Manassas City Council debate: Candidates views on funding schools, attracting residents, shifting focus away from downtown

MANASSAS — Six city council candidates were given the opportunity to present their visions for Manassas at an open forum on Friday.

“Candidates Forum – Your City, Your Topics” was hosted by Historic Manassas, Inc., and moderated by Potomac Local publisher Uriah Kiser and Pastor Keith Savage of First Baptist Church. Twelve questions were gathered from online submissions, placed in sealed envelopes, and read to candidates for the first time at the forum.

These questions were addressed to two candidates at a time — one Democrat and one Republican. After one question had been answered by two candidates, moderators moved on to another question.

The conversation ranged from how to support city businesses to building quality schools. Candidates were also asked about their visions for Manassas far into the future.

The candidates

On the Republican ticket are Marc Aveni, Amalfi Arias and Theresa Coates-Ellis. On the Democrat ticket are Ken Elston, Rex Parr and Michelle Davis-Younger. Candidates were given three minutes for opening remarks at the beginning.

Ken Elston, running for re-election, has served on city council since 2014. He was previously director of the School of Theater at George Mason University. “Transparency is tremendously important to me,” he said. He referenced his support for capital investment plan (CIP) funding and transparent fiscal management.

Theresa Coates-Ellis has lived in Manassas for 30 years and graduated from George Mason University with a degree in business communication. Her priorities include “economic development, public relations, public image, fiscal responsibility and job growth.”

Amalfi Arias, a longtime resident of Manassas, wants to support schools, attract high-paying jobs, and preserve the city’s history. “Something that I look forward to doing is making sure that Manassas is seen as a jewel of Northern Virginia,” he said.

Rex Parr has lived and worked in Manassas for the last 40 years. He was CEO of Didlake, Inc., headquartered in Manassas, and has served on numerous committees and task forces. Parr wants to help develop a new vision for Manassas, informed by the citizens, and predicated on education, public safety, economic development and transportation.

Michelle Davis-Younger, a lifelong resident of Manassas and small business owner, has education at the forefront of her campaign. “I am not a politician,” she said. “I am just a mom who cares and wants to see the city that I love do better.”

Marc Aveni, running for re-election, has served on the city council for three terms. He currently works for Prince William County public works and is chairman of the fire and rescue committee and chairman of the finance committee. “My theme is keeping you safe and watching your money,” he said, referencing the city’s triple-A bond rating and fiscal strength.

Thinking outside downtown

Elston and Coates-Ellis were asked how they would promote business throughout the entire city, not just in downtown Manassas.

Coates-Ellis suggested incorporating Historic Manassas, Inc., throughout the city to have them help with promoting and marketing businesses. “We need to focus on breaking our city into neighborhoods,” she said.

Elston recommended encouraging land-use developers and continuing to invest in the city’s schools.

Aveni and Davis-Younger were asked who is responsible for cost overruns on capital projects, and how concerned taxpayers should be.

“Taxpayers should be very concerned,” said Davis-Younger. “Participate in the meetings, the hearings, and be present so that you have a say in what’s going on,” she added.

Aveni blamed cost overruns on projects that are not vetted enough. “Rough numbers are thrown out, the project gets approved, but then we find that the project has gone up millions of dollars.”

Such projects need to be thoroughly vetted, and he said “those who vote for and support these projects do bear the responsibility.”

Urging more homeowners to choose Manassas over Prince William 

One question noted that more people commute into Manassas than commute out, indicating that fewer people are wanting to live in the city. “What steps do you plan to take to encourage families to move into the city?” Parr and Arias were asked.

Parr said that education was the answer. “The reputation of our schools has to be positive. We are fighting some legacy issues with the ratings, but I for one see a lot of positive progress,” he said.

Arias suggested a focus on attracting high-paying jobs closer and improving education, and added too many people in Manassas are renting when they could be buying.

Several questions addressed rumors and proposals for city land. One proposal involves the lawn in front of Manassas Museum, and candidates were asked whether the lawn should be utilized or left alone.

Aveni said that the lawn should stay where it is. However, he sees huge potential in the almost 30 acres of undeveloped land behind the museum, where he envisions a mix of residential, commercial and public space that could enhance Old Town’s existing footprint. Davis-Younger agreed that the lawn should remain, serving as important green space and a community gathering point.

Build on Godwin ballfields? 

Another question inquired about a rumor to sell the ballfields near Micron to a commercial developer. Arias said that rumor was ridiculous and that the ballfields should stay where they are. Parr, on the other hand, thought it was “worth considering” to build new ballfields in a different location and use the valuable land near Micron “for a commercial purpose that will generate revenue in our city.”

Education was a common theme for the night, with several questions focusing on how to improve schools while moderating the number of tax dollars that go into the system. The city of Manassas has some of the lowest education ratings in Virginia, and opinions diverge on how best to address this issue.

Several candidates agreed that a joint committee between the school board and city council is crucial for forward movement. Until that happens, both groups “are working at cross purposes,” said Parr. Coates-Ellis added that she would love to be a part of a joint committee, referencing her experience with school relations.

“Nothing is more important than a first-rate school system. Without one people don’t move here and businesses don’t follow,” said Parr.

Elston said that assessments are not the way to improve education, however. He suggested changing assessments to include creative standards. “If we are going to be competitive on a national scale, we need creative thinkers, otherwise we’re just history units,” he said.

Candidates were given three minutes for closing remarks at the end. In his remarks, Elston criticized Aveni for voting against certain measures that he thought would improve the city.

“I don’t understand why he’s been actively campaigning against a traffic circle on 28 … when we don’t actually know yet how much it’s going to cost us,” said Elston. “We have voted for a CIP funding which allows for redirected dollars, something that Mr. Aveni voted against. He also voted against our economic development staff, when our economic development improvements have been amazing.”

Aveni responded in his closing remarks. “I do have a problem with $70,000 to study a roundabout, not design it, not build it at an intersection that only needs a traffic light,” he said.

“Manassas is at a crossroads,” Aveni said. “We have the second highest tax rate in the state of Virginia, only beat out by Manassas Park. Fiscal restraint is appropriate. Councilmembers have a responsibility for fiscal restraint.”

“We are neighbors,” Arias said in his closing. “We have to work together.”

“Everyone up here and out there wants what’s best for the city,” Aveni said.

This forum was one of the few opportunities voters have had to hear from city council candidates this election cycle. A candidate meet and greet is scheduled for October 24 at 6:30 p.m., hosted by Wellington Community Association. A debate will be held on October 30 at Metz Middle School at 7 p.m., hosted by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

Potomac Local will continue to post Project: Election survey responses from candidates running in the city elections on our website, in our Breakfast Links email, and in a special voters’ guide email on November 5.