VPAP: Democrat Andrea Bailey defeated her opponent in today’s Primary Election for the Potomac District seat on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
Bailey won the race by 44 points.
Bailey is seeking a second term on the board. As of today, she has no Republican challenger. Republican Verndell Charlotte Robinson will run the Potomac District (Dumfries area) in an attempt to unseat Bailey.
Angry seeks a second term on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, representing the Neabsco District. As of today, he has no Republican opponents.
Angry has served on the Board of County Supervisors since 2019, when he won a special election to replace John D. Jenkins, the longest-serving supervisor in county history, after his death in February of that year.
A total of 3,740 ballots were cast in today’s primary.
Insidenova.com: “Deshundra Jefferson on Tuesday night was heading toward upsetting incumbent Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler in the Democratic primary.”
“Jefferson’s apparent narrow victory marked voters’ rejection of Wheeler and her backing of the growing data center industry in the county.”
“Jefferson, a single mom who lives in Montclair and is a communications professional and former journalist, had 52% of the vote with 96% of the precincts reporting, according to preliminary results from the Virginia Department of Elections. She held a lead of over 1,000 votes out of nearly 25,000 cast.”
Updated 8 a.m. June 21, 2023
Virginia Department of Elections: Republican Jeanine Lawson won her race against challenger Ken Knarr by 62 points.
Lawson’s statement: “We’re very grateful for the huge win. The support has been incredible over the last few months, and tonight’s win proves it once again. I’ve always campaigned to be the voice of Prince William residents, and for that reason, they resoundingly chose the candidate in this race that focuses on what’s important to them. We’re looking forward to keeping this momentum going for a strong campaign through November and making sure the Prince William Board of County Supervisors works for the people of Prince William again.”
Lawson is running to be Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large. Since 2014, she’s served as the Brentsville District Supervisor.
The proliferation of data centers in Prince William County was at the heart of the primary campaign against Knarr. Lawson says she opposes building more data centers. At the same time, Knarr has agreed to sell his property to data center developers, saying the server farms will provide more cash for county tax coffers.
In the night’s upset, Democrat Deshundra Jefferson beat the incumbent Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Ann Wheeler by 1,142 votes. Jefferson will face Lawson in the November General Election.
Editor’s note: Meeting reporter Natalie Villalobos documented this meeting. Her notes were used to produce this story. Click here and learn more about becoming a meeting reporter and covering our local news.
The Prince William County Government is working to reduce the total number of pollutants and sediment that winds up in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Board of County Supervisors was briefed on the county's watershed plan during its meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The plan calls for restoring area streams and improving stormwater retention.
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Prince William County Government: “Prince William County is closer to constructing the one-mile segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail through the Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge in North Woodbridge, connecting the Rippon VRE station to Veteran Memorial Park.
“On Tuesday, the Board of County Supervisors authorized the transfer, budget and appropriation of $1.3 million from general-use proffer funding, $825,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax Fund [hotel taxes] (dedicated for transportation), and $500,000 from the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act. The new funding will supplement a Federal Land Access Program grant already awarded to the county for the project.”
“The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, or PHNST, is an 800-mile-long National Park Service-designated trail corridor that will connect various trails and historic sites in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Approximately 20 miles of the PHNST is planned for Prince William County.”
Prince William County Government: “During their meeting on Tuesday, June 6, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted to budget and appropriate funding for several transportation projects across Prince William County.”
“University Boulevard Extension: The Board budgeted and allocated $40.7 million in state, regional and local funding to extend University Boulevard between Devlin and Wellington roads.”
“North Woodbridge Pedestrian Bridge and Rollins Ford Roundabouts: The Board budgeted and appropriated $1 million in match from NVTA local transportation funding to the North Woodbridge Pedestrian Bridge Project, a recommendation of the North Woodbridge Small Area Plan. The bridge will cross over U.S. 1 to connect the Woodbridge Virginia Railway Express Station, or VRE, to the future North Woodbridge Town Center.”
“The Board budgeted another $145,000 in match from NVTA local transportation funding to the Rollins Ford Roundabout Project to build roundabouts at the intersections of Rollins Ford Road and Estate Manor Drive and Rollins Ford Road and Song Sparrow/Yellow Hammer Drive. The roundabouts will reduce speeds and improve safety at the intersections.”
“Summit School and Telegraph Roads: The Prince William Board of County Supervisors also authorized staff to enter an agreement with NVTA for the Summit School Road Extension and Telegraph Road Widening project in the Occoquan Magisterial District. The Board budgeted and appropriated $11 million for the 1.2-mile project that will extend Summit School Road from Kinnicutt Drive to Telegraph Road as a four-lane divided roadway.”
I am writing to encourage my friends and neighbors in Prince William County residents to elect Jeanine Lawson for Chair of the Board of Supervisors.
I was fortunate to serve with Jeanine on the Board of Supervisors when our terms overlapped from late 2014 to early 2016. During our brief service together, I was able to observe Jeanine’s leadership firsthand. I was always impressed with her preparation and passion for the citizens of our county.
She always did her homework and worked to protect the quality of life that we in Prince William County enjoy. That quality of life, however, is not guaranteed. It takes leadership and the right vision to protect our community.
Unfortunately, on issues like taxes, public safety, and development, we are headed in the wrong direction. That’s why we need Jeanine.
Over the last few years, we have seen increases in our property taxes and the imposition of a new meals tax. This has given the board lots of new revenue. Yet despite all this new money, the board has not added police officers quickly enough to meet demand as per the county’s police staffing plan. And the countywide crime rate has risen each of the last two years.
In the area of development, we have seen the proliferation of data center approvals. While these may bring the county more revenue, they will obliterate the beauty and tranquility of our rural area, damage our environmental resources, and impact the quality of life of our neighbors. We have also seen new residential development that will increase the costs of infrastructure and government services. Yet we have not seen a commitment to preserving open spaces and natural resources as we grow.
We need a new vision. We need a new leader to address the issues affecting us all. That leader is Jeanine Lawson.
We need Jeanine because she’s proven she can tackle divisive issues and stand up for the majority of Prince William County residents. We want someone that will fight to protect our quality of life. We want someone to preserve open space and protect our watersheds.
We want a leader who will be smart about spending and make investments that will keep our community safe. Jeanine Lawson will get it done for us. She will stand up for our community–not political donors and special interests.
I encourage you to vote for Jeanine Lawson for Chairman. Please vote Jeanine
Lawson in the Republican Primary on Tuesday, June 20, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. at your regular polling location.
Michael C. May
Former Prince William County Occoquan District Supervisor
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Restaurant owners in Prince William County are piping hot about the county's meals tax and want it repealed.
On Thursday Saturday, June 8, they'll join the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association for two rallies to end the tax that they say has burdened independently-owned restaurants and their. One rally will occur in eastern Prince Willaim and another in the west.
