Ryan Sawyers is the new Chairman of the Prince William County School Board.

The Democrat won in a three-way race between the Republican-endorsed Tim Singstock and Independent Tracy Conroy. With 37% of the vote, Sawyers beat Singstock by two percentage points, and Conroy by 10 points.

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Scott Lingamfelter was first elected Virginia’s 31st House District seat in 2002. This year, the Republican is defending that seat from Democrat Sara Townsend. 

The district encompasses portions of Prince William and Fauquier Counties.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Lingamfelter and he sent us the responses below: 

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

Lingamfelter: The top three issues that face our community are: (1) jobs and the economy, (2) quality schools that provide a safe and secure environment, challenging learning, top notch teachers, and accountability to the public, and (3) the safety of our community, which includes a reliable transportation infrastructure that keeps us moving safely and reliability, as well as neighborhoods that are free of crime where our kids can live in safety.

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

Lingamfelter: Jobs and the Economy: The best way to help jobs and the economy is to elect conservatives like myself that fight higher taxes and burdensome, job-killing policies. I have consistently voted for balanced budgets; voted for the most recent budget that produced a $536 Million surplus; voted to cut $7 Billion in waste; voted to keep Virginia taxes among the lowest in the U.S. My opponent, however, supports raising the sales tax, the gas tax, regional taxes and the largest ($3.5 Billion) tax increase in Virginia history, as well as expanding a broken Medicaid system that will cost us $2 Billion. All of this will kill jobs and our economy.

Education: Being married to a career teacher has helped me be very aware of the needs we have in education. I have a record, not empty rhetoric, to show what I have actually accomplished. I worked to improve teacher pay, reform the SOLs, grow virtual schools, eliminate burdensome red tape, and voted for $31 million in school security. I will build on this record.

Reliable Transportation Infrastructure and Community Safety: I have worked hard to create a more reliable and safe transit system in Northern Virginia. Through my leadership, we have restructured our financing of road projects to push more money toward local highway and road maintenance our communities use every day— the same roads our kids use to get to school. It is easy to propose sweeping mass transit projects, but not at the expense of properly maintaining what we have now. A smarter, new and more economic approach to moving people is Bus Rapid Transit, which will cost far less than expanding the Metro system which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Finally, in public safety, I chair the Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee. I have been a crime fighter since the day I was elected. My opponent has falsely asserted that I have not supported efforts to combat child predators. I supported $13.8 Million to support the State Police Internet Crime against Children (ICAC) Task Force; $3.7 million to stop child predators; a recent boost of $1.2 Million (again) to the ICAC; $8.2 Million for Child Advocacy Centers, and many other laws to fight these vile perpetrators. I have a proven record and the politically-inspired falsehoods can’t alter that fact. I will continue to be a staunch supporter of anticrime efforts.

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

Lingamfelter: From my perspective, its best summed up in my vision for Virginia: Virginia must lead the way in protecting the Constitutional rights of all of our citizens, the vitality and prosperity of our families, the growth and success of all businesses, and the safety of our communities. I will do that by (1) pressing for bold reform in Virginia, (2) continue to insist on balanced budgets, (3) seek innovative improvements in transportation and education, (4) enhance public safety in our schools, neighborhoods, and communities, (5) press for audits of all of Virginia’s agencies and divisions to ensure efficiency and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and (6) work to provide businesses in manufacturing, agriculture and energy the greatest consideration and opportunity to prosper and grow in Virginia.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Lingamfelter: As someone who spent his life in public service, as a soldier for 28 years—both in war and peace–and now as a senior legislator in the General Assembly, I have a lot of experience that benefits our community. I will be the senior member of the Appropriations Committee in northern Virginia, which is very important to our region and county as we ensure that we get our fair share of the tax money we send to Richmond back for our roads, schools, and communities for public safety and alike. Experience is key in this election and I am blessed to have that experience.

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?

Lingamfelter: Citizens of our community are not only well informed, they are smart, too. My opponent thinks they are not so informed, but I have spent 15 years at the doors of the people I represent. I know them personally. They know me and I can assure you that they are more informed than my opponent may understand. To be sure, they have not been fooled one minute by the false and negative campaign she has run since July of this year. People don’t want the name-calling, the falsehoods, the negative campaigning. They want a positive vision for Virginia, selfless service, and devotion to the work and they know I bring that to them.

