Shawn Brann is running to be the next Brentsville District Representative on the Prince William County School Board. If elected, he would replace Gil Trenum, who is not seeing reelection.

Brann temporarily replaced Trenum on the School Board in 2016 when the U.S. Navy deployed Trenum to Africa. Brann ceded the seat upon Trenum’s return the next year.

Name: Shawn L. Brann

Party: Independent

County: Bristow

Running for: School Board, Prince William County Schools, Brentsville District

Website: brann4brentsville.com

Work: Senior Technical Editor

Education: George Mason University: B.A. in English; B.A. in Speech Communications George Mason University: Masters in Education George Mason University: Certificate in Educational Leadership.

Community Involvement: My personal experience and involvement in the local community and in PWCS is extensive. I was a Language Arts teacher at Woodbridge Senior High School from 1999-2006.

When my daughter Sophia became a student in PWCS in 2009, I started to volunteer as a parent in PWCS. I was asked by Mrs. Kirsten Fisher, the first principal of Piney Branch Elementary School, to help start the advisory council at the school. I held the role of Chair for the Piney Branch Advisory Council (PBAC) for six years (2012-2018).

In addition, I volunteered and served on the naming committee for PBES (2011), and served on two boundary committees in PWCS (Haymarket Elementary School in 2013 and Yung Elementary School in 2014).

I was named to the Safe Schools Advisory Council (SSAC) by Brentsville District School Board member Gil Trenum in 2015, serving as his representative from the district. After one year, I was named the Chair of the SSAC and served in that role until I was selected unanimously by the PWCS School Board in September 2016 to serve as an Acting School Board member while Mr. Trenum was deployed to Africa with the Naval Reserves.

I served as the Acting School Board member from September 2016 to October 2017. Since I left the School Board, I have volunteered at Patriot High School since 2018. I serve as the Field Hockey representative on the school’s Boosters Club, and I serve as a 9th Grade Parent Representative on the school’s advisory council.

In addition, I served as a Cub Scouts leader in my son’s Cub Scouts pack at Piney Branch Elementary, and now serve as a merit badge counselor in his Boy Scouts troop at Gainesville United Methodist Church. I also have coached and coach recreational soccer through VSA and NVSC in Prince William County, most recently serving as an assistant coach on my son’s team during the recent Spring 2019 season.

Questions and Answers

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

Brann: Salaries and Retention, Overcrowding, Being responsive to parental concerns

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

Brann: As a former teacher in PWCS, I understand more than many how the salary of a PWCS teacher affects their ability to stay in the profession. When I left teaching in 2006, I was a good teacher and only getting better; however, I made the difficult choice to pursue another career for financial and family reasons.

As a School Board member, I will continue to support yearly raises for all PWCS employees, including employees we sometimes forget: Our bus drivers, our custodians, our support staff, our substitute teachers, and others.

We are still losing too many excellent teachers and employees to other school systems and other careers. We must do more to retain them. Overcrowding at the high school level should no longer be an issue in the district by the Fall of 2021, when the 13th high school opens in the Brentsville District. I was proud to help lead the effort on the School Board to ensure that the high school had an additional 500 seats, by supporting a special meeting in January 2017 to vote on and approve the additional funds that were being offered by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

Our middle schools – especially Gainesville – need some additional space to address overcrowding. I will push for the addition to the school and others in the district to happen sooner instead of later on our CIP. As a parent in the school system, I have faced frustrations as a parent who sought answers from the system to no avail.

Even though I think this type of frustration will improve for many parents with the addition of the new Ombudsman position – thank you to Brentsville District School Board member Gil Trenum for leading the cause to bring that position to PWCS – there’s more that we can do as a Board to listen to the concerns of parents. I will support the development of a working group of parents who work directly with the Ombudsman to address parental concerns throughout the district and the county.

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

Brann: A School Board member’s role and responsibilities are developing and voting on good policy, analyzing and voting on the best budget possible for the school system and the county’s residents, and effectively communicating with constituents and employees of the school system.

