Candland aims to keep Gainesville District seat

GAINESVILLE — (Press release) Earlier this month, Prince William County Supervisor Pete Candland delivered an email to supporters announcing his intent to seek re-election as the Supervisor to the Gainesville Magisterial District in the upcoming 2019 elections.

In his email, Candland said, “Representing you and the families of the Gainesville District on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has been one of the greatest honors of my life.  When you elected me in 2011, I committed to you that I would fight to keep taxes as low as possible and ensure that taxpayer funds were focused on the core responsibilities of government: transportation, public safety, and education.”

Since taking office, Candland has been a strong advocate for financial accountability and transparency, while pushing for increases in education and transportation funding.    

Candland continued, “With your help and support, we have implemented significant reforms in government accountability, invested in critical infrastructure, fought to stop an out-of-control spending trajectory, forced Dominion to bury their powerlines along I-66, and protected the Gainesville District from further overdevelopment.”

Candland has also announced some of his priorities in the upcoming term.  “We currently we have the largest average class sizes in the Commonwealth, underpaid teachers, congested roads that deprive workers of valuable time with their families, and unrealistic spending habits that have overburdened taxpayers.  My goal is to continue to build a coalition on the Board that will enact fiscally responsible policies that are needed to reprioritize our spending and stop dramatic tax increases.”

“We must continue to hold the Prince William County School Administration accountable for their actions.”

In 2018, Candland met with dozens of teachers and parents from across Prince William County who expressed their concern about the policies of the School Administration when it comes to the fair treatment of students and teachers, communications with parents, and accusations of retribution for criticism.

Candland concluded, “I express my sincere appreciation for all the support that the citizens of the Gainesville District have provided to me and my family, and I will continue to work hard to represent them and earn their trust.”

Since being elected, Pete Candland has made news by accomplishing the following:

• eliminating the Supervisor’s discretionary funds,
• reforming the County proffer system to require developers to pay more,
• focusing efforts to reduce class sizes by passing an annual student reduction grant,
• securing funding to expand the size of the new Western High School while dedicated more than $11 million toward Eastern Elementary School improvements,
• leading the fight against the Bi-County Parkway and removing it from the County’s comprehensive plan,
• reducing the County’s carryover budget,
• introducing a push to hold drug manufacturers accountable for their part in the opioid epidemic,
• standing up against a School Administration and their unfair treatment of students and teachers,
• defeating the baseball stadium deal that would have burdened taxpayers with a $90 million-dollar obligation,
• forcing Dominion Power to bury their powerlines along I-66,
• and fighting for greater transparency and accountability for the Board of Supervisors.