Key Facts
Background
Matt de Ferranti graduated from Duke University with a BA and worked as a teacher in Houston. He then earned a JD from the University of Texas of Law and a master’s degree from LBJ School of Public Affairs. He served as an attorney in Texas and California.
De Ferranti served on Arlington County’s Housing Commission from 2013 to 2018 and the Arlington Public Schools Budget Advisory Council from 2014 to 2018. He was also a member of the Joint Facilities Advisory Board. Matt is a 2015 Leadership Arlington Graduate, a 2016 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and a 2017 graduate of Arlington Neighborhood College [1, 2, 4].
Key Issues
COVID-19
De Ferranti believes that everyone has the responsibility to get both vaccinated and boosted as the benefits far outweigh the risks. He supports social distancing and wearing a mask [1].
Housing
De Ferranti prioritizes helping those at risk of eviction. He supports the “Missing Middle” type of housing, which includes duplexes, townhomes, and low-rise apartments, as he believes current housing is unsustainable. He wants homes to be more affordable and equitable [1, 3].
Economy
De Ferranti advocates for the survival of small businesses in the face of COVID-19. He supported the Giving Resiliency Assets Near Term (GRANT) Program as an initial response, providing income relief to Arlingtonian businesses and nonprofits. He looks to reduce office vacancies, encourage economic growth in small businesses, and maximize investment and community growth.
De Ferranti prioritizes technology and innovation. He wants to attract and invest in the green-tech economy and innovative sectors like gaming companies [1].
Education
De Ferranti looks to ensure that investments in the school system and construction are cost-effective. He wants to allocate funding for high school seats and streamline planning for school construction to meet capacity demands [1].
Environment
De Ferranti wants to achieve 100% renewable electricity in Arlington by 2035. He has worked on energy efficiency and green buildings for Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding and looks to make Arlington more sustainable. He helped update the Community Energy Plan (CEP) in 2019 to ultimately turn Arlington into a carbon-neutral community. This plan includes the achievement of 50% renewable electricity by 2022 for county government operations [1].
Gun Policy
De Ferranti supports background checks for all firearm sales and other transfers. He wants to ban assault weapons and bump stocks, which help rifles fire faster than they normally do. He promotes funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct gun violence research and restoration of a state law that restricts gun purchases to one gun a month. De Ferranti also looks to increase resources for mental health awareness and treatment and ensure that those with restraining orders or mental health issues cannot access guns. Lastly, he wants to delegate the power to regulate guns to localities [1].
Public Safety
De Ferranti supports increased staffing for public service roles and training for all safety forces. He wants accountability for the respectful treatment of all residents and policies that contribute to an inclusive, engaged Arlington community [1].
Transportation
De Ferranti wants to address parking and multi-modal transportation needs in Crystal City and provide additional Arlington Transit Bus storage. He supports policy solutions along Lee Highway and the improvement of trails and commuter lines [1].
De Ferranti promotes scooters and bike shares as affordable means of transportation but encourages riders to operate within traffic laws [5].
Endorsements
Beth Arthur, Sheriff
Sources
1 Matt for Arlington
2 Arlington VA
3 Facebook
4 NoVA Transit
5 Arlington Magazine