Prince William County Democrats discuss environment, cash contributions

LAKE RIDGE — During a standing-room-only event Monday night, Democrats running for political office in Prince William County discussed the environment during a candidate forum sponsored by the Greater Prince William Climate Action Network.

Topics ranged from coal ash ponds outside a Dominion Power Plant near Dumfries, whether the candidates would accept donations from Dominion Power, and extending Metro to Prince William County.

The questions, submitted online by residents prior to the forum, were all tailored in some way around climate change

Evelyn BruMar moderated the event, a Democratic activist who grabbed headlines in 2017 when she accused Prince William County Supervisor Jeanine Lawson of devaluing her daughter after she said Lawson told her daughter that children deserve a mother and a father. BruMar and her wife, both of Gainesville, are raising the child.

On the familiar campaign year topic of bringing Metro to Prince William,  newly elected Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry, said he supports the idea, and that the county “definitely” needs it. Angry says the Metro will “cost us a lot,” but it will cost even more if the county waits. Angry said that if the county had put a Metro stop in “ten years ago,” it would have been even cheaper.

Angry was sworn-in to the seat following a Special Election to fill the seat vacated by the late John D. Jenkins and to complete his term which ends December 31. Angry must campaign again in the fall in an effort to keep the seat.

Aracely Panameno, a Democrat running this fall to unseat Angry, said “ideally, yes,” to a Metro extension. She said that the county has been discussing this for at least 12 years, and there are competitors such as Amtrak that the county needs to maximize.

“It’s not just about Metro, it’s about a comprehensive approach,” Panameno said.

Danny Funderburk, a Democrat running to unseat Republican Gainesville District Supervisor Peter Candland, said that everyone wants more transportation options, but no one wants the Metro running through their neighborhood.

When asked about the biggest environmental issue facing the county, some candidates continued to talk about transit, land development, and density.

“I’d rather see us do more mass transit options than build more roads,” said Ann Wheeler, a Democrat running for Prince William County Chairman At-large.

Donald Scoggins, an Independent candidate also running for Prince William At-large chairman, added that he rarely sees more than two to three people on OmniRide commuter buses that ferry passengers from the county to and from Washington, D.C. He recommended getting smaller buses that hold 10 or 15 people instead.

On development, Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank Principi touted his record of opposing every new residential development in his district during his time in office. He pointed out that fought the newly approved Rays Regarde Development for the last three years. The project will be built at the end of Horner Road near Kilby Elementary School and will bring 325 new homes to Woodbridge and will be constructed partially on the site of an old landfill.  

Opposing new developments doesn’t make him popular in the business community, he added.

The county continues to wrangle with cleaning up the coal ash ponds near Dumfries, which are full of a toxic ash byproduct left over from 55 years of burning coal to generate electricity. During a question about the county’s coal ash disposal plan, LT Pridgen, Democrat candidate for Coles District Supervisor, said, “We don’t have a plan.” She said that county residents feel like no one is listening to them.

Raheel Sheikh, Democrat candidate running for Coles District Supervisor, suggested utilizing “one of the world’s largest research institutions” in our area, Virginia Tech, to help solve the problem.

Andrea Bailey, Democrat candidate running for Potomac District Supervisor, said she was very concerned about the coal ash. “I think that toxic is toxic. It kills people.” Bailey said.

She advocated for the coal ash to be removed and not recycled and made into other products, as some has suggested.  

“Toxic is toxic,” said Bailey. The coal ash should be removed carefully, and not trucked out on the two-lane Possum Point Road leading to the coal ash ponds.

Margaret Franklin, a Democrat running for Principi’s seat in Woodbridge, said that the county should make Dominion pay for coal ash “in more ways than one” by suggesting Dominion build a science center to educate the community about caring for the environment.

Another question asked whether the candidates would accept campaign money from power companies or developers.

Principi said, “Yes I’ve taken a few dollars from developers” over the years, and that he will continue to do so. He pointed out that developers are people who have children in Prince William County and can produce great environmentally friendly products. He also said that to his knowledge, Dominion Power Company doesn’t donate to local races, but if they did, he wouldn’t accept it.

Franklin said that because of the coal ash problem which she said affects people of color, “I won’t take money from Dominion.”

Maggie Hansford, a Democrat running for Brentsville District Supervisor, was represented by a proxy, Barbara Larrimore. Larrimore answered no on her behalf.

Angry said, “No, only because I was told never to take money from power companies.” He added, “I’m new to this.”

Angry also pointed out that not all developers are bad guys, and that candidates need money to run elections.

Ann Wheeler, who was on the NOVEC Board of Directors, said “No one’s offered me any money.”

Scoggins said no, and added “I’m running the kind of campaign that I can sleep at night.”

Kenny Boddye, Democrat candidate running to unseat Occoquan District Supervisor Ruth Anderson, said, “No I will not, never have, and never will.”

A former candidate for a House of Delegates seat, Boddye said he had previously raised $46,000 in campaign funds during that race and that you don’t need big corporation donations to run a race.

Aaron Cedric Edmond, a Democrat also running for Occoquan District Supervisor, said no as well and said this his campaign is people-driven, which isn’t easy but it’s “necessary.” He added that because of this, he gets a lot of smaller dollar donations.

Bailey admitted that she is “being courted,” because “that’s business”, but because of the coal ash problem in the community she would say no to Dominion.

“I’m no cream puff,” Bailey said.

Danny Funderburk asked the room to raise their hand if they live, do shopping, or send their kids to school in the county. He then pointed out that all those places are brought to you by developers. He added that he doesn’t want the money from community developers to go to his opponents.

No Republican candidates were present during the forum. Alice Crowe of Plastic Free PWC said all candidates had been invited.

The forum was held at the Chinn Park Regional Library in Lake Ridge.