out, support each other, and work together. We can win this. It’s important for our nation and our community,” he asserts.
“I’m a proud Asian American; our fundamentals are that we work hard, we want to pursue the American dream and we want to take advantage of the opportunities here,” said Puneet.
Highlighting the contributions and values of Asian Americans within the broader American tapestry, Puneet emphasizes, “All Asian Americans are proud Americans, hence the Asian American value system is very much the American value system, which is to have faith in God, work hard, pay our taxes, and ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities.”
With a perspective rooted in the shared values and aspirations that bind communities together — regardless of their origins — Puneet’s campaign stands out as as a breath of fresh air.
Virginia’s general and special elections are slated for Nov. 7, 2023. Early voting began on Sept. 22. For more information, visit Puneet’s official campaign site here.