A School Board member should not only be a leader in his/her own district but throughout the county. He/she should be an elected official that the children in our school system can look up to as a positive role model.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Brann: Based on my experience as a teacher in PWCS for seven years, as an actively-engaged parent volunteer for the past decade (naming committee, boundary committees, advisory councils, Safe Schools Advisory Council, budget committee), and as an Acting School Board member in the Brentsville District from 2016-2017, I am the most qualified candidate for this position. I am ready to step in on Day 1 of office knowing what the job entails and how to work with others on the Board for the betterment of all students and families in Prince William County.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Brann: I think many do, but there’s always more that we can do as elected officials to help all citizens learn more about their local government and how it works. I plan to communicate through social media, town halls, letters to residents, email, phone calls, and knocking on doors (which shouldn’t be limited to election years). I’m always open to my constituents sharing their ideas with me as well.

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

Brann: No, I haven’t made any mistakes; however, like many individuals, I think there are moments in my life when I could have been more patient. My one year of experience on the School Board as an Acting School Board member was an opportunity to develop more and more patience, and I think I succeeded the majority of the time.

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

Brann: I have been a leader throughout my life in many different roles: A teacher. A coach. A parent. An Acting School Board member. A Scouts leader. An advisory council chair. A Safe Schools Advisory Council chair. A manager in the private sector. As I proved during my one year as an Acting School Board member, all of these experiences shaped me into a well-regarded leader on the School Board from 2016-2017. I look forward to the opportunity to serve my district of a decade, my county of 21 years, and my Commonwealth of Virginia for my entire life as an elected official for the next four years. Thank you for your support and vote on November 5.

Chad Oxley is running to be the next Stafford County Sheriff.

Name: Chadwick “Chad” Oxley

Party: Independent

Town: Stafford

Running for: Sheriff

Website: facebook.com/oxley4sheriff

Work: Consultant, retired law enforcement officer.

Education: Brookfield High School, Brookfield, Ohio

Community Involvement: I have been a resident of Stafford County for the past 20 years. My wife and I own a home and several small businesses that are based out of Stafford. I have spent the last 16 years as law enforcement officer serving Stafford County and year before that in Richmond, and an eight-year Army Veteran. Just by the very nature of the job you are intimately involved with the community on daily basis solving problems for citizens who are oftentimes in crisis. In, an addition I am a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge Aerie 4488 in Stafford where we raise funds for various charities such as the Fairy Godmother Project. I am a member of the Stafford NAACP Chapter, in which the services that are provided by this outstanding organization speaks for themselves in fighting for equality. I also belong to the Moose Lodge and just recently transferred to the Stafford Lodge 2215. If you’re not familiar with this organization this is another phenomenal organization that runs the MOOSEHEART Child City School Inc. and the Moosehaven this organization is about giving back to the communities.

Questions and Answers

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

Oxley: Community engagement, school safety, and the opioid crisis.

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

Oxley: The Opioid Crisis is crippling our communities and killing our citizens. What we have been doing is not working. I believe in thinking outside the box and being an Independent Candidate I can make bold new moves without party line arguments. I have proposed the following plan to address the opioid crisis.

THE OPIOID CRISIS: My plan to address the Opioid crisis involves several areas that I intend to enhance if elected. 1. Education 2. Develop a Multiple Discipline Team (MDT) 3. Narcan 4. Employment Opportunities post-arrest/treatment 5. Treatment 6. Enforcement 7. Criminal Justice reform or  Community Engagement: I have knocked on thousands of doors and spoke with thousands of people during this election cycle. I have had the luxury of people telling me the truth rather than not wanting what I want to hear since I am a private citizen with no affiliation to the Sheriff’s Office. I’ve learned that I need to be responsive, available and when a citizen requests a meeting with your elected official it should be granted. For years you always heard the phrase for employees that you serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff. Well, the Sheriff serves at the pleasure of the citizens. Additionally, I have received exceptional guidance from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office who has over 150 community outreach programs. We don’t have time to waste and I’m not a fan of reinventing the wheel. I intend to mirror their programs. Additionally, I will host quarterly town halls at the sheriff’s office where citizens will have access to executive staff to voice their concerns in a forum where we can collectively resolve issues or concerns. School Safety is a critical issue. With school shootings on the rise, it is imperative that we find innovative ways to fill those schools with cops. The schools that I’m talking about lacking SRO’s are our elementary school. Several things have surfaced as a result of my stance on this, which were those against cops in schools in regards to the pipeline to prison concern and recently my opponent eluded during a recent NAACP Forum that the Stafford County School Superintendent was not interested in filling elementary schools with security (armed cops), but rather SRO’s. I am confident if this is the case we can find middle ground, but I will not leave the most vulnerable children as soft targets who are unable to defend themselves.

