After transportation successes, Nohe aims to attract tech firms to region

Martin “Marty” Nohe has been on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors for 16 years.

He’s served as the Coles District Supervisor for all of that time, and how he’s running for Chairman, At-large seat.

John Gray is mounting a campaign against Nohe in a Republican “Firehouse Primary” Election on Saturday, May 4.

Find your polling place for the May 4, 2019, Republican Firehouse Primary

Find your polling place for the Nov. 5, 2019, General Election 

Name: Martin “Marty” Nohe

Party: Republican

Town: Prince William County

Running for: Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman, At-large

Website: martynohe.org

Work: President, Appliance Connection

Education: Prince William County Public Schools; George Mason University

Community Involvement: Prince William Board of County Supervisors; Chairman, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority; State Executive Council for At-Risk Youth; Prince William County Coalition for Human Services; Prince William Chamber of Commerce Board Member; NAACP Prince William Chapter, Life Member; Knights of Columbus John Paul I Council

Questions and answers

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

Nohe: Improving our transportation network; Growing our economy; Protecting open space

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

Nohe: Northern Virginia is poised to become the Silicon Valley of the East. Prince William County is uniquely positioned to take advantage of new opportunities in Information technology, Cyber-security, High-tech manufacturing, and the Life Sciences thanks to our educated workforce, availability of commercial land for new facilities, and our relationship with George Mason University.

If elected Chairman, I will be able to use my business experience to work with economic developers to bring new companies to Prince William County. As Chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, I have brought home over $800 million in new transportation investments in the past six years, to address problems like Route 28, Route 1, and VRE.

If elected Chairman, I will be able to continue to bring my transportation expertise to bear and ensure that Prince William County is able to receive a robust share of transportation funds. I have personally spearheaded efforts to preserve hundreds of acres of natural open space in the Rural Crescent, with more acres under consideration for preservation soon.

By working with landowners, conservation groups, and concerned citizens, we can leverage our zoning tools, grant programs, and other government agencies to identify and secure protections for valuable open space to limit development and protect natural open spaces for generations to come.

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

Nohe: The Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors is responsible for serving the community by providing visionary leadership that ensures that our County continues to be a great place to live, work, run a business, and raise a family.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Nohe: Having served on the Board for four terms as Coles District Supervisor, and as a leader in the Northern Virginia region, I have the unique combination of leadership and experience to help bring our county into a brighter future.

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

Nohe:  I often find that it is difficult for citizens to know about everything that is going on in the community, which is why it is important to have a trustworthy elected official with a record of open communication, consensus building skills, and a broad yet detailed view of what is happening in our county. As Chairman, I hope to raise community awareness of the benefits that a well-run county government provides in our lives, and find new ways for citizens to engage in public decision-making processes.

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

Nohe:  I have certainly made any number of decisions which absolutely seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but which turned out to be disappointments when the decisions were implemented. It has taught me to be more aware of potential pitfalls, and more able to admit that there is usually more than one good way to achieve the desired outcome. It has made me a better collaborator, and more capable of considering a wider range of opinions when making decisions.

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

Nohe: Prince William County is my hometown, and I am proud of the accomplishments that we have made during my time on the Board and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I have been fortunate to represent our community as a leader in the Northern Virginia region, and I bring first-hand business expertise to the job. But most importantly, I am passionate about making our community the best that it can be. I want for my kids to someday say that they are as proud to have grown up here as I am. If given the opportunity to serve as your Chairman, I dedicate myself to making sure that we will all be proud to call Prince William County home.