For Prince William County's youngest school board candidate, Jaylen Custis, an appearance at a recent Moms for Liberty meeting had significant consequences.

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Willie Deutsch ended his bid to reclaim the Coles District seat on the Prince William County School Board.

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Tom Gordy announced his candidacy for the open Brentsville District supervisor seat in Prince William County.

The Republican represents the Brentsville District on the Prince William County Planning Commission and Veterans Commission. He aims to replace Jeanine Lawson, who represented the district since 2014 and is now running to replace Ann Wheeler (D) as Prince William Board of Supervisors Chair At-large.

As of today, Gordy is running unopposed. The General Election is November 7, 2023. No newcomer to politics, Gordy ran against the late State Senator Charles Colgan in 2011 and lost.

Lawson endorsed Gordy. Meanwhile, evoking rhetoric often heard in national politics, Wheeler labeled Lawson, her Republican opponent, as “an extreme MAGA Republican who is dangerous for our county,” Wheeler stated in a press release to PLN.

Wheeler faces a Primary challenger, Deshundra Jefferson, who has criticized Wheeler for her willingness to allow data centers to be built outside of industrial areas.

All eight seats on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors are up this fall.

Last month, Republican Bob Weir was elected to the neighboring Gainesville District to serve the remainder of Peter Candland’s term, ending December 31, 2023. Weir has not announced a bid for reelection to the seat in the fall.

More from Gordy’s campaign announcement:

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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors dean announced her run to become its chair.

Jeanine Lawson, who served on the board the longest of all its eight members since 2014, seeks to unseat Ann Wheeler, who has served as board chair since 2020. Lawson has been an outspoken opponent of Wheeler and the majority of Democrats who have pushed to put more data centers and other industrial businesses in the western portion of the county.

Last fall, Lawson led a fight to oppose the Prince William Digital Gateway, 27 million square feet of data center space that could be developed next to the Manassas National Battlefield, after the board amended the county’s comprehensive plan last fall, after a marathon 14-hour meeting.

Last spring, Lawson ran to become the Republican candidate to run against Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) in Virginia’s 10th congressional district. Hung Cao won a May 2022 GOP firehouse primary to become the nominee.

Meanwhile, Wheeler, a Democrat, faces opposition from a candidate in her party — Deshundra Jefferson, whose been critical of Wheeler over the past two years and her push to trade rural land for data centers, is seeking her party’s endorsement in a June 2023 Primary Election.

Lawson said she would campaign on a platform to end regular tax increases and to reduce the county’s increasing crime rate.

More in a press release:

Today Brentsville Supervisor, Jeanine Lawson, announced her bid for Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

“Under the failed leadership of our current Chair, Prince William County has been quickly moving in the wrong direction,” Lawson said. “In three short years under her iron-fisted reign, we’ve watched her lead with extreme and reckless policies, while putting her political agenda first and Prince William families last. We deserve better.”

Here are just a few disturbing facts from the past three years under our current county Chair’s failed leadership:

Rising taxes – over $1,400 more in annual real estate tax bills for the average Prince William County family, plus a new meals tax, and additional proposed tax increases.

Skyrocketing crime – 150% increase in homicides since 2020.

The prioritization of a multi-billion dollar data center industry over residents – giving big business tax breaks on the backs of Prince William families.

“Enough is enough. Our local taxes are through the roof. Unchecked development is rampant while conservation and concerns about our local environment have been tossed aside. Crime in every corner of the county is skyrocketing,” Lawson continued. “It’s time to throw out our current Chair’s radical approach and implement new, practical, constituent-focused solutions to local governing.”

“As your next Chair, I’ll restore common-sense leadership, integrity, and a balanced approach back to our Board of Supervisors. I’m running to represent our families and neighbors, not an out-of-touch agenda. I’ll strive to lower our cost of living, improve our quality of life, and manage the growth of our communities in a responsible way.”

Jeanine Lawson has lived in Prince William County since 1995, where she and her husband Dan raised their two children. Since 2014, Jeanine has served on the Board of Supervisors representing the Brentsville District where she has been re-elected twice. During her time in office, Jeanine has fought to keep taxes low, support public safety agencies and manage growth.

The Prince William School Board Chair At-large race is now three-way.

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Prince William County School Board Chairman At-large Dr. Babur Lateef will seek a second term overseeing the school board as its At-large chairman, leading the state's second-largest public school division while representing the entire county.

The pandemic consumed Lateef's second term. The school division scrambled to help students and teachers adjust to online learning and then adjust to getting them back into school buildings as the pandemic waned.

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The first Republican to run for the Woodbridge District Supervisors seat on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in eight years had 150 people attend her kickoff party near Occoquan.

Jeannie LaCroix, 61, held a campaign kick-off event at the Electric Palm Restaurant on Thursday, February 23, with over 150 people in attendance. Supervisors Yesli Vega and Jeanine Lawson spoke at the campaign kickoff.

LaCroix, a Realtor, seeks to unseat Margaret Franklin, a Democrat who has held the seat since 2020. Woodbridge, on the Interstate 95 corridor, is one of the most populated areas in Prince William County.

The magisterial district leans heavily toward Democrats, which have held the seat since 2000. During the last contested race in 2015, Democrat Frank Principi won 60% of the vote.

LaCroix says she’ll work to hire more police to lower crime and promote smart development throughout the county.

More in a press release:

Other GOP Candidate attendees included Matt Lowery, a Woodbridge resident running for Commonwealth Attorney, and Mario Beckles who is running for the Potomac District School Board seat. In addition, there were several prominent Democrats in attendance who led the fight against the expansion of Data Centers in the Rural Crescent, including Bill Wright, a Democrat who was removed from the Prince William County Democratic Committee for calling for Board Chairman Ann Wheeler’s removal.

Other Democrats, Republicans and Independents from LaCroix’s Belmont Bay community attended to voice their support for Jeannie. Belmont Bay residents are upset with incumbent Supervisor Margaret Franklin, who has voted against their community’s wishes.

Supervisor Vega highlighted crime and our underfunded police department, the onerous meals tax and other taxes. She hinted that citizens will be “shocked” at the proposed budget this year. Supervisor Lawson highlighted the need for bipartisan support against extensive overdevelopment in neighborhoods, and in environmental and historically sensitive areas. Jeannie LaCroix emphasized these ideas, and more, in her remarks before the enthusiastic crowd.

“I’m running because some of our Supervisors are not listening to the people. In fact, I’m really running against the five “non-listeners” on the Board. Their constituents show up to speak, and time and time again the “non-listeners” already have made up their minds; and despite overwhelming opposition, they vote together against us” said LaCroix.

Jeannie pointed out the recent bank robberies and homicides in Woodbridge and called for increasing police hires. Prince William County crime is rapidly increasing, homicides doubled last year, and the county is about 90 officers short. “Crime is not a new issue for Woodbridge. This district has been neglected for years and that is unacceptable. We need a leader to ensure that Prince William County prioritizes Woodbridge now.”

A familiar face at the Prince William County Government Center will seek a seat on the county school board.

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