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

Oxley: The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county. Responsible for enforcing traffic and criminal laws, court security, service of civil process and a sitting member of the jail board. Above all the sheriff serves at the pleasure of the people and should ensure that the community is the number one priority. We should always strive to make the community safer and bridge the gap between law enforcement and our minority communities. The sheriff should be accessible to the people and accountable to the people. Develop and maintain working relationships with law enforcement counterparts, and other elected officials in order to find a middle ground to get the people’s business done.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Oxley: I bring to the office a substantial amount of life and professional experience. I have had the fortune to travel abroad and have learned about the cultures from all around the world. I grew up in Ohio and traveled all across the U.S. while serving in the military. I have called Stafford Home for 20 years with 16 of those serving as law enforcement officer in Stafford. I served as Detective, Detective 1st Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, and Deputy. My opponent boasts a 33-year law enforcement career with over 23 years of executive command experience. While that is certainly commendable I bring a different perspective to the table. I have been in the front lines of dealing with the community and victims daily. I have faced the perpetrators of serious crimes eye to eye. I know the programs that were implemented that work and what does not. More importantly, I will bring to the table the ability, putting pride aside, to ask for honest feedback from the rank and file. Therefore, if we implement a program that doesn’t end up working, we will adjust it to make it successful or make the decision not to continue with it.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Oxley: I do feel the average citizen is well-informed and has an understanding of local government. I, however, feel like the local government should make a better effort to better inform and educate the average citizen. Specifically to the sheriff’s office, I see a need to capitalize on the education of the sheriff’s office with the public. I envision an opportunity to explain the working of the sheriff’s office and some of the characteristics of the law enforcement profession to our community. I believe this attempt and maintaining transparency will bridge gaps and inform citizens of how their equities are being managed well.

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

Oxley: Absolutely! I’m human and we all make mistakes. I’ve learned the difference between making mistakes and making poor decisions. So the mistakes I’ve made in my public life have served as lessons. Lessons that I plan to grow from and reference once I am elected sheriff to drive decision-making and make positive change.

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

Oxley: Excellent question. One of my commitments is to bring leadership that has both a good balance of formal education and experience. My goal is for all professionals within the sheriff’s office to find a future being life-long learners and pursue those development tools that will enhance their contributions leading to better service for the community. I can tell you from experience the culture I left from at the Stafford sheriff’s Office praised complacency and not “making waves.” Although their needs to be discipline and order within law enforcement professionals, the current trend for law enforcement Agencies is to be more integrated in every sense of the word. Integrated in response, with the community, special groups, and all demographics. This what leadership is about. Doubt has killed more dreams than failure has and this is why readers should vote for me.

Henry Thomassen, a retired corporate officer, is running for Treasurer of Stafford County, citing a need for more tech innovation. The position is currently held by Laura Rudy.

Name: Henry Thomassen

Party: Democrat

Town: Stafford

Running for: Treasurer of Stafford County

Website: henryfortreasurer.com

Work: Retired. Former corporate officer.

Education: MBA in finance from Rutgers University; BA from U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Community Involvement: I have been a community activist for many years. Basically, where there is a problem I try to organize people to get it fixed. Perhaps my greatest accomplishment was getting a new road built to alleviate traffic congestion at George Mason University.

Questions and Answers

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

Thomassen: There are many problems at the Treasurer’s office: 1) Checks and electronic transactions are not deposited promptly losing interest for the county; 2) Lack of innovation – the Treasurer should make the payment process easier; 3) Customer service needs improvement.

