When Merrily Pierce returned to McLean after several years in Europe she was shocked to see just how different life was in suburban Washington. In Italy, in England, she could live without a car, hopping on buses and trains to get around. In Fairfax County, she was dependent on her automobile.

"I was appalled really because we had not even started a rail line from Washington to Dulles International Airport," she said.

So Pierce rolled up her sleeves and got involved with civic groups and local governments, an involvement that has led her to seek to represent Dranesville District on the Board of Supervisors this year after incumbent Stuart Mendelsohn (R) said he would not run for reelection.

PIERCE SAID her "philosophy of livable communities" drives her campaign. "I want pedestrian friendly neighborhoods and business centers," she said. "A vote for me would be for protection of the environment and natural resources."

To Pierce, a Democrat, these are quality of life issues and they won't be resolved unless the county solves the seemingly intractable traffic problem and its implication on land use decisions. In the late 1980s, she recalled, the county had built 80 percent of the development allowed by its Comprehensive Plan but only 20 percent of the transportation infrastructure had been completed. "That's a problem that has not gone away," she said.

"I have over 15 years of experience in public service and issue oriented experience," she said. "I think I'm the best candidate for that reason."

Pierce has worked as an aide dealing with land use issues in the Office of the Chairman from 1988 to 1991 under the Audrey Moore administration. "I took from that experience how complex it is to plan and zone, how complex transportation planning is. It takes years and years," she said.

She also worked under current Board Chairman Katherine Hanley (D) from 1998 until March 1 of this year, when she resigned to mount her campaign.

She has served as president of the Federation of Citizen Association, president of the McLean Citizen Association and is currently vice president of Friends of the Potomac. She has also put her training as a marine biologist to use as a researcher with the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.

"I've always worked to help us plan smarter," she said.

THE BIGGEST HURDLE to her campaign, said Pierce, will be to interest voters in local issues at a time when interest is focused on a war several thousand miles away. "It's a challenge to be involved in a local election when the focus at the moment is elsewhere," she said.

But that does not detract from the fact that local governments are going to have to make some difficult decisions as budgets get tighter and real estate tax bills get higher.

"People are feeling the pain and they are beginning to say we have to make choices. What services do we really need and want?" asked Pierce, whose assessment went up 11.1 percent this year. "We can make the cost of local governments more efficient. People are asking why Fairfax County employees are getting a 5 percent on average raise. That's a valid question. Pay for Performance needs closer examination."

"We all want good schools, police, fire and rescue. We like our parks, we like other programs the county offers We like efficiency in government," added the Herndon High School graduate who has lived in the county for a total of 35 years.

"We have to go to Richmond and ask for help," she added. "We've got to make sure that we get our fair share. We need to continue to press Richmond for alternative sources [of funding]."

But Richmond has not proved very responsive to Northern Virginia's needs in the past few years. Still, Pierce is undeterred. "There's always hope and I'm eternally optimistic."

JOHN FOUST, who along with Fred Mittelman is one of Pierce's two Democratic challengers, said he was taking her candidacy "very seriously."

"I am also concerned about environmental issues, sprawl, preservation of open space and transportation is a perennial issue that we've got to deal with and I believe a way to do that is to focus on mass transit," said Foust, the current president of the MCA. But, he added, Pierce "seems not to be concerned about the property tax and the unacceptable increases we've experience in the past four years."

Hanley, Pierce's former employer, said she would not endorse any of the Democratic candidates until after the May 10 assembled caucus picks the Democratic candidate to face Republican candidate Joan DuBois or Bob McCohany. "Obviously I know Merrily the very best," said Hanley, who lives in Reston.

After Pierce resigned her position earlier this month, Hanley said, "I was sad for me because it leaves a hole in my office. She is very very good."

"But I was excited for her," he added. "It's an opportunity that I'm glad she's pursuing."