Hilda Barg taught me there is no room for partisanship in local politics

Letter to the editor 

Maya Angelou once said “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

No, this is not 2003 and Hilda Barg is not running for reelection for Woodbridge District Supervisor but having knocked on over 4,000 doors in the Woodbridge District this year, I have gained great appreciation and admiration for her legendary name in Woodbridge.

I have heard countless heartwarming stories of her determination, compassion, listening, serving and bringing people together. Her actions are, to me, what a district supervisor should be and what we need in a Woodbridge Supervisor to return to.

About a month ago I met a woman door knocking in the River Oaks precinct. Currently she is a government contractor, her son is a track coach at a local high school, part time, as well as having a full time profession.

In high school he was an extraordinary athlete and was invited to run on the Great Wall in China. Accommodations and flights are expensive; this woman reached out to then Supervisor Hilda Barg and asked if the county had funds to help with this cost. Mrs. Barg said “No”, but saw what a tremendous opportunity this was for the young man and a way to promote the talented people we have living in our area.

Besides vision, she decided to lead the effort to raise the money by hosting a pig roast fundraiser,on the athletes behalf. She even prepared her what I am told her famous baked beans.

Hilda got things done and the athlete had an experience of a lifetime…at no tax payer’s expense. As Supervisor, she brought Woodbridge together and got results. Route 1 projects we see today were approved under her leadership with the 2006 Road Bond.

It’s poor management of the current supervisor why it has taken nearly 10 years and still not close to complete. With Stone Bridge at Potomac Town Center, [Barg] bought developers, stakeholders, the community and landowners together which created a new cornerstone development for Woodbridge in 2004.

The current Supervisor likes to take credit for her work. Hilda Barg homeless shelter abundantly and compassionately serves our most vulnerable neighbors.

Last December, my then 5 and 2-year-old sons, my office staff I had the privilege to serve dinner to the shelters residents. I sat and spoke with each of the residents. While serving, I met a woman who had a daughter in kindergarten, the same age as my oldest son. It broke my heart to hear her struggles as an immigrant from Africa, living in a car, before it was repossessed, then in and out of temporary shelters. I could tell she was a hard worker, she just needed an opportunity.

She was a Certified Nursing Assistant by trade so I called a friend of mine who owns a senior care-giving business to ask for a job for her and then loaned her a vehicle to get her to and from work. When I retrieved the car a few months later, she had transitioned out of the shelter into a shared single family home, her daughter was attending Featherstone Elementary and she had full time employment.

None of those blessings would have been possible without Hilda Barg. Everyone has something to give. If everyone does something, think how much better Woodbridge will be.

Although I’ve spoken with Mrs. Barg and received her council just a few times during the campaign I hadn’t had the pleasure to personally meet her until the ARC Family Dinner a few weeks ago, she really cares about all people, it was wonderful to witness the love, appreciation and admiration for her. While Hilda is a strident Democrat, she has taught me through her words and deeds, there is no room for partisanship in local politics. Partisanship is divisive.

You can’t be divisive, hold grudges, pick winners and losers as well as build a community. It’s about connecting with people and getting things done, that’s her legacy and that’s the legacy I want to continue as your next Woodbridge District Supervisor.

Steve Chapman is running for Woodbridge District Supervisor.