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

Thomassen: Do a top to bottom review of procedures to determine what is going wrong. Review banking relationships to get a better deal for the County. Initiate and encourage the County to adopt a smart phone app for all things Stafford County. And, finally, aggressively use/advertise underutilized tools already in place, such as electronic billing, to lower costs.

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

Thomassen: The Treasurer is responsible for collecting taxes and fees, investing those funds to create interest income and then making the money available for the County to spend.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Thomassen: 29 years of relevant corporate experience with ExxonMobil.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Thomassen: Good question. The average citizen does not know what the Treasurer of Stafford County does. I will increase outreach to community organizations to change that. But I also think we need to determine if this job should be appointed and not elected. We vote for the Board of Supervisors to make these types of hiring decisions. Many counties appoint their Treasurer. Virginians go to the polls every year – that is too much. I think we need to reduce this burden.

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

Thomassen: This would be my first elected office – and probably my last. I see a real need to fix problems in the Treasurer’s office. So, so far, no major errors in my public life.

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

Thomassen: I have the experience, education and training to do a better job than the incumbent. This is a nuts and bolts position – very easy to determine if the job is being done correctly. It is currently not being done correctly.

Lynn Greene is running for Manassas City Council with a goal to eliminate wasteful spending and lower taxes.

Name: Lynn Greene

Party: Republican

Town: Manassas

Running for: Manassas City Council

Website: lynnforcouncil.com, Facebook, Twitter

Work: I’m an accomplished C-Suite administrative professional with two decades of experience. Currently, I serve as Project Manager at Korn Ferry, providing project management, business administration, and research support to the Advancing Women team.

Education: Project Management Professional Certification (PMP)
In process [Through Project Management Institute (PMI)]

Fiduciary Administration Courses, Cannon Financial Institute, Florida
(Investment Fundamentals I, Fiduciary Administration I – III)

High School Diploma (General/Office Management Studies), Vicenza American High School, Italy

Community Involvement: For over 20 years, I have actively contributed to the City of Manassas in one way or another. I used to serve as team mom for all of my daughter’s activities to include dance team and step team or participate in school and community fundraisers. I continue to contribute to SERVE and provide backpacks/school supplies for Manassas City students annually. Currently, I serve as chair of the Keep Manassas Beautiful Advisory Committee and as a member of the Manassas City Parks, Culture & Recreation Committee. Last year, I participated in the Manassas City Leadership Academy, which allowed me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of public safety, public works, and economic development. I also gained valuable exposure to mock admin & budget exercises that the council regularly participates. Additionally, you will often find me at city council meetings or work sessions.

Questions and Answers

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

Greene: High Taxes, Wasteful Spending, & Lack of Transparency

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

Greene: The council needs to be more fiscally sensible while adopting policies to ensure responsible growth. Attracting high-quality small and medium-sized businesses to the area will help Manassas City trend towards a more robust, diversified commercial tax-base. Ultimately, this will lead to lower taxes while providing more opportunities to residents.

Regarding wasteful spending, we must incorporate additional town halls that focus on community engagement and approval of projects before they go on the comprehensive plan. Citizens agree some projects fall under “want” not “need.”

Closed-door meetings, especially ones where votes are taking place, should concern everyone. Residents deserve increased accountability and transparency. Besides, it will allow for greater understanding and encourage more community involvement.

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

Greene: City councils serve as the legislative branch of local government. They vote on laws, policies, and projects to manage the city’s goals. They are acting as a fiduciary over the city resources.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Greene: I bring a host of personal and professional experiences with me. As a long term resident and parent of an Osbourn High School graduate, I am very aware of just how much our schools & community have changed. From that, I offer a perspective which translates as a direct connection to the concerns & issues currently top of mind for our residents. Professionally speaking, I have a background of diverse project management experience in legal, finance, tax & accounting, and executive search. I also have the communication & interpersonal skills necessary to build positive relationships with my fellow council members, school board members, and administration. I believe my expertise correlates well with what I would need to be a successful council member.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Greene: Unfortunately, it is difficult for the average citizen to understand the inner workings of local government when so many topics are discussed behind closed doors. My goal is to increase transparency to foster a more open dialogue with our citizens. I will work hard to offer additional opportunities for the public to participate in decisions, including advocating for reoccurring quarterly town hall meetings. Also, I will work to ensure all communications are available in both English & Spanish.

