This post is part of our Project:Election series, our annual look at candidates running for local office. 

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Doug Taggart, an engineer and small business owner, is running to become the Potomac District Supervisor for Prince William County. His focuses include transportation and improved business development in the county.

Name: Doug Taggart

Party: Republican

Town: Dumfries

Running for: Supervisor Potomac District

Website: dtaggartforsupervisor.com

Work: President of a Small Business

Education: US Coast Guard Academy (BSEE) & Purdue University (MSEE)

Community Involvement: Board Member Montclair Property Owners Association (1997-present)
President & CEO Azalea Charities, Inc. (1999-present)
Montclair Lions Club (1995 – present)
Hylton Crew Boosters President (1996-2000)
PWC Industry Development Authority (Jan 2019 – present)

Questions and Answers

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

Taggart: Transportation, Schools, Jobs

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

Taggart: I will take good ideas from wherever they originate, listen with an open mind to opposing views, and work cooperatively with other members of the Board of Supervisors to advance smart and judicious ideas that will benefit all of us.

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

Taggart: Represent constituents at the local government level in the development and approval of annual budgets; conduct legislative activities impacting the county; (ordinances, tax rates, appointments); manage the development of land use plans, coordinate with other governmental activities impacting Prince William County.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Taggart: As an engineer I appreciate the complexity of issues. I enjoy the challenge of thinking of ways to make things work better and paying attention to detail. I bring to the job 22 years of serving as a Board member on the Montclair Property Owners Association. In addition I have 20+ years serving as a U.S. Coast Guard officer and an additional 10+ years serving as the President & CEO of a small business providing professional engineering and technical services to the Department of Defense. These management duties have prepared me well for the challenges of working with a broad spectrum of issues as a member of the Board of County Supervisors for Prince William County.

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

Taggart: From August 2005 to August 2006, I applied for and was accepted as a Congressional Science and Engineering fellow serving on the staff of a member of Congress during the second session of the 109th Congress. The fellowship program (I was 1 of 30 total fellows selected that year) was coordinated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). One of the key takeaways I had from that experience was that when constituents speak, you need to listen as those that take the time to make an inquiry know the issues and have strong feelings on those issues.

If I am afforded the opportunity to serve as a member of the PWC Board of Supervisors I will dedicate myself to keeping constituents informed through a wide and diverse collection of communication technologies, e.g., newsletters, social media venues, interviews, townhalls, etc…

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

Taggart: I have not made any mistakes in my public life but rather I would suggest that I have been very fortunate in my life experiences and believe that my educational background, my community service activities, and the support of my family have prepared me well to continue to serve as a member of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

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

Taggart: My leadership experiences are founded on my years as a Coast Guard Officer, a Small Business President and CEO, the President & CEO of a non-profit organization (Azalea Charities, Inc.) that raises funds to support a dual mission (Aid for Wounded Warriors and youth and special needs projects in our local Northern Virginia area). I ask people to consider voting for me because I will promise to listen with an open mind to the advice and ideas of the business leaders, parents, students, teachers, first responders, and all those who comprise the backbone of our community to make Prince William County an even greater place to live, work, and do business.

Jacqueline Gaston wants to bring her more than 25 years of educational experience to the School Board Coles District. She wants to improve teacher retention and educational equity.

