Mark Dudenhefer won both Prince William and Stafford counties in his Primary bid to be the Republican nominee for the Virginia House of Delegates seat in the second district.

Dudenhefer easily beat opponent Republican Tim Ciampaglio in Stafford by nearly 20 points. In Prince William, it was 13 points. It’s a better showing for Dudenehfer who two years ago lost Prince William County by 32 points to Democrat Micheal Futrell.

But Tuesday’s election was a primary, and now Dudenhefer must look ahead to November’s General Election. Right now, it’s unclear which Democrat he will face in the race after current candidate Rod Hall told party leaders he will drop out of the race.

That could make way for Futrell to step up once again and run for the seat after his loss on Tuesday to Jeremy McPike, a Democrat who won the nomination to for the 29th district Senate seat in Prince William County to replace the long-serving Chuck Colgan.

Futrell on Monday told Potomac Local he was focused on Tuesday’s Primary Election and did not want to make any predictions for what would happen afterward.

Still, Dudenehfer plans to campaign on a key issue — one he’s talked about since he was first elected to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors 10 years ago: Transportation.

“We’re never going to stop talking about transportation,” said Dudenhefer, who lost his daughter in a crash on a winding two-lane road in Stafford prior to his election to the board of supervisors.

The retired Marine colonel was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2013. During that time, he worked with Stafford officials — namely Cord Sterling, who was on the Commonwealth Transportation Board at the time — to secure funding for a massive, new highway interchange at Courthouse Road in Stafford. When you’re looking at a map of the old project, think Springfiled Interchange, Jr.

While out of office, Dudenhefer was critical of Futrell and Gov. Terry McAulliffe while money that had been allocated for the project was placed in a lockbox and the project under review by the Commonwealth Transportation Board — a governing body in Richmond on which Cord Sterling no sits.

With less funding available, the project has been scaled down. But Dudenhefer pledges to fight to restore it, as well as focus on other area roads. During his first term in the General Assembly, he also pushed for a study to extend Metro to Prince William County. He was also supportive of then Gov. Robert F. McDonnell’s successful effort to raise state sales taxes to garner more money for transportation projects.

Jobs will also be a key issue for the Republican.

“We’ve managed to stay above the real bottom of the recession, but we can very easily see some declines in employment in our area if the defense department continues to cut back the number of jobs,” said Dudenhefer.

Diversifying the region’s workforce away from its sharp focus on federal government jobs will be key to job growth in the area, he said.

Wendy Maurer is the Republican nominee for the Rock Hill District of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.

Maurer, a Quantico businesswoman, beat out challenger Adela Bertoldi by eight points in the race.

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Two-time candidate Jeremy McPike seeks the 29th District Senate Seat in Virginia. The district encompasses a wide swath of Prince William County, from Nokesville in the west to Dale City in the east, to include the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

McPike faces two other Democratic opponents in a June 9, 2015 Primary Election — Delegate Michael Futrell and Atiq Qarni.
In 2013, McPike nearly beat out his challenger Delegate Scott Lingamfelter is his bid for the 31st district seat in Dale City and a portion of Fauquier County.

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

McPike:  First, we need to focus on strengthening our schools and reforming our broken SOL testing system. Growing up here and attending Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary, Fred Lynn Middle, and Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge, I know how strong our schools can be. Today, I want to make sure my three daughters attending public schools have access to the best education possible.

That means recognizing the current SOL testing system doesn’t work for parents, it doesn’t work for teachers, and it definitely doesn’t work for students. We need to ensure that teachers can teach students individually, not just teach to a test, and to fix our school funding formula to give schools the resources they need.

Second, like many others, I spend two hours of every workday just sitting in traffic. All of that congestion means lost productivity and more importantly less time spent with our families. We need to take a modern, innovative approach to our transportation infrastructure, emphasizing investment into long-term, regional programs that prioritize Route 28 and Route 1, and expand Metro and VRE to allow more people to live and work in Prince William and Manassas while taking more cars off the roads.

Third, expanding access to quality, affordable health care is critical to our success across the region and Virginia, and the first step is expanding Medicaid. My family was lucky enough to have insurance when my wife Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, and even then our medical bills were not easy on us. 400,000 uninsured Virginians, including nearly 10,000 here in the 29th Senate District and many families I have served as a first responder, continue to live one health issue away from financial ruin due to the lack of Medicaid expansion in Virginia. We cannot expect to thrive as a community if we continue to leave so many so vulnerable.

