County Board
Mary Hughes Hynes - Member, Arlington County Board
An Arlington County resident for more than 30 years, Mary Hynes was elected to the Arlington County Board in November 2007. Previously, Ms. Hynes served on the Arlington School Board from 1995 to 2006, chairing it on three occasions.
During her many years on the Arlington School Board, Ms. Hynes was known for providing strong, insightful leadership on the management of public capital projects. She continues to provide that leadership at the County level seeking to develop sound decision criteria and addressing ever-greater fiscal challenges.
A cornerstone of Ms. Hynes’ work as a member of the County Board is ensuring that Arlington County excels in its preparation to respond to emergencies. In addition to protecting and providing for Arlington citizens, Arlington County is home to and has a special responsibility for responding to emergencies at government facilities such as Reagan National Airport and the Pentagon.
Preparedness is also a vital aspect of responding to the economic challenges facing Arlingtonians. Ms. Hynes has made the creation and maintenance of our social support systems a high priority. As part of this effort, she is leading the County Board’s initiative on teen health and substance abuse.
Ms. Hynes is an ardent supporter of sensible, responsible community planning. She spearheaded the initiative to require preplanning for all General Land Use Plan changes and was instrumental in updating the County’s neighborhood traffic calming policies.
Ms. Hynes represents Arlington County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments where she chairs the Aviation Policy Committee. She is also a member of the Virginia Municipal League and Virginia Association of Counties where she serves on the Legislative Committee and the Education Committee, respectively. Finally, she represents Arlington on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission where she serves on the Legislative Committee.
Ms. Hynes often has been recognized for her service to Arlington, including by the Arlington Jaycees (1993), the Arlington Commission on the Status of Women (2006), and the Arlington chapter of the Association of University Women (2006).
Public service has always been a high priority for Ms. Hynes. Prior to joining the School Board, she was a school activist. She currently serves on the Board of Vanguard Services and Bowen McCauley Dance, and is a member of the Arlington Kiwanis Club, the Roosevelt Society, The Arlington Committee of 100 and Our Lady Queen of Peace Church.
Ms. Hynes and her husband Patrick are parents of five Arlington Public School graduates. She is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN, which honored her in 2007 as a distinguished alumna.
