Juke Box Diner in Manassas hosted the Fox News Channel’s morning show “Fox and Friends,” which did a series of live reports from the diner on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who came to the diner to appear on the show, talked about education and talked to Potomac Local News about the importance of hiring more police and supporting them in the field.
“Police officers want to work in places where the department has their backs,” Youngkin told PLN in an exclusive interview after his TV appearance. The governor pointed to a partnership between his administration and Petersburg, which has led to a strengthened police department in the city, and a successful recruiting effort leading to “nearly zero” vacancies, the governor said.
Crime is a key campaign issue for the upcoming November 7 General Election (early voting begins September 23, 2023). In Prince William County, violent crime is up 70% since 2019.
“We also have to hire prosecutors who will prosecute,” Youngkin added. Since 2020, monthly direct criminal indictments have fallen from 300 to about 70 under Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth.
Ashworth, a Democrat, is on the ballot this November, challenged by Republican and former Prince William County Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Matt Lowery. Last week, business owners filed into a county police station to talk about the uptick in crime along the Sudley and Balls Ford roads corridors outside Manassas, where many fear for their safety.
All seats on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, which can hire and fire the county’s police chief, are up in November, too.
During Wednesday morning’s TV broadcast, reporter Griff Jenkins asked diners whether or not Youngkin should run for president. Both replied “no,” and said he should continue focusing on governing Virginia. Youngkin, whose been governor since 2022, is the first Republican to win to occupy the governor’s mansion since 2013.
Bobbie MacDonald woke up, saw the TV crew broadcasting from the nearby diner, and drove down for breakfast. “I would tell the county supervisors that there are big issues in this county right now, crime included. We don’t come into Manassas that often or go to the eastern end of the county. We stay in our little area,” said MacDonald, whose lived in Catharpin since 2005.
Republican candidates Ian Lovejoy, a former Manassas City Councilman running for the newly-created House District 22 in western Prince William County, and John Stirrup, a former Prince William County Supervisor running for the newly-created 21 House District, came to the event. Youngkin encouraged both to “campaign hard” and focus on public safety issues.
No one from the Manassas City Government stopped by for breakfast.
Juke Box Diner owner Joe Attyah said producers at the Fox News Channel asked him if they could broadcast from his restaurant. “It’s a good opportunity for us to get out the message about our business,” said Attyah, who also owns a second Juke Box Diner in Annandale.
The diner, at 8637 Sudley Road, has a classic 1950s decor and serves breakfast all day.
Hillary Clinton posted to Twitter today, urging Democrats to organize and flip three seats in the House of Delegates.
The former First Lady reminded her followers that Democrats only need three seats to regain control of Virginia’s House of Delegates.
Clinton: “There are no off-years! Democrats only need to flip three seats to regain control of the Virginia state House. Plug in with @onwardtogether groups and friends like @swingleft, @runforsomething, @dlcc, and more to learn how to help.”
Republicans had controlled the 100-member House of Delegates since 2022 when the party won a three-seat majority in the same election that saw Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Republican Lt. Winsome Sears, and Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares sweep the commonwealth’s only statewide offices.
There are several competitive House of Delegates races were watching in our area. In Prince William County, House District 21 encompasses the Sudley and Bull Run areas west of Manassas, out to Gainesville. Republican John Stirrup, a former Prince William Board of County Supervisor member, and political newcomer Josh Thomas, a Democrat, is seeking the seat.
House District 22 encompasses the area south of Manassas and west out to Nokesville, Republican Ian Lovejoy, a former Manassas City Councilman, and political newcomer Travis Nembhard are vying for the seat.
Neither district has an incumbent.
In Stafford County and Fredericksburg, were watching Districts 64 and 65, both with no incumbents. In the 64th, it’s Republican Paul Milde, a former Stafford County Supervisor and political newcomer Leonard Lacey. The district spans a swath of the middle of Stafford County.
In the 65th, Democrat Josh Cole is looking to regain a seat in the House of Delegates after losing in 2021 to Republican Tara Durant. Cole faces Republican Lee Peters, a political newcomer.
Durant is the Republican nominee for the 27th Senate District — of the most closely-watched races in the state — and is not seeing election to the House of Delegates. Durant faces Democrat Joel Griffen and Stafford County Supervisor Monica Gary, running independently.
VPAP: Republican John Stirrup will take on Democrat Josh Thomas in the fall after Stirrup won his party’s nomination for the 21st House of Delegates District. The district has no incumbent.
Stirrup beat his Republican primary opponent Josh Quill by 30 points. Gov. Glenn Youngkin endorsed Stirrup, a former Prince William Board of County Supervisors member.
Stirrup had a scare on the campaign trail this spring when he collapsed while speaking at a Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting. Stirrup recovered and returned weeks later to thank first responders who carried him to a hospital.
Today, former Prince William County Supervisor John Stirrup announced his candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates District 21.
Stirrup, a conservative, served on the Board of County Supervisors for two terms from 2004 until 2011. Stirrup left the county government and later lobbied on its behalf.
“As a 23-year resident of Prince William County, I know firsthand the challenges our County faces. We must lower our cost of living through limited government, restore excellence in our children’s education, and support law enforcement.”
He’s the second conservative candidate to announce a campaign for the seat this month. Josh Quill announced he would also run for the seat on November 14. There will likely be a Primary Election in Spring 2023.
“Prince William County needs a proven conservative in the House of Delegates, “Stirrup said. “I have dedicated years of service to the residents of Prince William County, and I will build upon my strong pro-business record on the Board of Supervisors and history of voting against tax increases.”
“Public safety and reducing crime in the County to keep our communities safe is a top priority,” Stirrup said. “To reduce crime in our Commonwealth, we must fully fund our law enforcement to keep dangerous criminals off the streets. I pledge to fight against the ‘criminals first, victims last’ mindset that has become so pervasive in the Commonwealth.”
“We must restore excellence in our children’s education. Parents’ rights are a top priority for me, and as your Delegate, I will support Governor Youngkin’s initiative to return control of your children’s education to parents.”
Town hall meetings were a hallmark of Stirrup’s tenure as supervisor. “I am proud of the superior constituent service my office provided and the 34 quarterly town hall meetings we held in the district. All constituents can expect the same level of representation from me in the House of Delegates.”
A lifelong conservative, Stirrup worked in the Reagan Administration on Capitol Hill as a Chief of Staff and was twice elected to the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.
Stirrup moved to Haymarket in 1999. He and his wife, Heidi, live on a small farm north of town.
District 21, Prince William County, comprises precincts in the Gainesville and Brentsville Magisterial Districts.
Josh Quill announced his candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates District 21 in western Prince William County.