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

McPike: For years, both parents and teachers have criticized the SOL tests for forcing teachers to forgo the individual attention students need in favor of cookie-cutter teaching models due to one-time, high-stakes, multiple-choice tests. The General Assembly finally started to listen when it slightly reduced the number of SOL tests and formed a committee to review the system.  As Senator, I will work to establish a growth model so that we can see what our students learn over the course of a school year, and create alternative assessments that emphasize critical thinking and problem solving skills.  Bureaucrats put too much weight on SOL test scores as a way to judge our schools and our teachers. SOL scores are a poor indicator of how a school or teacher is truly performing and cannot be used as the critical data point for assessing our education system.

I recently stood before the Prince William School Board in support of a $2.2 million grant to expand Pre-K in the county for 144 kids, and to emphasize the necessity of investing in early childhood education.  In the county alone, we currently serve only a quarter of children living below the federal poverty line. For underserved and at-risk kids in particular, Pre-K is a critical area where we can help to level the playing field early and make an outsized impact.  Many localities currently leave millions in Pre-K funding on the table because of the required local match.  I will work to change that requirement so that localities can take full advantage of federal and state funding.  I will always push for these investments locally and across Virginia to make sure our schools have the tools they need to succeed from their earliest days.

Our transportation system was not built to accommodate the volumes of traffic it bears today. To put it on pace to not only catch up to where we are now, but also be able to handle the needs of growing populations and business in the future, we need to seriously rethink our current system. As State Senator, I will demand Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park receive its fair share of state transportation funding, and use the tools I have cultivated over the past 15 years in local government to build long-term regional partnerships through both the public and private sectors to leverage and grow existing resources and establish new ones. First on the table will be to widen Route 28 and Route 1, extend Metro to Woodbridge, and expand VRE and bus transit services. Our area’s long-term power as an economic engine, and our own quality of life, depends on the work we do to address our insufficient transportation system now.

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

McPike: As the representative for Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park in the Virginia Senate, our State Senator must be among our strongest advocates in Richmond, not only standing up for our interests, but also to truly know the district and bring the real innovation and results back that we need to prosper.

That’s why I’m running for State Senate. This district is my home.  It’s where I grew up and went to school, where I got married and am raising my family, and where I have served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the past 16 years.  So when local economic growth has stalled, the workers that lost their jobs or small business owners that had to shut down are people I grew up with.  When funding for schools fell to its lowest since 2008, my three daughters and their classmates were affected, and it’s the schools I attended as a kid that did not receive the resources they needed.  When progress stagnates on road improvements and Metro and VRE expansion, I feel that in my two-hour daily commute. When we fail to expand Medicaid in Virginia, and prevent tens of thousands in this district alone from accessing critical preventive care, it’s the families I have served as a first responder for the past decade and a half who experience the hardship and tragedy of medical emergencies.

I live these issues every day, and I’ve spent the last 15 years in local government advancing innovative, modern solutions by navigating state and local policy and building coalitions around our common interests and values.  We have an opportunity in this election to make real progress in the state Senate.  With a strong vision and the capability to make it happen, we can create a better, sustainable future for our families and our region.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

McPike: I have worked in local government for the last 15 years, currently serving as Director of General Services for the City of Alexandria. This role has enabled me to bring an innovative and results-oriented approach to public services and building projects to help make sure they come in on time and on budget. I have also worked to establish gleaning programs and SNAP/EBT at local Farmers’ Markets so healthy foods can reach the most vulnerable, and I have led efforts on animal shelter operations, new public-private partnerships for the city, and sustainable green building policies. Over those 15 years, I have managed budgets there and in the non-profit sector as co-founder and president of the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department Foundation, well known in the community for its Santa visits to kids fighting cancer and its support of public safety initiatives.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?

McPike: I am fortunate to have spent my life with the people of this district. They are my neighbors and friends, the people I went to school with growing up, and the people I serve as a firefighter and EMT during some of their most difficult moments. When your community has been as central a part of your life as it has in mine, you come to understand at a personal level the individual challenges, worries, and hopes that make up that community. When politicians stop listening to the people they represent, or dismiss “average citizens” as not well informed, they stop being accountable to voters.