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

Lingamfelter: The biggest mistake a legislator can make is to think that he or she is entitled to a seat in the General Assembly. This seat belongs to the people of the 31st District and one mistake I have never made is thinking that it is somehow “my seat.”No, it belongs to the people of this district and them alone. And yes, I have made mistakes in policies and bills I have voted for in Richmond. I call these the “laws of unintended consequences” where we didn’t think things through as we should have. And when I make such a mistake, I listen to people and go back and fix it. That’s called “owning up.”

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

Lingamfelter: The motto that I have followed since Day one of my service to the people of the 31st District in the general Assembly is this. Promise Made – Promise Kept. The two biggest casualties of modern politics are accountability and authenticity. I have tried to address the first in my service to this community by showing up on the doors steps of my constituents to be accountable to them. But just as important as “showing up” is being who you say you are and doing what you say you will. I am an authentic conservative who will represent this community with commonsense conservative policies and values that people look for in a leader. For that reason, I earnestly ask for your vote on November 3.

Sarah Townsend is making a run for public office to represent the 31st District in the Virginia House of Delegates. 

The district encompasses portions of Prince William and Fauquier counties. The seat is held by Republican Scott Lingamfelter.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Townsend and she sent us the responses below: 

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

Townsend: Prioritizing our schools and education system Promoting good paying jobs in our communities Improving transportation and reducing traffic congestion.

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

Townsend: Education – As a teacher I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of increased high-stakes testing. We need to reduce the number of standardized tests so our children receive quality classroom time and are not just taught to a test. Improving education can’t be just be rhetoric. We need more people with teaching experience in Richmond advocating for our students.

Jobs – We need to recruit high tech jobs to our area, promote apprenticeships and connect our local businesses with community college so that people have the proper skills to compete for 21st century jobs.

Transportation – We should extend the blue line to Prince William County, extend VRE options, promote tele-commuting, and increase job growth in our community so less people have to travel to Fairfax and DC for work.

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

Townsend: My job is to be a voice for constituents in Richmond and work to solve issues they face daily. Unlike my opponent, I’ll be willing to compromise to get things done if it benefits my district.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Townsend: I grew up in Prince William County and Fauquier County, which are the two counties within my district. I served as a middle school teacher and professional development instructor and seen first-hand the successes and the changes that are needed in our educational system. I’m also not an entrenched, partisan incumbent politician, like my opponent is.

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?

Townsend: I believe the average citizen could be better informed, as between the horrible traffic in our region and people working hard to raise their families, there often is not enough time in a day to focus on what is happening in our government. My opponent has abused his power in Richmond, often killing important legislation that would keep our communities safe, like protecting our kids from online sexual predators, without even allowing a vote. I would make myself more available both in the district and in Richmond. I would provide regular updates to constituents and work to make sure legislation is approved or vetoed in the light of day, so that everyone can be aware of what is happening.

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

Townsend: I have made mistakes in my life, but no major mistake that I am aware of.

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

Townsend: I hope to earn their vote because I’m not an entrenched incumbent. I was raised to vote for the person, not the party. In January I witnessed our legislators in Richmond, and how many, including my opponent, prioritize their own interests and partisan agaenda, instead of what’s best for their district. I’ll work with Republicans and Democrats to actually get things done and stand up to anyone who gets in the way.

Paul Ebert is running to keep his job as Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney. It’s a job that he has held since 1968, making him the longest-serving and most experienced top prosecutors in Virginia. 

Ebert’s opponent is Micheal C. May, who currently serves on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. 

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Ebert and he sent us the responses below: 

 

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

Ebert: As it pertains to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, a major issue facing the citizens of Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park is always a safe community in which to live, work and raise our families. Due to ever evolving technological advances, we must remain vigilant in protecting citizens from cyber-crimes. This takes training, expertise and experience to know how to prosecute complex computer-generated based crimes. Crimes involving the elderly present unique challenges as these victims are vulnerable and abuse may go undetected due to ailing health.

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

Ebert: I will continue to provide effective and fair prosecution of criminals and defend the rights of their victims. I and my Assistants have the experience and judgement to determine the merits of a case as well as how best to present the case before a judge or jury in order to obtain a just result. As crime evolves, so must the prosecution of crime, and during my tenure, innovative “firsts” have been achieved in many areas.

