We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 3 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.
Below is the unedited response from Aasim Rawoot, who is running for Treasurer.
I’m running for Arlington County Treasurer because I believe our local government should reflect the people it serves – not just in the services it provides, but in the values it represents. After more than 30 years of uncontested general elections for Treasurer, Arlington voters deserve a genuine voice in how we invest our money.
My name is Aasim Rawoot. I’m a lifelong Arlingtonian, a chemical and environmental engineer, and a community organizer. I attended Lubber Run Preschool, Patrick Henry Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, and Washington-Liberty High School. I’ve built my career here and have spent more than three decades developing relationships with the people who make this community what it is. My work in local mutual aid has taught me that meaningful change starts by listening to people and working alongside them.
As the son of Indian immigrants, I have a deep appreciation for the sacrifices families make to build better lives for their children. Growing up across the river from the most powerful city in the world, I have come to understand Arlington’s unique place in the world: a place where our collective economic prosperity has come to rest upon violence perpetuated against vulnerable people everywhere. Helping to build and lead the Arlington Apartheid Divest campaign has given me a way to start reconciling our local politics with the larger structures our neighborhoods are connected to.
These experiences have shaped my understanding of what public service should look like. Arlington should be a place where economic prosperity strengthens our communities, and not at the expense of vulnerable people elsewhere.
So, why am I running for Treasurer?
The Treasurer is responsible for collecting revenue and managing the investment of public funds in accordance with Virginia law. These responsibilities require sound judgment, careful financial management, and a commitment to serving every Arlingtonian.
I am not running to reinvent the office. I will maintain the revenue collection policies, systems, and day-to-day operations established by the current and former Treasurers. Residents deserve continuity and reliable service. They also deserve to be heard about what’s not working for them. I want to integrate the Treasurer’s office with the County’s established outreach mechanisms through its robust social programs. I want to communicate the roles, responsibilities, and payment programs the Treasurer’s office offers to the public. At the same time, hearing from the community will help the office serve them better.
The primary change I want to make is straightforward: give Arlingtonians a voice in how their tax dollars are invested.
Traditionally, public investment decisions prioritize three principles: Safety, Liquidity, and Yield, or SLY. I want to add a fourth: ethics. I want to SLEY: Safety, Liquidity, Ethics, and Yield.
Our tax dollars should not be invested in oil and gas companies that contribute to climate change, weapons manufacturers that profit from human rights violations, or predatory banks that exploit marginalized communities. Arlington has long expressed commitments to human rights, environmental responsibility, and equity. Those commitments should extend to how we manage our public finances.
Virginia law establishes the investments available to local treasurers (e.g., VA Code § 2.2-4510). Within legal requirements, I will pursue an ethical investment policy that aligns our investments with Arlington’s values while maintaining the financial safeguards and performance standards residents expect.
I am not asking voters to take a chance on untested changes to essential financial operations. I am asking you to consider a practical improvement to the way we manage our collective resources, one that preserves financial responsibility while making our public investments consistent with the community we aspire to be.
This election is also about democracy and representation.
The Treasurer is an elected position, yet voters have had little opportunity to meaningfully choose who holds the office for more than three decades. An election should be an opportunity for residents to ask questions, hear competing ideas, and decide how they want their government to operate.
My opponent will continue to have a role in the Treasurer’s office regardless of the outcome of this election. What’s at stake is whether Arlingtonians have a voice in how their money is invested and whether their values are represented in an office that affects us all.
I’m running because I believe democracy means more than casting a ballot. It means having a government that listens, explains its decisions, and remains accountable to the people it serves.
Arlington has given me an education, a community, and opportunities that have shaped my life. I want to give back by ensuring our public finances reflect the people behind them.
On November 3 (or earlier), I ask for your vote for Arlington County Treasurer. Together, we can build a functioning, responsive, and responsible local government and ensure Arlington’s investments reflect our collective values.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or our website: aasimforarlington.com