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

Greene: Everyone makes mistakes. The challenge is learning the lesson from that experience and moving forward.

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

Greene: Manassas City residents should vote for me because I am the right candidate. I love my hometown, and I love the people here. We are a unique community. I do not want to see Manassas turned into Arlington. (No offense Arlington) My motive for running does not come from political aspirations. I consider myself a strong, influential leader. Influential leaders have visions and rally people behind that vision. My vision is one where Manassas City is a trendsetter. Let’s start the trend of maintaining our small-town feel. Let’s reject the idea that more equals progress. After all, our motto is Historic Heart Modern Beat. We could easily be more purposeful in the selection process when investing in projects. Resident input should be included not only at the beginning when identifying projects to go on the comprehensive plan but also sought throughout the entirety of the project. We should invest in our community and schools first. Making these small adjustments will shift the perception of our city. In doing so, we create a place where people desire to live & stay. If you feel like I do, I hope you will vote for me on Nov. 5th.

Lorena Bruner is running for Commissioner of the Revenue for Stafford, with a focus on enabling accessibility for all Stafford citizens by utilizing new technology. The seat is currently held by Scott Mayausky.

Name: Lorena Bruner

Party: Democrat

Town: Stafford

Running for: Commissioner of the Revenue-Stafford County

Website: bruner4revenuecommissioner.weebly.com, Facebook

Work: Account Manager, Business Entrepreuner and Consultant/Graduate Student of Kreiger School of Arts and Sciences/Johns Hopkins University

Education: Strayer University/Completed BSBA with Minor in Human Resource Mgmt/Johns Hopkins University-MBA Graduate Certificate in Minority Leadership and Management/Johns Hopkins University-Graduate Student of Dual Degree Program: MA in Government/MBA

Community Involvement: Ex-POSE-( Ex-Partners of Service Members for Equality) Member-counseling and helping former military spouse and children gain military benefits through divorce-15 plus years. Fredericksburg, VA Branch President and Member of AAUW, ( American Association of University Women), for 2 year Term. Virginia State VP of Public Policy/Board Member of AAUW (American Association of University Women) for 2 year Term. Member of Virginia League of Women Voters, Member of the Society of Human Resource Management- 7 years, and Member of Ebenezer UMC of Stafford Virginia for more than 25 years along with community volunteerism.

Questions and Answers

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

Bruner: 1) Ensure Assessment Process Accessibility – to our neighbors of all literacy, language and disability levels through updated computer system, and written hand brochures and materials.
2)Support Military Retired Veterans with provisions for exemptions in local property tax.
3) To assure that the Stafford Citizens receive current updates on the website of local and federal laws that apply to them through the Commissioner of revenue’s Office, such as the Master Barber and Cosmetology regulatory Law which went into effect on April 1, 2019.

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

Bruner: 1) In addition to the updated website, make sure that there is an option for information that’s online to be available in written material form as well as in Spanish and other literacy forms.
2)To research what can be done to extend provisions for exemptions for Military Retired Veterans.
3) Keeping up to date on current laws and make sure they are provided on the website as they apply to Stafford County citizens.

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

Bruner: To work at the pleasure of the citizens of Stafford County… in other words to provide information, access, and understanding of information as it applies to each Stafford County citizen’s needs with regards to their individual property taxes, their assessment of their taxes and an explanation of how this information may apply to creating and /or running one’s own business needs, per the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Bruner: My background in counseling in higher education and business background and service on military installations with veterans and military members, as a volunteer in the fields of military family law, public policy and equality on Capital Hill, business experience working as an Account Manager and volunteer community service with families in Stafford Community.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Bruner: I know for a fact that the average citizen is NOT well-informed and does not understand the workings of local government, because when I talk to them about running for office, I am often asked what does the Commissioner of Revenue do as well as what is the role of the Supervisors in Stafford County and can they help the individual citizen and their concerns, regarding property taxes as well as other decisions largely made by district supervisors.