Some of these include: • First cold hit DNA prosecution • First prosecution under terrorism statute • First to get a first degree murder conviction for a child who was shaken. • First to use Animal DNA in a case of felony animal abuse. • First to add a therapy dog to help child victims feel more comfortable in court. • First to prosecute a fraudulent expert witness in a murder case for perjury even though he had been qualified to testify in seven other states. • As a result of that prosecution, first to start an Expert Witness Database. Now the state has taken it over. • First to have multiple assistants receive the prestigious Von Schuch Award for outstanding prosecution and service to our county, the Commonwealth and community. Still the only office to have three assistants currently serving who have received that award.

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

Ebert: The role of the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the Assistants is to do justice. They must do what is fair and what is just depending on the specific circumstances of each individual case. In making this determination, the prosecutor must look at a number of factors.

These include the facts of the crime itself, injuries to a victim, credibility of witnesses, statements made by the accused and any witnesses, the criminal history of the accused, and the impact the conviction and sentencing will have on everyone involved, including the accused. A prosecutor must determine which circumstances mandate harsh treatment and which call for leniency in any particular case.

In order to make these determinations, it is necessary to have perspective and experience. The Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney is the highest law enforcement official in Prince William County. The Commonwealth’s Attorney position is above that of the Chief of Police.

The Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office prosecutes everything from petty crimes, including Trespass, Petit Larceny, and Reckless Driving, to the worst and most violent crimes, including Robbery, Rape, and Murder. They prosecute in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, the General District Court, and the Circuit Court in front of both judges and juries.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Ebert: I have dedicated my entire career to serving as the People’s Attorney in Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. I first started as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney where I gained the needed experience to later become the chief prosecutor.

The field of criminal prosecution has become very specialized and complex, especially in today’s time. I have transformed this office into one of the most widely respected and effective in the nation. When a state senator was charged with embezzling funds from a youth civic organization in Chesterfield County, local officials disqualified themselves and asked me to prosecute the case. The senator was convicted.

When a former circuit court judge in Norfolk was charged with pistol-whipping a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, local officials disqualified themselves and asked me to prosecute the case. The former judge was convicted.

When two domestic terrorists left a trail of bodies from coast to coast and for weeks terrorized an entire region of the U.S., U.S. Attorney John Ashcroft asked me to prosecute the case. John Allen Muhammad was convicted and sentenced to death.

There are many ‘firsts’ that have taken place under my watch. My record speaks for itself.

As the Commonwealth’s Attorney, I guide and advise the staff, and prosecute cases. I am nationally recognized for prosecuting some of the most complex and horrible crimes. This is not an on-the-job training kind of position. The People need to have someone with the expertise, knowledge, and experience who can handle the complexity of this job.  

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?

Ebert: As it pertains to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, I have always had an “open door” policy in order to communicate with our citizens. I am out in the community every day and interact with individuals and groups. Within the bounds of legal ethics and the preservation of victim and witness safety, I will continue to do so.

In addition to my work in the community, my assistants serve as faculty at NVCC and GMU and volunteer to advise other colleges about criminal justice curriculum. They teach kids dance, work with 4 H, volunteer to do Wills for Heroes, work with the homeless, volunteer at animal shelters, lecture to judges, doctors, social workers , nurses, sexual assault and domestic violence counselor and publish articles on all topics in criminal law.

Our office has a member serving with the Division of Forensic Science who recently received the most prestigious “lifetime accomplishment award”, and also serves on the Boyd Graves Conference Committee to review and publish the Rules of Evidence in Virginia, among many other law enforcement organizations.

We are active with many community groups and often talk about topics concerning safety. My office worked with the Sheriff’s office to bring Rape Aggression Defense to the community by hosting it at the courthouse. We serve on many advisory boards including Shaken Baby Prevention. Inc, National Animal Cruelty Advisory Board, Legal Advisor to Virginia Police Canine Association.

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

Ebert: An old saying in the law is ‘If you are not making mistakes you are not trying cases”. When you try thousands of cases, things are not always going to go your way, and you sometimes reflect on whether you should have done something differently.

Litigation is the most stressful area of criminal law. You are often required to make decisions under pressure and hindsight is always 20/20.

Like everyone, I have made mistakes, but never one I didn’t learn from and correct. This has played a large part in shaping my judgment over the years – the kind of judgment that only comes from experience and integrity, two of the attributes which I believe are critically important in this election.

