Del. David Bulova (D-37th) has just received the Legislator of the Year award from the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC). This honor recognizes legislators who serve as ambassadors for the advancement of regional planning and cooperation.   

Bulova’s district includes the City of Fairfax and part of Fairfax County, and he’s the ninth legislator to earn this award. Representatives from the VAPDC visited Bulova’s legislative office in Richmond, on Feb. 3, to present the award to him.

VAPDC’s leadership created it to acknowledge public officials who support regional teamwork and actively engage in public-policy efforts that advance economic prosperity in the Commonwealth. And Bulova was delighted to receive it.

“I appreciate being honored with the 2022 Legislator of the Year award from the Virginia Assn. of Planning District Commissions,” said Delegate Bulova. “You are really unsung heroes in terms of helping foster that collaboration among localities. It makes for better policy and better decision-making.”

The VAPDC initiated a funding request in the 2021 General Assembly to increase the state contribution to all planning district commissions (PDC)/regional councils by $14,000 per year. Bulova heeded the call, and his efforts did not go unnoticed.

“Del. Bulova worked diligently on the VAPDC request,” said Robert Lazaro, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. “The funds help us to match against grants and other things that we otherwise may not be able to do.” 

VAPDC President Kim Callis agreed. “PDCs and local governments across the Commonwealth benefited from Del. Bulova’s leadership in helping secure additional, state funding for PDCs,” he said. “The $14,000 especially goes a long way toward helping small PDCs. As the chairman of the Agriculture, Commerce and Natural Resources subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee last year, Del. Bulova worked to successfully steer the VAPDC request through the legislative process.”

Besides serving on these committees and the General Laws Committee, Bulova is also an environmental planner who previously worked on the staff of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC).