Ruth Anderson seeks re-election as Occoquan District Supervisor

Ruth Anderson is running for re-election as the Occoquan District Supervisor for the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. She has held the office for four years.

Name: Ruth Anderson

Party: Republican

Town: Woodbridge

Running for: Occoquan District Supervisor, Prince William Board of County Supervisors

Website: ruth4supervisor.com, Facebook

Work: Supervisor, BOCS; Retired USAF Nurse Corps

Education: BSN, U of Minnesota
MSN, U of Kansas
USAF Squadron Officer School, Air Command & Staff College and Air War College

Community Involvement: Chair, Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission; BOD, Virginia Association of Counties; BOD, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; Outreach Council, Lake Ridge Baptist Church; Member, Society of Air Force Nurses; Member, American Legion Post 364, Woodbridge; Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7916 in Town of Occoquan

Questions and Answers

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

Anderson:  Economic Development: We need to increase our commercial tax base and increase the number of jobs. Transportation: Funding for traffic mitigation, new infrastructure and public transit.
Land-use decisions: Updating the Comprehensive Plan including small area plans, rural area.
Housing attainability for various income levels (per MWCOG Regional Initiative).
Public Schools: Funding for operations and capital needs along with school site-planning.
Public Safety/Health Needs: Keeping up with level of service needs in a growing county.

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Anderson: We’ve built a great foundation for economic development over the past four years to include the hiring of a new economic development director, restructuring the economic development department, initiating a new small business resource center, and streamlining the permitting process. With this improved foundation, I will focus on helping to recruit targeted industries which can bring jobs to PWC.

For transportation infrastructure, three newly funded road projects will begin the design/construction phase. I will also lobby for more fixes to I-95, Route 28, and Old Bridge Road. In addition, I will continue to work toward improving the public transit commuter experience with enhanced VRE and bus service and improved commuter lots.

The Comprehensive Plan is undergoing major updates and will require several small area plan approvals and some major land-use decisions. I will work toward growth and development along public transit corridors and work to align our county plans for housing with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments regional plan.

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

Anderson: To represent the Occoquan District residents on the Board; supervise and direct county staff toward realizing the PWC strategic plan objectives; set state and federal legislative priorities; approve the county budget along with various tax rates; work with other elected officials locally and regionally to accomplish major economic development, transportation, housing, public safety, workforce development, human services and environmental goals.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Anderson: Leadership, problem-solving skills, passion for the mission, and the ability to pull people and groups together to accomplish goals. As the incumbent to this position, I now have four years of experience as a Supervisor and have built relationships with many elected officials and regional/local government leaders.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Anderson: Only a small percentage of residents are well-informed about local government issues. During my first term, my office sent two postal newsletters per year to all District residences and monthly email newsletters to thousands of residents. We also held three town halls in the spring and three in the fall in different locations across the District. The newsletters and town halls included updates on many county issues. I also coordinated a robust constituent tracker to ensure all residents requesting help were provided resources, solutions, etc. along with follow-up. We also used social media to get information quickly to followers.

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

Anderson: I always learn from situations that don’t go as well as planned or lead to unexpected negative consequences. But, I always keep my eye on the overall goals and constantly work toward them. Honestly, my only real regret is that there is not more time in each day to help make good things happen for and with the people of the Occoquan District.

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

Anderson: I have a record of transportation, economic development, human services, public safety and environmental accomplishments. I’d love to continue serving, continue to improve communication with residents and continue to Bring Prince William Home. Bring jobs home, bring commuters home safely, bring attainable housing home and bring quality of life home for all residents.