That said, promoting greater transparency and accountability in government has been a central focus of my campaign and my career, and will be among my highest priorities as a State Senator. Voters throughout Virginia have lost much of their confidence in the electoral process, and their concerns are justified due to the evident gerrymandering in districts across the Commonwealth. Politicians have picked their own voters before voters have picked them. We must depoliticize the redistricting process, and bring it out into the open where the public has a voice. In the last year since I ran for the House of Delegates, I served as the Northern Virginia Chair for OneVirginia2021, a bipartisan organization advocating for an amendment to the Virginia Constitution that would change the way we do business and bring transparency to the drawing our districts. This is one of the fundamental policy goals that will define my success as a state senator, even if it means my being drawn out of my district in the future.

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

McPike: As a firefighter and EMT, you face difficult life-and-death situations. When you things don’t go as planned, it’s hard not to second-guess your actions and whether you could have done something different for them in that moment. You make the best decisions with the data you have at the time, and you always learn and grow from every experience.

That perspective in challenging situations is critical in our lawmakers. Throughout my career, my focus has always been on making informed decisions based on a thorough analysis of available data to determine the most effective and efficient approach, rather than rely on potentially outdated assumptions given changing circumstances.

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

McPike: This election is about who will go to Richmond and bring back the innovation and results we need for Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park. The issues facing our community are too critical for posturing, inaction, or diversion. We need to reform the SOLs and fix our school funding formula. We need to address our short-sighted transportation network, prioritize Route 28 and Route 1, and expand Metro and VRE. We need to expand Medicaid, so we get our tax dollars back working for us and start saving lives.

Over the course of my life here, and over a decade and a half in local government, I have shown that you can count on me to get results and make real progress for the community where I grew up, where I am raising my family, and where I have served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the last 16 years.

That is why many of our most effective leaders from across Northern Virginia, but more importantly from right here, are supporting my campaign, like Prince William’s other two Democratic State Senators Toddy Puller and George, Prince William County Supervisor John Jenkins, past Prince William County Board Chair Kathleen Seefeldt, and former Delegate David Brickley. They know that I am in the best position to make real progress for the communities they have spent their careers serving.

Our area has its challenges, but it also has a very bright future. I promise you, I will make real progress towards building that future, and I will be with you and working for you every step of the way.

Darrell English is running to become the next Stafford County Clerk of the Circuit Court. If he wins, he’ll replace Barbara Decatur whose held the job since 2001.

English faces two Primary Election challengers: Republicans Kathy Sterne and Jim Fry. Voters will head to the polls June 9 to select which Republican will move ahead to the November General Election.

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We send a candidate survey to English, and here’s what we learned: 

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

English:

1. Improve customer service

2. Cross train existing staff

3. Make the office more accessible to the citizens of Stafford County

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

English: In order to improve customer service, I will extend office hours to accommodate the citizens. Current staff will be cross trained to avoid any interruptions in services.

I will ensure that all phone calls are answered by a staff member. I will have an open door policy in my office to ensure each and every question is answered.

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

English: The clerk of court is a position elected by the citizens of Stafford County. This position is responsible for issuing licenses and maintaining vital records. The clerk is the custodian of all historical and current county records. The clerk is responsible for administering all judicial proceedings.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

English: In my 34 years employed with the Stafford Sheriff’s Office, I know the mechanics of the court system. Preparing court cases familiarized me with the clerk’s office and records.

I have served as chairman of committees and organizations giving me leadership experience. As a life–long resident of the county, I am devoted to making sure the citizens feel that they are treated and respected. I am a good communicator and would work well with the County Board of Supervisors, county staff and judges.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?

English: I believe the average citizen needs to be more informed on the workings of the Clerk’s office. I will design a brochure to answer the common questions. I will also work with the County Public Information Officer to provide information about any new or changes in the law. Implementation of staff cross training will provide better communications with the citizens.

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

English:  Yes, I have mistakes in my public and personal life. Those mistakes have helped me grow and learn that no one is perfect. It helped me better understand and communicate with the citizens and my family. I have also learned to never be quick to judge and to remember that we all make mistakes.

