New Arlington County Board Chairman J. Walter Tejada stressed broad initiatives on affordable housing, public health and inclusiveness of immigrants — legal and illegal — as he began his term Tuesday, while other board members warned of a budget crunch ahead.

It is not merely enough to preserve existing affordable housing, Tejada said, but imperative to expand the programs so that more residents can live in the high-priced enclave outside the District of Columbia.

“Arlington is a highly successful community where many people want to live,” said the county’s first Hispanic chairman. “I am committed as ever to do all we can to ensure that people of all economic levels have that opportunity.”

Yet county officials at a traditional New Year’s Day meeting warned of a potential budget deficit in October, and several fellow board members highlighted the budget crunch during their speeches that followed Tejada’s opening remarks.

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“It is unlikely that we will be able to meet all the promises of the last few years in the next few years,” incoming board member Mary Hynes said, blaming rapidly increasing construction costs and a slowdown in the rise of property values.

While longtime board member Chris Zimmerman said he expected the county to be more resilient to the economic downturn that is affecting other localities, he cautioned “we are not immune to the threat that a downturn would pose.”

Zimmerman praised Tejada as an immigrant “living his American Dream” and as a representation of Arlington’s diverse melting pot in which more than 25 percent of residents are foreign-born.

But a critic, and Republican candidate who lost to Tejada during the 2007 election, said he does not assert himself enough. “[Tejada] has a reputation of following what other board members do. I would not expect him to go against the majority,” said Joe Warren. Dozens of Tejada supporters came to celebrate his appointment as the first Hispanic chairman of the board and some proclaimed “Si se puede,” or “Yes we can,” during a post-meeting photo session.

Tejada, a Salvadoran immigrant, opened with both “Happy new year” and “Feliz ano nuevo” and slipped briefly into his native language during the middle of his remarks.

“I am very excited he is setting that tone of inclusiveness that we need in Arlington,” said Andres Tobar, a Tejada backer and chairman of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations. “He represents a tremendous feeling of hope.”

Tejada’s priorities

» Expansion of affordable housing

» Mandatory tenant relocation assistance

» Diversity dialogues addressing immigration

» Increased aid for U.S. citizenship seekers

» Promotion of car-free lifestyle

» Elimination of smoking in public

» Elimination of trans fats in restaurants

» Planning residential development along Columbia Pike

Freeman Klopott contributed to this report.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com