I intend on working towards communicating and ensuring accessibility and transparency to our neighbors at all literacy, language and disability levels including updated computer software and providing updates on the website, along with providing access to materials/paperwork on hand,that’s important for the public on a regular basis. Thus informing the citizens of new laws and provisions that apply to community, giving the access to information provided through the office of The Commissioner of the Revenue.

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

Bruner: No I haven’t made any major mistakes in public life. Privately everyone makes mistakes…that’s a part of being human and also how we can learn to be better for our future as well as working towards a better future for those around us.

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

Bruner: Our citizens of Stafford County are looking for leaders in local government who have not just lived in the community with their families, but someone who have experienced many of their same frustrations and is willing to take the time to listen to their concerns and work towards creating a better government that cares about them and their needs on an individual basis. As someone who has experienced living and working in Stafford County and the nearby military community for over 25 years, raised five children in Stafford County Public School System and worked with disadvantaged families through higher education and one of the largest churches in the community, I am one who has experienced many of your concerns and frustrations from our government and I ask that you work together with me so that we can solutions to help our community become a more comfortable and better environment in which to live in.

Carol Medawar, an experienced educator from Fredericksburg, is running to represent the George Washington District in the Stafford School Board. She lists school safety and educator retainment as high priorities.

Name: Carol Medawar

Party: Independent

Town: Stafford County

Running for: Stafford School Board, George Washington District

Website: medawar4schoolboard.com, Facebook

Work: Director of School Engagement

Education: BS – Elementary Education, West Virginia University Masters – Instructional Technology, George Mason University PhD Student – Instructional Leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University

Community Involvement: Church volunteer, PTA or PTO volunteer, Math Tutoring, Fundraiser and Organizer of Various Community Organizations

Questions and Answers

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

Medawar: School Safety, Recruiting and Retaining Educators, Collaboration and Partnerships with Community Stakeholders

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

Medawar: Increase Analysis of Data to inform actions. Empower educators to have a voice in the solutions to improve working conditions. Examine exit interviews of employees who are leaving. Increasing pay across the scale and not just increasing starting salaries. Work collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors, Businesses, and Industry to create a long term plan to address workforce needs and solutions for our area.

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

Medawar: Set the vision and goals for the district. Adopt policies that give the district direction to set priorities and achieve its goals. Hire and evaluate the superintendent. Adopt and oversee the annual budget process.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Medawar: I have 23 years of classroom and education experience. I have worked at the high school, middle school, and elementary level as well as working with students who struggle and students who excel. I have served as a board member at the local, state, and national level of education institutions. I have studied best practices and education research and believe in making research and data-informed decisions.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Medawar: I believe increasing communication and developing an easy way for citizens to be involved in local government is very important. Having information readily available so that citizens have access to them through digital means makes the most sense. I also believe that hosting town halls that make it easy for parents and community members to meet and hear from their elected officials is important. Some communities even have the technology in place to allow citizens to connect in virtual ways and I believe this could be helpful given the number of people who work outside of the county.

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

Medawar: I do not believe there is a person who has not made mistakes. What matters most is how you reflect on the mistake and use the experience to grow as a person and a decision-maker.

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

Medawar: I have been involved in education policy for over two decades in Stafford County. I am prepared to take office knowing the issues and with ideas for improvement from day one. My background and experience bring a vast amount of perspective on many levels of education. As a foster parent, biological parent, and former math teacher, I believe in problem-solving and collaborating as well as checking the solution to see if it works. There is simply no problem we encounter in Stafford that we can not solve should we simply make the decision to tackle the issue together. Our students deserve school board members who have demonstrated long term commitments to them and their futures. I humbly ask for your support on November 5th.

Elizabeth Guzman, a social worker, is running for re-election to represent District 31 in the House of Delegates. She has held the position since 2018.