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

English: Experienced employees need a leader. A leaders role is not just a position, it is taking action on behalf of your people. I can be the leader of Circuit Court. Not only do I have the resume as a leader, but I will work side by side with the employees to accomplish the goals and tasks before them.

This is Mark Dudenhefer’s third run for the Virginia House of Delegates for the 2nd District that includes eastern Prince William County and the northern portion of Stafford County.

Dudenehfer won the seat in 2011 after serving for five years on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. He lost the seat to Michael Futrell in 2013.

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Delegate Richard L. “Rich” Anderson has served in the General Assembly since 2009. He represents the 51st House District which encompasses most of Prince William County.

He is seeking reelection this year, so Potomac Local sent a candidate survey to Anderson to see why voters should reelect him to go back to Richmond.

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Potomac Local sent a candidate survey to Gerald “Jerry” Foreman. He’s running to become the next Virginia State Senator in the 36th District encompassing south Fairfax County, eastern Prince William County, and North Stafford.  The seat is currently held by Linda “Toddy” Puller who will retire. 

Forman faces Democrat Scott Surovell who also seeks the 36th District Seat. Surovell is currently a Virginia State Delegate who represents the 44^th District which encompasses Mount Vernon and a portion of Fort Belvoir.

Voters will head to the polls to decide a winner for this race on Nov. 3, 2015.

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

Foreman: 1. Economic Development/Revitalization
2. Route-1 Transportation Corridor
3. Ethics and Transparency

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

Foreman: 

Economic Development/Revitalization: This subject transcends the 36th District. As Mayor, our town has reduced property taxes by over 50%, eliminated excessive fees on businesses, reduced Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) taxes, Stormwater Management Fees, Vehicle Tag fees and ensured our business operating fees are lower than or equal to Prince William and Stafford Counties and not one service to our taxpayers has been eliminated.

This same type of rolling-up your sleeves mentality needs to be in Richmond. Economic Development and Revitalization are Town and County initiatives (as an example Virginia does not tax property at the state level; real estate and tangible personal property are taxed at the local level) but Richmond has got to be part of the solution. I will meet with County Supervisors on a quarterly basis and ask how State programs such as the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant Programs, Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit, Recycling Equipment Tax Credit, Worker Retraining Tax Credit, Green Job Creation Tax Credit, Refundable Research and Development Expenses Tax Credit, creation of Enterprise Zones and the grants that accompany them, Technology Zones, Defense Production Zones are being taken advantage of in each locality.

As your Senator I will meet with your Regional Chamber of Commerce(s) and discuss with them programs such as the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority and Community Development Block Grants and Virginia’s Small Business Development Center Network. I will meet with County School Boards as well as Colleges and schools and discuss “work force” development. As Senator, I need to do my part to ensure State funded programs are coming to our region.

Route-1 Transportation Corridor: I have been a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) since 2012. I have worked hard to ensure regional transportation requirements have been addressed. As a Senator my first mandate is to address Route-1 from Fairfax to Stafford. We can’t continue to fix intersections a piece at a time. There must be coordination among the three Counties.

Currently Stafford County is not even brought to the table to discuss their requirements. With $351 million dollars in state transportation funds available, it is imperative elected officials from Senator to Delegates be involved in supporting our local officials – not just during an election year. I know the Fairfax & Prince William County Supervisors, the NVTA members, the Commonwealth Transportation Board and regional VDOT officials and I am confident I can work with them to continue to make progress on Route-1.

· Ethics and Transparency: Before and since running for elected office, a politician that continually inspires me is President Abraham Lincoln. In his Gettysburg Address, which is ten sentences and 170 words in length, Lincoln preached about his commitment to a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

While his speech is over 150 years old, the lessons Lincoln taught are just as relevant today. I urge all the men and women serving in elected office to heed Lincoln’s advice, no matter what political party they represent. As Mayor, I am proud to put Lincoln’s words into action and I remain steadfast to follow in his footsteps.

I am committed to ensuring the people who put their trust in me to serve as Mayor get a town government that is open and honest with them at all times in return. That’s why I introduced a policy that allows for full transparency by televising all Council Meetings, whether they are scheduled or unscheduled. Moreover, recognizing how difficult it might be for citizens to attend town meetings, while still tending to their jobs and family responsibilities, I brought predictability and certainty to the meeting schedule by holding one regular and one work session a month. Additionally, under my leadership, Dumfries now requires Members of Council and town staff to provide briefs to Council and citizens regarding town events to keep everyone informed.

