Intentional leadership, strategic advocacy, and the responsibility of representing our community at the Virginia State Capitol.

by Mayor Derrick R Wood

February 7, 2026

When decisions are being made that could shape a community for decades, absence is not an option.

Showing up in Richmond is not ceremonial work. It is one of the clearest responsibilities of leadership — ensuring that Dumfries is present, prepared, and positioned wherever policies, partnerships, and investments that influence our future are being shaped.

My responsibility is simple: when conversations occur that carry consequences for our residents, businesses, and long-term growth, Dumfries will not be missing from the room.

Because communities that help shape the conversation are far better positioned to shape their future.

Protecting What Matters: The Work Around Quantico Creek

Among the most intentional conversations during our time at the Virginia State Capitol were those focused on Quantico Creek — a waterway that represents both one of our town’s natural assets and one of our most important infrastructure priorities.

Advocating for state support is about far more than environmental stewardship. It is about protecting homes, preserving property values, strengthening flood resilience, and ensuring that future growth is not compromised by preventable risk.

Infrastructure projects like these rarely capture headlines, yet they are foundational to a community’s stability and economic strength. When flooding is mitigated, development becomes more viable, insurance pressures are reduced, and families gain confidence that their investment in Dumfries is secure.

This is what forward-looking leadership requires — addressing tomorrow’s risks before they become tomorrow’s crises.

Too many communities discover decisions only after funding has been directed elsewhere or policies have already been finalized. Dumfries will not take a reactive posture when our future is on the line.

Advancing Dumfries‘ Legislative Priorities

Our legislative agenda reflects a disciplined focus on sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness. Conversations with legislators, regional partners, and our advocacy team centered on priorities that directly influence the trajectory of our town:

- Infrastructure readiness that supports responsible expansion  

- Economic development that attracts investment and opportunity  

- Public safety resources that protect quality of life  

- Environmental resilience that safeguards long-term viability  

- Housing strategies that balance growth with community character  

Prosperity is rarely accidental. Communities prepare for it through strategic engagement and consistent advocacy.

Showing up ensures that Dumfries is not simply adapting to change — we are helping guide it.

Housing, Faith Partnership, and Smart Growth

Across the Commonwealth, housing continues to dominate policy discussions as leaders work to address supply shortages and affordability pressures. These are serious challenges that deserve thoughtful solutions.

Proposals encouraging housing development on properties owned by faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations present promising opportunities to expand access while strengthening community partnerships. Faith organizations have long served as anchors in our neighborhoods, and collaborative models that increase housing options warrant careful consideration.

But successful implementation depends on something equally important: local insight.

Every community carries its own infrastructure capacity, transportation patterns, school considerations, environmental conditions, and long-term vision. Policies are strongest when statewide leadership and local expertise work in partnership.

Why Local Control Still Matters

Local control is not about resisting progress — it is about ensuring that growth happens with intention, infrastructure keeps pace with development, and the character of our community is shaped through thoughtful planning rather than one-size-fits-all mandates.

Zoning decisions influence far more than land use. They shape traffic flow, school capacity, stormwater systems, business corridors, neighborhood identity, and ultimately the daily experience of residents.

Local government is where policy becomes personal.

Protecting a community’s ability to plan responsibly is one of the most important ways leadership safeguards both current residents and future generations.

The strongest outcomes emerge when statewide vision aligns with local knowledge — not in opposition, but in partnership.

Partnership is the Multiplier

Progress rarely happens in isolation.

Time in Richmond included collaboration with members of the Town Council, engagement with state and regional leaders, and strategic coordination with our advocacy professionals — all grounded in a shared objective: positioning Dumfries to compete and succeed in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.

Relationships built today often open doors tomorrow. Alignment accelerates progress.

For growing communities, these partnerships are not optional. They are essential.

A Community Defining Its Trajectory

Dumfries is no longer a town waiting to be discovered. We are a community actively defining our path — investing in infrastructure, strengthening our economic foundation, and preparing for the next generation of residents and businesses who will call this town home.

Momentum is not self-sustaining. It requires vigilance, preparation, and leadership willing to look beyond the immediate horizon.

Showing up is part of that discipline.

The Standard We Will Keep

Our commitment is straightforward:

Dumfries will be present, prepared, and proactive wherever decisions affecting our future are being shaped.

Because the strongest communities are not accidental — they are intentional.

Progress does not happen by chance. It is built conversation by conversation, partnership by partnership, and decision by decision.

Dumfries is not waiting on the future.

We are helping shape it.