Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair, at-large Deshundra Jefferson, is on the mend after having had surgery for Crohn’s disease. This chronic inflammatory bowel condition has affected her health over the past two years.
Now two weeks post-surgery, Jefferson reports feeling “pretty good” and looks forward to resuming her duties full-time, including attending Zoom meetings and tackling a backlog of emails next week. Despite her temporary absence, Jefferson is grateful for her colleagues, especially Supervisor Boddye, who stepped up in her absence, as well as her staff, friends, and supportive 16-year-old son. “These things are kind of frightening until you actually go through them,” she shared, noting the relief of finally addressing symptoms that had worsened over the past few months.
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While a regional sports facility is not out of the question, Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson says she's open to other options.
"I want to see what ideas are out there," Jefferson said. "An indoor sports facility would be nice to have. Lots of nonprofits and youth sports would like to have access to something like that."
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A town hall meeting is scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, August 6, 2024, to discuss the proposed development of 300 new homes at Belmont Bay in Woodbridge. The conference, hosted by developer Miller & Smith, will occur at 7 p.m. at The Osprey Community Building, 401 Belmont Bay Drive, Woodbridge.
Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson and Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin will attend the event to inform residents about the development project and offer a platform for community feedback.
Dr. Jack Kooyoomjian, President of the Lake Ridge-Occoquan-Coles Civic Association (LOCCA), emphasized the importance of resident participation in this Open House to ensure the developers hear community concerns and suggestions.
Residents of Belmont Bay are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project and to have their questions addressed by representatives from Miller & Smith. The developers will present details about the new homes and gather input from the community regarding the proposal.
Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part story focused on Prince William Board of County Supervisor At-large Deshundra Jefferson's first 100 days in office. Read part one here.
In the wake of the contentious PW Digital Gateway project and ongoing debates surrounding the Meals Tax, Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors faces a series of complex decisions as county leaders leave their honeymoon phase and begin on the next three and a half years of their term.
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At 47, Jefferson, a single mother who lives in Montclair, shares how she balances raising a teenage son with managing a county of nearly a half million residents. She provided insights into her governance approach and her vision for the future of the county.
Under her leadership, the Board of Supervisors recently halted three years of consecutive property tax hikes, which are a primary source of funding for county government and public schools. The approved $2.2 billion budget focuses on critical needs like schools and infrastructure while offering tax relief to residents.
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On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Prince William County held its second of eight planned town hall meetings as part of its strategic planning process for 2025-2029. The event, hosted by Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson aimed to gather public input to shape the county’s future.
The Prince William County Strategic Plan outlines the community’s vision and goals for improving various areas, such as health, safety, economy, and education, through 2024. It is crucial for residents because it shapes the county’s priorities and decisions, impacting everyday life and the local environment.
Residents expressed concerns about government transparency, growth, and preserving open space. These discussions also touched on areas like senior care, workforce development, and education, reflecting a broad range of community interests. “I would say residents are, no matter where [they] are in the county, based on these first two sessions at least, it feels like residents are thinking about opportunities in a similar way.”
“One of the common threads we’ve seen in both town hall meetings is the residents’ strong desire for transparency and accountability from their local government,” said County Executive Christopher Shorter. “It’s clear that our community is deeply invested in the future of Prince William County, and their input is invaluable as we chart our course for the coming years.”
Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye had previously held a similar meeting in March, marking the beginning of this comprehensive engagement effort. Shorter noted similarities in citizen concerns in both town halls.
A recurring topic of discussion was the impact of data centers on the county’s landscape and infrastructure. Concerns ranged from traffic congestion to air and water quality, residents shared diverse concerns on the role of data centers in the county’s future development. Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir previously directed county staff to review the data center overlay to identify potential changes. Planning staff will present their findings to the board on May 14.
Jefferson emphasized the importance of citizen engagement in shaping the county’s future, welcoming input from all residents. The town hall format allowed for group discussions on key questions related to the county’s challenges and opportunities.
“Our strategic planning process is rooted in the principle of inclusivity,” stated Jefferson. “Every voice matters, and we want to ensure that our decision-making reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of our community. These town hall meetings serve as a platform for residents to actively participate in shaping the future of Prince William County.”
From affordable housing to school overcrowding, participants voiced their concerns and priorities, contributing valuable insights for the strategic planning process.
“The level of community engagement we’ve witnessed today is truly inspiring,” remarked Jefferson. “It’s clear that our residents are deeply invested in the well-being of our county, and their input will play a crucial role in guiding our decision-making process moving forward.”
The event also outlined the phased approach to strategic planning, including community outreach, plan development, and adoption. With a projected timeline aiming for plan adoption in February 2025, the county aims to ensure transparency and community involvement throughout the process.
Jefferson encouraged residents to attend the strategic plan town halls in their districts taking place over the next few months. “Your willingness to participate in this important dialogue demonstrates your commitment to the future of Prince William County. Together, we will continue working towards building a vibrant and inclusive community for all.”
Potomac District will hold the next strategic plan town hall on May 8 at Potomac Shores Middle School.
Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors easily approved the fiscal year 2025 budget with a few changes on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to take effect on July 1.
Following the April 16 budget markup meeting, the supervisors unanimously approved almost everything on the docket. Notably, the board set the real estate tax rate at 92 cents per $100 assessed value. Multiple supervisors stated that this decision was made to balance the tax burden on residents with data centers.
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DeShundra Jefferson, chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, answered resident and media questions about housing, data centers, and the future of the county at the Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, town hall event.
Hosted by InsideNoVa, Jefferson took questions from members of the media and residents during the nearly hourlong virtual town hall event. Jefferson was sworn in as chair in January.
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“Jefferson, D-At Large, shared her vision for the county’s future during the supervisors’ first meeting of the new year. In the new term, Jefferson said she’s hopeful the board can come together and collaborate with respect for one another to “better govern,” reports Shannon Clark at the Prince William Times.
![Bill Wright, Gainesville resident and regular data center opponent. [Photo: Alan Gloss]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Deshundra-Jefferson-1260x840.jpg){kind=link}