As Mayor, I have continually held Council accountable for their conduct, to include the most recent discussion aimed at preventing a politician from using public time and resources to promote their political ambitions through Town Council televised meetings. An open, honest and transparent government isn’t a Democrat or Republican issue – it’s simply the right thing to do. I applaud the Governor and the State Legislature for coming together recently and passing ethics reforms on the state level.

While the reforms weren’t perfect or a total panacea, they were a step in the right direction and an example of politicians from different parties working together to accomplish a common goal. I believe in servant leadership. We must never forget that we represent our voters and business owners’ interests; our actions reflect their values. If elected to the State Senate, I pledge to be a reformer who works closely with moral government advocates and like-minded colleagues in both parties to ensure the most accountable and accessible state government possible. 

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

Foreman:  I’ve learned as a Councilman and Mayor my job description as an elected official is not just to represent my party, it is to represent my constituents.  The homeowner, the businessman, the serviceman and women, the First Responders, the teachers, etc.  I will represent my County, City and Town governments.  

I am proud to be the Mayor of Dumfries and I will take that same pride and commitment to Richmond to represent the entire 36th Senate District.  I have been elected to show fiduciary responsibility with my constituents money as well as provide for a quality of life my constituents expect to enjoy.  I will fight for my District and I will cross the aisle to work with all parties to bring about a final solution to issues that affect our region. 

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Foreman: As a Marine, a business owner, a consultant with the government, a councilman and as mayor, I have prepared all my life to lead from the front.  I have and will continue to walk and drive this District to talk with and listen to the property owners, the business owners and voters of the 36^th. 

This is not about having all the answers; this is about preparing for the legislative session.  I have always come to meetings prepared, I guarantee I will come to Richmond prepared.  I take pride in working with citizens, business owners and fellow politicians to learn the subject at hand, do my research and be prepared to make a decision that benefits my constituents.  This is the type of leadership you deserve in Richmond.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?

Foreman: Absolutely ,“Yes.” It’s a matter of accessibility to your elected official. I’ve taken a lot of pride as Mayor being accessible to everyone in Dumfries; that same type of openness will come as a Senator as well.  I will hold Town Hall Meetings on a quarterly basis for citizens.  I guarantee you will not just see me once every four years when there is an election.  I am not that type of a politician.  I represent you, so this is about knowing your needs.

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

Foreman: Yes I have. Every meeting I attend, I critique myself afterwards to see if I could have handled a situation better. Even when everything goes right, there is room for improvement as no two situations are the same. I learned in the military that mistakes will happen, you will fall down; Leadership is standing up, brushing the dirt off and accomplishing the mission.  

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

Foreman: As Mayor I am a leader from a local government; it is this type of grassroots leadership we need in Richmond. This election is not about me, it is about YOU and who will best represent YOU in Richmond.

Potomac Local sent a candidate survey to Scott Surovell. He’s running to become the next Virginia State Senator in the 36th District encompassing south Fairfax County, eastern Prince William County, and North Stafford.  The seat is currently held by Linda "Toddy" Puller who will retire. 

Surovell faces Republican Gerald "Jerry" Foreman who also seeks the 36th District Seat. Foreman is the Mayor of Dumfries.

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Potomac Local sent a candidate survey to Kathy Sterne. She’s running to become the next Stafford County Clerk of the Court, a seat currently held since 2001 by Barbara Decatur who will retire this year.  

Sterne faces fellow Republicans Darrell English and Jim Fry  in a June 9, 2015 Primary Election. The winner of the Primary Election will go on to face a potential Democratic challenger in the November General Election.

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Potomac Local sent a candidate survey to Atif M. Qarni. He’s running to represent the 29th District in the Virginia Senate, a seat currently held by the retiring Chuck Colgan. 

Qarni faces Jeremy McPike and Micheal Futrell  in a June 9, 2015 Primary Election. The winner of the Primary Election will go on to face Republican Harry "Hal" Parrish II in the November General Election on Nov. 3, 2015.  

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