My experience, unparalleled in Virginia history, began when I started my career as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and has continued to grow every day that I have had the honor of serving the citizens of this jurisdiction as their Commonwealth’s Attorney.

That experience has allowed me to oversee one of the largest prosecutor’s offices in the state through extensive growth and change. But one thing has never changed: my commitment to keeping this community safe. But prosecuting is also about using your judgment to recognize when others have made mistakes and to know when they deserve a break.

There is no way to create a “formula” to prosecute criminal cases; it takes experience and judgment to know when and how someone deserves another shot. I do not make the same mistake twice and do not tolerate others doing so. But except where someone has intentionally hurt someone else, I have always been willing to consider giving people a second chance.

And I have instilled that principle in all of my Assistants, nearly a dozen of whom have gone on to become very fair judges on all levels of court, including the Virginia Supreme Court. It is also why my office and I are known throughout the state and nation as one of the toughest but fairest prosecutor’s offices – the type of Commonwealth’s Attorney that the citizens of Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park deserve.

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

Ebert: I am a proven leader. Working together with the excellent police departments we have, families have been kept safe. Criminals have been prosecuted. I am blessed that many have come out to support me during this campaign, including the Prince William Police Association, and Virginia Benevolent Police Association, many community leaders and elected officials, as well as many other Commonwealth’s Attorneys. With great humility and appreciation, I believe it’s because I have earned their respect and they know that I can get the job done. I am not a politician, I am a career prosecutor. That is what is needed in this office.

Don Shaw is running to unseat the long-serving Robert G. “Bob” Marshall in Virginia’s 13th House of Delegates District. 

Shaw first came onto the local political scene last year when he announced he was running for Brentsville District Supervisor, to fill a seat vacated by Wally S. Covington who became a judge at the Prince William County Courthouse. Republican Jeanine Lawson went on to win the race.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Shaw and he sent us the responses below: 

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

Shaw: 1) Transportation – We have some of the worst traffic in Northern Virginia. Commute times increase every year, and our elected officials have done nothing to reduce them. 2) Education – We have the largest class sizes in the Commonwealth and our children’s education suffers because of it. 3) Property Rights – Dominion Virginia Power has proposed overhead power lines in a residential area not designated for transmission lines.

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

 

Shaw: 1) I will work to ensure full implementation of the 2013 bipartisan transportation bill. I will work across the aisle to fight against any effort to impose tolls on I-66. Working families shouldn’t have to pay an additional $85 a week just to get to work. I will advocate for real solutions to the traffic problems on Route 28, I-66, and US-29 including alternate modes of transportation such as bus rapid transit, extending VRE to Gainesville/Haymarket, and studying the feasibility of extending metro to our area.

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

 

Shaw:  Voters trust that the people they elect will do two things: 1) show up to work, and 2) advocate for their interests. The first requirement is fairly simple; when there is a vote or a committee meeting, we expect our elected officials to be there. If they don’t show up, it’s impossible for them to advocate for their constituents’ interests.

The second requirement is a bit more complex. Advocacy includes creating a business-friendly environment that brings high-paying jobs to the district; reducing the burden of commuting and increasing the funds available for a quality education. A delegate has a responsibility to foster a welcoming, inclusive climate for all constituents.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

 

Shaw: I have dedicated my adult life to service to others. I spent a career in the military training and mentoring Soldiers and Airmen; serving my country for 20 years in the enlisted ranks, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. I learned about loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage and internalized those values at an early age.

I served as a senior manager in the Department of Defense for almost a decade where I worked to reduce costs and supported the relocation of a combat support agency to Fort Belvoir on time and on budget with no loss of mission capability. My division was recognized as the best of more than 85 DoD organizations in 2012.

I am the Chief Enterprise Architect at a veteran-owned small business, where we advise and support government organizations working to do more with less. We help connect strategy with implementation while identifying gaps and reducing unnecessary duplication.

So in addition to my educational background where I studied government administration and policy, I’ve been in government. I’ve seen what works and plan to put that experience and knowledge to use 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?

Shaw:  Yes, the average citizen has a good fundamental understanding of government. However, if you were to ask the average citizen in the 13th House District who his or her Delegate is, the majority would not know. I place a high priority on communication and will hold regular town halls at times convenient to the constituency as well as establish a rigorous communication plan that includes electronic and print media and constituent outreach programs.

