Meet Sandi
Fairfax City is my home—and I’m running for City Council because I care deeply about its future.
I grew up in a family committed to public service. Both of my parents were lifelong federal employees serving in the Central Intelligence Agency. Because of their work, I lived overseas in seven countries before moving to the United States at age 16—Iran, Thailand, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Those experiences gave me a broad worldview and an early understanding that communities can thrive in many different ways and be driven by many perspectives that come together for a common goal.
Education and service have always been central to who I am. I earned my Bachelor of Social Work from George Mason University and my Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America, launching a fulfilling career as a social worker. My work has spanned child welfare, mental health, homeless services, and juvenile justice.
Most of my career has been spent in local government, along with seven years in a national social services consulting firm, where I gained valuable insight into how organizations and businesses operate. My work has focused on managing teams and complex projects serving vulnerable populations, using data to inform decision-making, and leading strategic planning. In recent years, I earned my PMP certification and a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (psychology of the workplace) from GMU. My work is an extension of my values, serving my community and leading responsibly.
Family has shaped my life in profound ways. I married Tom Slappey, and together we raised two wonderful boys in Chantilly. After Tom passed away in 2009, my sons and I navigated their adolescence on our own—an experience that strengthened my resilience, empathy, and appreciation for strong communities. Later, I was fortunate to find love again with Tom Brown.
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For years, I dreamed of living in a vibrant, walkable community, and I had always loved Old Town Fairfax. When Tom and I decided to move, we literally put a pin in the Auld Shebeen and drew a one-mile radius. We moved to Fairfax City in 2018, were married at Blenheim, and have loved living here ever since.
Tom and I walk our dogs through surrounding neighborhoods, enjoy the restaurants, festivals and markets, and value the many opportunities Fairfax City provides to connect with others.