Name: Elizabeth Guzman

Party: Independent

Town: Woodbridge

Running for: House of Delegates, HoD 31

Website: elizabethguzmanforvirginia.com, Facebook, Twitter

Work: Social Worker

Education: Associates Degree in Public Administration: NOVa Community College Bachelors Degree: Capella University Masters in Social Work: University of San Diego Masters in Public Administration: American University

Community Involvement: In between ballet and tap lessons, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts activities, judo practices, and swimming lessons at the Dale City Recreation Center, Elizabeth works tirelessly as a Court Appointed Service Advocate for CASA CIS to prevent child abuse, a PTO representative for Penn Elementary School, and as a “Cookie Mom” for her youngest daughter’s Girl Scout troop. The Guzman family are active and long-time members of Harvest Life Changers Church in Woodbridge. The Guzmans also attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Questions and Answers

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

Guzman: Paid sick leave, more investments in public education, and investing in public transportation

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

Guzman: I have already drafted legislation that mandates all employers who employ more than 5 people must provide at least 40 hours to paid time off so all workers can visit a doctor or take care of their sick loved ones. I will continue to advocate for larger investments in education during the next biannual budget to address the funding gaps for pre-k education, school councilors, and special education. I will fight for transportation funding for Northern Virginia for new construction of roads. Furthermore, I will advocate for large investments in mass transit that will create thousands of jobs, take more people off the roads, and get families back to their homes sooner in the evening.

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

Guzman: My job is about giving a voice to all of my constituents, regardless of party or partisan belief. I am both an advocate and listening, leaning into the conversation with town halls and listening sessions. I advocate for my constituents in public settings and work with them to solve any issues they might be facing in their lives by providing constituent services. And I fight for the priorities of my district in office, ensuring that we are getting the resources we need to make our schools great, improving roads, and uplifting all hardworking families living here.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Guzman: Firstly I’m a mom of four who works a full-time job, so I know how to multitask and bring the human side of things to the floor of the house. Having worked in local government and the public school system, I have experience with issues at the cross section of education and social services. I understand how adding more guidance counselors will help our kids become more successful inside and outside the classroom. I also understand why we need to raise the minimum wage and pass paid sick leave, so that more parents do not have to work two or more jobs to make ends meet, and spend more time with their children.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Guzman: No, I don’t think so. That’s why I have sent newsletters and surveys. I am proud to have held 22 town halls throughout the district. I believe that the communications department for the County should find more innovative ways to get residents involved. Partnering with HOA’s to have a column in their newsletter is a great idea.

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

Guzman: My public life has started almost two years ago. So far so good.

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

Guzman: When I was elected, I promised that I would make healthcare more affordable, help our public schools, and get more funding for our roads and public transit. With my colleagues, we expanded Medicaid, got our teachers a pay raise, secured funding for more guidance counselors for our students, brought millions of dollars in funding for our roads, and forced VDOT to fix Rte 29. I kept my promises, and there is still too much to do. I have, and will continue to fight for women’s access to healthcare, pay parity, and to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. I fight for policies that uplift all hardworking families, such as paid sick leave and more public transportation for all residents here in Prince William.

By Supervisor Ruth Anderson 

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia drivers spend more than 1.2 million hours in traffic delays per year on the 1 mile stretch of road on I-95 South before the Occoquan exit. 

• A considerable portion of those drivers are Prince William residents. 

That means 1.2 million hours of missed opportunities that compromise the quality of life for families and negatively impact personal, educational, and health outcomes. 

• That is unacceptable. 

When I began my term as Occoquan District Supervisor in January 2016, my vision was to Bring Prince William Home by bringing a fresh perspective to the big transportation issues facing our region that for years people said were too tough to solve.  

• After 3.5 years, the long road from that vision has delivered big results in 2019. 

What started as resident transportation think tanks held by my office in 2016 to brainstorm remedies for Old Bridge Road backups led to the question  of ‘What can we do to fix I-95 and in doing so ease congestion on Old Bridge Road too?’ 

• I took that question to our PWC Department of Transportation and they designed a solution using an I-95 southbound auxiliary lane from Route 123 to Prince William Parkway. 
• I made it my mission through community meetings, visits to the General Assembly and state transportation funding boards, and multiple speeches to put Virginia on notice that this dangerous bottleneck must be fixed immediately. 

My mission succeeded on January 29, 2019, when the auxiliary lane project overcame the odds of naysayers and a flawed Smart Scale score to receive state-negotiated funding from Transurban to be built in 2021.

I also defied the odds on other commuter projects. 