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

 

Shaw: We are all human and all make mistakes. What’s important is to learn from those mistakes and to use those moments as opportunities to become a better person.

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

 

Shaw: I have a proven track record of leadership in the military, the federal government, and in the private sector. Leaders show up. My opponent missed 723 votes in the past 4 years and skipped 52% of his committee meetings in the 2015 session. He doesn’t chair any committees and has even estranged members of his own party. That’s not leadership. Leaders work across the aisle. Politics is the art of the possible, not intransigence. Leaders are chosen to make the hard decisions, not the politically expedient ones.

 

Robert G. “Bob” Marshall is running to keep his seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. 

The Republican has held the seat since 1992, and has a reputation for being one of the most outspoken members of the Virginia General Assembly.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Marshall and he sent us the responses below: 

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

 

Marshall: 1. Exorbitant Tolls proposed for I-66.

2. 110 foot high electric power towers proposed for residential areas never slated to have electric lines on their property.

3. Addressing traffic on Route 28 through Manassas Park and Yorkshire, from Manassas to Fairfax County line.

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

 

Marshall:  1. I will introduce a budget amendment to prevent Governor McAuliffe from imposing $17/day ($4,000 a year) hot lane tolls inside beltway

2. I will join a lawsuit to prevent construction of an overhead only power line and remove tax incentives for data centers which seek to locate outside of industrial areas that already have required infrastructure.

3. Continue to appeal to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, to the Prince William County Supervisors, and the General Assembly money committees to allocate funds to improve Route 28 by reversing the middle lane during rush hours to provide an extra lane for traffic.

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

Marshall: My job entails going to bat for constituents, representing them before state agencies as I have done for the past 24 years, soliciting their input for legislative proposals, etc. I keep in mind the people I represent in every vote I cast in the General Assembly, asking myself, “How will this affect my constituents?” I see my role as advocating for tax payers, not cozying up to special interests.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Marshall: My expertise consists of 24 years of experience serving as 13th District Delegate in the Virginia General Assembly. My background researching major public policy and legal issues has given me the ability to quickly understand legislation.

My past experience as a teacher helped me with public speaking skills, listening, answering questions, and relaying information to citizens. I have a record for promoting transparency and accountability in government.

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?

Marshall: I send out newsletters and other letters to inform the people who live in the 13th District of important issues. For example, I have been trying to let the people know about the proposed hot lane tolls on I-66.

I have actively worked against the proposed electric power towers in western Prince William. I publicize my cell phone (703-853-4213) so that citizens can reach me readily. I walk door-to-door as much as possible to meet voters and answer questions they may have.

 

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

 

Marshall: Everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes help you learn valuable life lessons.

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

 

Marshall: I say what I mean, I do what I say, and even people who may disagree with some of my positions know they can trust me. 

Lillie Jessie is running to keep her seat on the Prince William County School Board. She’s represented the Occoquan District on the School Board since 2012.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Jessie and he sent us the responses below: 

 

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

Jessie: 1. College-Career readiness for all students including students in specialty programs and from low-income, diverse neighborhoods

2. Overcrowding/class size by finding the needed space to build schools; especially on the eastern end of the county where schools have as many as twelve trailers in one school

3. Treating teachers as “professional experts” by providing competitive salaries, more career level opportunities and providing teacher coaches whose primary responsibility is to support them rather than participate in the dismissal process

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

Jessie: 1. Career/College Readiness: Provide more rigorous courses and access to advance courses for all students. Reduce the achievement gap. Create a Pre-school College Career mission of “Beginning with the end in mind” (Covey).

2. Hold the Board of Supervisor’s to it’s word of providing land for building new schools on the eastern end of the county, relooking at proffers and considering school space availability in its rezoning.

3. Follow what research says about high performing schools which includes being paid as a professional which may require us to relook at that shared revenue plan, Secondly providing coaches or master teachers to assist teachers instead of using central office supervisors who are limited in number and participate in the dismissal process at times.

