Jenkins: Expand VRE to Haymarket, create vocational, opportunities for students

John Jenkins has been the Neabsco District Supervisor in Dale City for more than 30 years. When it comes to streetlight issues in Prince William County, you’d be hard pressed to find one he’s not familiar with. 

Jenkins said the county will continue to grow. And that it will need a sound education policy and better transportation options in order to grow the right way. 

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PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent?

Jenkins: Education (Class size, salary, higher level opportunities, work-force development)

Transportation (Roads, trains, buses, engineering)

Public Safety (Police, Fire & Rescue & Community Development)What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Education:  We must reduce class size in our K-12 schools and improve classroom teacher salaries.  I plan to work with our Community Colleges, George Mason University and other institutions of higher learning to provide in-county vocational and technical educational opportunities for our K-12 school population as well as for  graduate and undergraduate programs.  Workforce training needs and deserves particular attention.  I will continue to support creation of the workforce facilities which are now under construction at the Woodbridge campus of the Northern Virginia Community College. I am a former per diem substitute teacher in Prince William County schools and Adjunct faculty member at American University.  I also worked as an adjunct member of the Prince William Northern VA Community College at Woodbridge, VA.

Transportation:  During my 33 years as a member of the Board of Supervisors I  have been a strong supporter of building new roads and streets throughout the County.  Our BOCS took on the responsibility of road construction even though the Virginia Department of Transportation should have been doing it.  We realized that we had to do this if we wanted roads and streets built.  In addition, we believed that Commuter Rail was necessary to help eliminate long lines of backup on I-95.  I was one of the founders of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and have served two terms as Chairman.  Also a founder,  I have served two terms as Chairman of the Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). VRE now transports 18,000 commuters daily while PRTC takes another 12,500 off the Interstate.  I also serve as a member of the Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board (TPB) which gives me the opportunity to advance transportation and transit projects which impact Prince William County.  I will fully support extension of VRE to the Haymarket area of Prince William County and favor a new transit center for Western Prince William County.

Public Safety:  I am a former Military Policeman, a former Army Intelligence Corps Agent, a former employee of the FBI Identification Division and have spent the last 33 years as a County Supervisor in a county with a fully accredited Police Department that has  over 500 sworn  officers.  I have the necessary experience to work with the Police Department to fund and carry out law enforcement activities for a large urban county of over 450,000 residents.  I believe we need at least two sworn officers for each 1000 of our residents.  I support the Police Department Ride along program.  I helped establish the Police academy and I fully support a mid-county police station. I am in support  and helped establish The Fire & Rescue Asssociation. I fully support building of a new mid county Fire & Rescue Station. 

PL: From your prospective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Jenkins: To provide leadership to the departments and senior executive staff of the county government.  To establish goals and set the strategic direction for the county government.  To fund county operations through judicious taxation and expenditure policies.  We must have a strong economic development program which provides incentives for the location of new business and industry to the county.  I fully support Project Innovation which has grown and solidified capital investment of over $1.7 Billion and makes Prince William County a major player in the United States data center market. I continue to support Innovation Park’s Simulation and Game Institute which is one of its kind in the world that  was primarily established to support early-entry entrepreneurship in the simulation, modeling and game industry. 

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Thirty three years as Neabsco District Supervisor. 

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?

I think that the average citizen is well informed on the workings of the Prince William County government.  We have a two county wide TV channels which our Department of Communications can use for public information.  We have frequent public hearings on issues which may be coming before the Board of Supervisors for action and we conduct workshops on any subject which is being implemented in the county government.  I publish a monthly newsletter which includes information on items of interest to our citizens.  We have a great county WEB site and I provide connectivity and a URL for my district WEB page to connect to the county and other external links. 

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?

Jenkins: None to  my knowledge

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you? 

I have a proven track record of leadership at the local and state level which includes service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Regular Army, State President of the Virginia Association of Counties, State President of the Virginia Planning District Commissions (two terms) and membership and leadership of numerous regional and local boards and commissions.  I am a commissioner and Past Chairman of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and a commissioner and current Chairman of the Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC).  In addition, I have been a leader in my church  and numerous local civic organizations and was selected to receive the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver award.  I have also served as a member of the Commonwealth’s Geographic Information Systems Network (VGIN).  The Board of County Supervisors has elected me as their Chairman Emeritus for the past several years.  I am the longest serving member of the Board.