/ en /news/2024-12/six-months-after-earning-his-degree-mpp-grad-anthony-amos-wins-his-first-election <span>Six Months After Earning His Degree, MPP Grad Anthony Amos Wins His First Election</span> <span><span>Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-12-11T10:33:15-05:00" title="Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - 10:33">Wed, 12/11/2024 - 10:33</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/dhart" hreflang="und">David M. 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As it happens, the university鈥檚 Fairfax 海角社区 is in Fairfax City.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Serving the public, especially as an elected official, 鈥渉as always been a dream of mine,鈥� said Amos.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>He ran as an Independent, eschewing the traditional opportunities afforded by aligning with a political party. </span></span></span></p> <figure class="quote"><span><span><span>鈥淚 wanted to keep things focused on local issues,鈥� he said of that decision. 鈥淲e were seeing a lot more of the federal talking points and policies trickling down to the local level where a city council doesn't really decide on those issues, ever.鈥�</span></span></span></figure> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2024-12/anthony-amos-and-president-washington-web.jpg" width="300" height="384" alt="A man in a gray jacket holds a blue trophy while a man in a blue suit stands next to him." loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Anthony Amos, left, receives his Jack Wood Town and Gown Award from George Mason President Gregory Washington. Photo by Creative Services.</figcaption> </figure> <p><span><span><span>In fact, he said, 鈥淵ou have people who try to manipulate the system and use [controversial] federal issues to control local government. Local government is where you鈥檙e supposed to be most connected with the community. If you lose that, that's just bad.鈥�</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Amos credits his time at George Mason, whose Fairfax 海角社区 is in Fairfax City, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii West Oahu with helping him form and express his political ambitions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>鈥淎nthony was a highly motivated, high-energy participant in my course,鈥� said Professor of Public Policy </span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/dhart"><span>David Hart</span></a><span>, who taught Amos鈥檚 U.S. Institutions and Policy Process course. 鈥淗e asked great questions and engaged thoughtfully with his colleagues as well as me.鈥�</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>鈥淎 lot of my policy positions were based on topics I researched while I was in college, such as public financing for different construction projects,鈥� he said. 鈥淟and use items, data centers in the energy grid, smart-use items for public transit, things like that 鈥� What I appreciate about George Mason is that the professors didn't skip over the local aspects of government.鈥�</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Amos works as a legislative aid for longtime Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the sole Republican on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It鈥檚 a position that offers opportunities to see policy in action.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Last spring as he was preparing to graduate, Amos won the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations from the university鈥檚 Office of Government and Community Relations. The award for the student category recognizes the winner鈥檚 leadership in fostering relationships between the university and the community.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Now that he has graduated, Amos continues his relationship with his alma mater in several ways. He contributes to a program benefiting the ARTS By George! scholarships in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and he remains a member in good standing in the Bridge at Mason club which works to foster civic dialogue on campus. He added that he is continuously working on ways to unite George Mason with the city he now represents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>City council seats sometimes lead to larger roles for elected officials. Does Amos have higher ambitions now that his first election is in the books?</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>鈥淚 want to do a good job first and make sure that I'm built for this,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 managed to survive the campaign but let me let me get in there and not screw up too terribly, and then we鈥檒l see.鈥�</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20566" hreflang="en">Jack Wood Award</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2121" hreflang="en">Master of Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18801" hreflang="en">Schar School Featured Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20531" hreflang="en">Schar School News for December 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/536" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:33:15 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 114966 at