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

Jessie: Our number one responsibility is to ensure that all students learn at a high level. Provide oversight of the school system and its budget and personnel. Write, amend or create policy and the ensuing regulations that support the forementioned. Work with the superintendent and his staff to ensure that we provide a safe, orderly and high student learning environment.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Jessie: High performing Title I (low income schools) Supervisor (Supervisor of the year) for ten years. Principal of a Title I school for twenty years. National Professional Learning Model School Nationally recognized for closing the achievement gap. Internationally recognized High Flying School for Youth at Risk Appointed by the Governor to the Standards of Learning (SOL). Innovation Committee Nationally published education author.

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?

Jessie: No I do not. In fact I am not sure they are aware of this election. I plan to continue my work with local community organizations, and invest more time with parents. I write a column for the the Old Bridge Observer. Those articles have been well-received by the community. I would like to conduct more informational meetings, especially when it comes to understanding the need to balance the use of assessments in the school.

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

Jessie: My biggest mistake was under estimating the ability of a young patient early in my career. I did not believe that he could learn to read and when I look back, I watered down his curriculum. Another teacher came to this then institution for children with severe and profound handicaps and taught him reading skills I did not think was possible. That was forty years ago. It changed my expectations for learning. I am not just an advocate of high expectations for all students, I have been given an opportunity to redeem myself by seeing students not expected to learn, not only learn but learn at high levels.

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

Jessie: 1. I did not run for this position because of my interest in a higher office. I have and can have an positive affect on student learning.

2. I have had a plethora of experience that makes me more than qualified for the position (Educational leadership, budget, policy development, etc.)

3. Character traits I possess include being persistent, insistent and consistent when it comes to high levels of achievement and/or overcoming barriers.

4. I am a student of the research. I know that we are not competitive with other countries and that the rubric should not be how we compare to the State but how we compare to the “World.”

Kyle McCullough is running to unseat Jackson Miller in the Virginia House of Delegates 50th District. 

The District encompasses the City of Manassas, and a portion of Prince William County.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to McCullough and he sent us the responses below: 

 

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

McCullough: Health care, income inequality and school funding.

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

McCullough: Implement the Medicaid expansion. Raise the minimum wage. (I advocate a graduated increase, so an employer can pay a trainee the Federal minimum for a few months before the higher State minimum kicks in.) Restore school funding to at least pre-recession levels — adjusted for inflation and student-population growth.

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

McCullough: To represent the people of the 50th district – to promote their values and best interests in the governance of the state.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

McCullough: I think that my main expertise is my life experience. As a father and middle-class resident, I have some idea what it takes to raise a family in this area. And, while this is very hard to document, I think I have above-average empathy for people who are in different situations than my own — which I think is the most important qualification for a would be Representative, Delegate or Senator.

I think a lot of that comes from my upbringing. My mother was a speech therapist who worked with children with very diverse backgrounds. My father was the County Manager of our county who worked to serve the interests of people with a huge range of backgrounds.

And I grew up in a neighborhood and school district where most people did not have the economic or social advantages that I did. I spent a year in China, where I learned the value of good government by witnessing the lack of it. Less important, but still worth mentioning, as a computer programmer with a background in engineering, I have pretty good problem-solving abilities.

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?

McCullough: No, I don’t think that most people are. I have made two-way communications a priority in my campaign; anyone can easily reach me either at [email protected] or at 703-686-4804, and I reply to all polite inquiries. And I try to keep people posted on the issues through my web page and social media. I’ll certainly continue and expand on that if elected.

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

McCullough: Well, I didn’t take fundraising seriously enough, early enough.

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

McCullough: They should vote for me because I take their needs and concerns seriously. When I am campaigning, I tell people what I think are the biggest issues facing the General Assembly, but then I ask what are their issues, what do they believe should be our biggest concerns.

I have made the Medicaid expansion the central issue of my campaign because it is the issue that compelled me to run. Providing health insurance to thousands of Virginians who need it, adding tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic stimulus are all important; but equally important is why we are turning it down, when doing so gives no benefit whatsoever to the state.

The inescapable conclusion is that the legislators who are refusing to let Virginia have those benefits believe that doing so benefits their party. I would never do that. I would never place narrow partisan advantage ahead of the needs of my constituents.

Josh L. King is running for the Virginia House of Delegates 2nd District seat. 

The seat is currently held by Micheal Futurell who opted not to run for reelection to the seat.

