Targeting Smoking, Trans Fat and Cars

Tejada built his political reputation in the 1990s as a defender of the residents of the Arna Valley apartments, many of whom lost their homes when the complex was redeveloped. Tejada said he wants to make sure "that low-income tenants will no longer be thrown out on the streets with nothing."

To replace some of those units, Tejada is proposing that the county change its land-use regulations to allow accessory dwelling units, such as in-law apartments or English basements, to be added to existing houses in residential neighborhoods. A county task force has been studying the issue for several months and recently released a report on how it could be done.

The plan could cause a firestorm. About two decades ago, Arlington considered such a proposal but dropped it in the face of community opposition. However, new board member Mary H. Hynes (D), who comfortably won her seat in the November election, campaigned on the issue and drew favorable attention from voters.

Hynes, a longtime Arlington School Board member, said she also intends to focus on balancing the county's budget. "Economic conditions and the housing crisis" may make that process more difficult, she said.

"Rapidly increasing construction costs in the last few years may make some projects considerably more expensive than originally thought and potentially beyond the county's immediate ability to pursue," Hynes said.

Barbara A. Favola (D), the board's vice chairman, said that although the "leveling off of revenues" will create new budget pressures, it will nevertheless be essential for Arlington to spend money to rebuild its stormwater management program to help maintain the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

"This will require increased resources for maintenance and replacement of stormwater pipes and aggressive treatments" of waters that drain into the bay, she said.

Last month, the board decided to delay a vote on a new tax it was considering imposing for stormwater management. It would have cost the average county household $75 a year. The Arlington Civic Federation, which represents most of the county's neighborhood associations, had opposed the tax, urging the county to instead use surplus funds to reconstruct the system of aging pipes. The work is expected to cost $57.4 million. A public hearing on the issue will be held in March.

Tejada and other board members also underscored their continuing commitment to what they call the county's policy of "inclusion" toward immigrants. Tejada said he will expand citizenship-training classes and provide more English-language instruction for newcomers.

More than 100 people attended the meeting, the first official government event of the year for Arlington.