• After initially denying the project, almost 12 million was allocated in my district by the Commonwealth Transportation Board to realign the Occoquan Road-Old Bridge Road intersection. 
• In addition, we secured over $11 million in partial funding for Telegraph Road area improvements from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

Reducing congestion does not just mean road construction, but also making transit an affordable and accessible option so fewer cars are on our roads. 

• On November 4, two new OmniRide routes (8 round trips) will begin picking up commuters from two Stafford commuter lots for Pentagon and DC destinations to relieve our over-capacity commuter lots in Prince William County and keep more cars off the interstate. 
• Local bus service along Route 1 will also be expanded. 
• As Chair of OmniRide (PRTC), I was pleased to play a major role in securing the funds to make this happen.

My next transit mission is to Improve the Commuter Experience by making drastic improvements to our commuter lots and commuter technology. 

• That means updating lots to be ADA compliant, adding sidewalks and signage for safer slugging, and revamp the underutilized 1-95/123 lot to better serve commuters. 
• After a county-wide tour of our transit facilities this summer, I submitted dozens of recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, and several are now on their published list of possible I-95 corridor improvements. 

The work is far from over to ensure Prince William families can spend more time enjoying all our county has to offer and spend less time on the road. 

• Much of that work requires major reforms to state and federal policy to ensure Prince William has a seat at the table for congestion relief funding.
  
• However, the results I have delivered for the Occoquan District and our county in 2019 by looking at the root of our traffic problems give me optimism that years of simply enduring the status quo on our roads are over.

Visit ruth4supervisor.com and be sure to vote on November 5. 

This post is paid for and authorized by Friends of Ruth Anderson.

Joshua Cole, a pastor in the Stafford area, is running for Delegate to the 28th District. He has proposed a cap on prescription drug costs and reallocating state budget funds back to schools. The seat is currently held by Bob Thomas.

Name: Joshua Cole

Party: Democrat

Town: Stafford

Running for: Delegate – 28th District

Website: Facebook, Twitter

Work: Pastor and Administrative Assistant

Education: North Stafford High School
3 years at Liberty University

Community Involvement: President – Stafford NAACP
Former Mentor – Rappahannock Area Boys and Girls Club
Member – Stafford County Public Schools Equity Diversity and Opportunity Committee Fredericksburg Area Interfaith Council

Questions and Answers

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

Cole: Transportation/Traffic, School Funding and Healthcare

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

Cole: Creating an RTA to address the traffic and transportation issues, returning school funding to pre-recession rates by reallocating funds in the state budget back to our schools, introducing legislation to cap prescription drug costs.

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

Cole: To be the voice of the people in Richmond and make sure the people of the district are aware of the issues facing them.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Cole: I’ve been a former staffer for the Senate of Virginia and a Delegate’s Chief of Staff, so I’m familiar with the General Assembly cycle and how the system works. I’m familiar with reading and creating legislation and already have connections in Richmond to help get legislation passed.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Cole: I don’t believe they are, and this is evident when communicating with neighbors and knocking doors. My desire is to make sure everyone, or at least the majority of the constituency, knows who their delegate is and the issues going on during every General Assembly session. I intend to Facebook Live every subcommittee and committee I sit on for transparency, sending weekly updates while in session, numerous townhalls throughout the year and hosting accessible and reasonable office hours for constituents to visit and communicate their issues and concerns.

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

Cole: Everyone has made mistakes. I try to maintain a relatively quiet personal life so I don’t have any major issues. However I speed sometimes, I’ve received a trespassing charge in 2016 that was dismissed (hanging out on school property in Richmond after dark with a friend). During our 2017 campaign I was informed that suits and various items could be purchased with campaign funds. I was told it wasn’t a good look so I paid the funds back. (It still comes up as a concern for people.)

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

Cole: As a Pastor for over 10 years I know how to effectively communicate to different people and make plans. As a homegrown citizen whose family has deep community connections I’m indebted to the Stafford/Fredericksburg community. This is home for me and I’m ready to fight to make it a little better and protect the great things about our area that we love. It’s also time for a different style of leadership, and that’s exactly what I bring to the table.