King faces Republican Mark Dudenhefer, who held the seat from 2011 to 2o13.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to King and he sent us the responses below: 

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

King: 1. Education- I am running because my daughter and six other autistic students spent the past school year without a teacher. This story is far too common in our public schools. Some schools in Eastern Prince William County are packing nearly 40 elementary students into a classroom. We need to start the hard work of fixing this problem today.

2. Transportation- Traffic is a perennial campaign issue, I would be lying if I said electing me or anyone else would solve the issue overnight. We need to face the reality that the HOT lanes have failed to reduce traffic and are at best a short-term solution.

Wider roads are fine but we all know that more lanes quickly means more lanes where we are stuck in traffic. We need to work toward metro in Prince William County, more VRE trains, and other mass transit options.

3. Jobs- The national capital region is one of the best regions in the country to live and work but I believe there is more that can be done to create jobs where we live. With the threat of a government shutdown averted for a few months, as a region we need to recognize that we can’t count on the federal government as an employer the way we used to.

We have a very talented work force here in Prince William and Stafford counties and I think the region would be very attractive to companies specializing in the high tech fields. We need to make sure we encourage that growth with special tax zones, credits, or other deals. We must also continue to make investments in STEM education, so these new industries have an educated workforce ready to go.

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

King: Education- We need our fair share from Richmond plain and simple. The state contributes less per student than in 2009 but somehow still meets the SQL requirement. The burden of making up this very real short fall has been left to counties and in turn taxpayers. I believe there is also a teacher retention problem as evidenced by what happened to my daughter’s class.

The biggest problem is that we continue to underpay our teachers and they are forced to go elsewhere. There is currently no requirement to track and report teacher retention to the General Assembly and Governor. I think the first step to solving this problem is to understand what is happening in our schools.

Jobs and transit are two issues that I think tie together closely. Many of us commute because our jobs are not in Prince William County, myself included. Stafford County has a better job-to-resident ratio but still has a lot of commuters too. I believe that the ultimate solution to our job and transportation problem lies with extending metro.

A recently released report by Metro indicates that nearly half of the regions jobs are within a half mile of a metro station. In the short term I think we need to look at our tax code and ways that we can incentivize Virginia businesses to place offices closer to where their workers live. We should also look at ways to improve VRE and bus service so commuters have more confidence in the mass transit that is available.

I know Metro won’t get here over night but it is important to note that while the Silver Line took 30 years to plan, actual construction only took six years. If we aggressively complete the studies and planning I believe we can have a metro line in Prince William County sooner than many people think, but this will require hard work and compromise on the part of elected officials. During my time in Iraq, the only thing that mattered was getting the job done. I had to work with people of all stripes to accomplish our mission and that is the attitude I will bring to Richmond.

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

King: I believe that a legislator’s first job is to listen and represent the best interests of their constituents. That means being available to them, understanding their lives, and working tirelessly to solve their problems. I think too often politicians forget that we have a government by, of, and for the people. I believe that working together we can do great things.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

King: I will bring a willingness to find a way to get things done for the residents of Prince William and Stafford counties. I know why education, transportation, and j

obs matter.

I live in Woodbridge with my wife and three children. My two school age kids attend River Oaks and Potomac Middle school respectively. I commute to work in Fairfax County like so many others. My wife and I love the home we have here. I love taking my kids to Stafford County on the weekends.

There are so many great things about this area and I want to ensure we are even better. I also bring an expertise in law enforcement and veterans issues. Having served as a combat soldier in Iraq I know the needs of our returning veterans. I know how to help make sure we have career and education services in place to transition our veterans. As a Deputy Sheriff I work to help make sure we maintain a safe community.

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?

King: I believe that the average citizen is as informed as they can be about local government. My local PTA has a parent engagement issue because so many parents can’t make it back from work for a 7 p.m. meeting. I think the issues is that people simply don’t have the time to be as engaged as they would like to be. They are probably stuck in traffic somewhere trying to get home.

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

King: Fortunately, I have not been in public life long enough to make mistakes. I hope I don’t break this streak. 

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

King: I have spent my life in service this country, Virginia, and our community. I believe serving our area in the House of Delegates is another extension of that service.

In the Army we never cared if someone was a Democrat of Republican. You worked together to get things done, and I will bring that same attitude to Richmond. That is a lot of potential allies in reducing class size, fixing our transportation system, and attracting jobs not just to Prince William and Stafford counties, but across the commonwealth.