Name: Jacqueline Gaston Party: Independent Town: Manassas Running for: Prince William County School Board -- Coles District Website: jg4pwcsboard.org, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Work: Career and Transition Teacher Education: University of Connecticut B.S. in Human Development and Family Relations, Central Connecticut State University Special Education Teaching Certificate Post Graduate, George Mason University Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Community Involvement: For the last 10 years, Jacqueline Gaston has worked to protect public values, foster change and make a difference in the community.  She strongly believes that civic engagement is critical to strengthening our public education system. At Yorkshire Elementary, a very diverse Title 1 school, she served on the Parent Teacher Organization for 7 years, 3 of those years as their PTO President, as well as on the School Advisory Council, School Counselling Committee and as a parent volunteer.  They worked to develop strong relationships with students, families and staff in order to create a safe and enjoyable academic environment where all students are supported academically, emotionally, and culturally. Gaston served on the PWCS Principal's Interview Panel for the Yorkshire Elementary School Principal selection. During this time she also worked closely with Marty Nohe, Coles District Supervisor, to create the Yorkshire Civic Association with the goal of bringing together residents, community businesses, schools and local government officials interested in neighborhood improvement. While at Parkside Middle School, she served as the School Advisory Committee (SAC) Secretary for 4 years and currently as their President for the 2018-2019 academic year.  Their goal is to promote communication between PKMS staff and the community in order to work together for instructional program planning purposes and strategic planning.  Gaston participated in the Comprehensive Review of PWCS Special Education Pre-K – Grade 12 programs in 2018, as well as attended the Superintendents Advisory Council on Instruction Best Practices Conference at Ashland Elementary School for the 2016-2017 school year and again on February 14, 2019 at Forest Park High School. At PKMS her children participated in the Cambridge Program, World Language Program, Global Perspectives, the Music Program, Athletics, Special Education Program and their award winning VEX Robotics and Botball Program. During these elementary school and middle school years, Gaston taught Religious Education for All Saints Catholic Church and coached soccer for Northern Virginia Soccer Association. Since Fall 2017, she has served on the Principal’s Advisory Council at Osbourn Park High School. The Principal's Advisory Council (PAC) involves open chair time where topics and questions can be discussed directly with the Principal. Agenda items are also discussed as part of the school’s strategic plan. She and her family continue to support the OPHS BioTechnology Program, OPHS Music Boosters, OPHS Athletic Boosters, OPHS PTSO and as of next year the NJROTC Program.  All three boys will be at OPHS as of Fall 2019. In the Fall 2018, she attended the Superintendent’s Business Breakfast hosted by Dr. Walts and attended the CTE Career Connections Event at the Edward Kelly Center. She was invited to the PWCS 2019 Outstanding Educators Reception at Colgan HS and the PWCS Best Practices Conference at Forest Park High School on February 14th. Questions and Answers PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent?  Gaston: Advocating for more educational resources, educational equity and opportunity, and closing achievement gaps. PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues? Gaston: Improving teacher retention in particular in under performing schools, enhancing educational resources to close the achievement gaps, and promoting equity for the entire school system so all students can achieve and have the same opportunities.

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

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Andrea Bailey, a local small business owner, is running for the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for the Potomac District. She brings more than 17 years of community involvement and a strong focus on mental health services.

Name: Andrea Bailey

Party: Democrat

Town: Dumfries

Running for: Prince William County Board of Supervisors — Potomac District

Website: voteandreabailey.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Small Business Owner, Affairs Remembered LLC

Education: Bachelor of Science in Media Studies from Webster University Masters of Science in Human Resource Management and Development from National-Louis University

Community Involvement: Andrea Bailey has been involved in the community for more than 17 years and has gained extensive experience serving the citizens of the Commonwealth as a member of the Governor’s transition team (2018), and a member of the Virginia Board of Psychology.

Bailey has worked to protect Prince William County’s environment as a member of the Wetlands Commission and by registering more than 10,000 voters as a member of the League of Conservation Voters.

She serves the community as a board member of the non-partisan Committee of 100, the Prince William County Boys and Girls Club, and Project Mend-A-House. She is also a recipient of the professional Leaders Award from Dale City Christian Church.

Questions and Answers

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

Bailey: Transportation, Economic Development, and Mental Health

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

Bailey: Transportation – I will collaborate with our State representatives, Fairfax County, and other stakeholders to extend metro rail services to Prince William County.

Economic Development – I will collaborate with the County Board of Supervisors and the Chamber of Commerce to focus on job training programs in Prince William County to ensure initiatives align. We must work with local community colleges to create programs that will produce the skills needed to satisfy the workforce demands of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. I will lobby for providing start-up incentives to aspiring small business owners such as providing business owners counseling, and access to small business grants and other financial resources.

Mental Health – We must continue to sufficiently fund programs for our neighbors who are suffering from or are at risk of developmental delays, learning disabilities, substance abuse, and mental illness. Ensuring adequate special education teachers and school counselors are hired is critical to addressing this subject with our children. As our population grows, our need for mental health treatment facilities, homeless shelters, elder and childcare facilities, and family service centers must also grow at an equal rate.

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

Bailey: Beyond the technical responsibilities of development and approval of annual budgets, legislative activities, and managing the development of land use, the foremost responsibility of the Office of County Supervisor is to represent all people of the county; to hear and work tirelessly to address their needs and improve their quality of life. The office is also responsible for being good stewards of taxpayer dollars and to always operate with the utmost integrity, transparency, and professionalism.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Bailey: The experience I gained at Fortune 100 companies not only sharpened my business acumen, but also provided critical insights that have defined my vision for transportation initiatives to address regional congestion. As a small business owner I understand the challenges that small business owners face. My experience working with a lot of nonprofits showed me the importance of bringing awareness and attention to current community issues by engaging in non-partisan dialogue with elected officials.

As the primary caregiver for my mother, I am keenly aware of the demands of providing a safe, healthy and productive environment for aging seniors. My diverse background of experiences has taught me how to think strategically, and work with people of all backgrounds and views to find common purpose where we can work to improve our community together.

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

Bailey: Participation in the political process is a personal choice. Given the multiple mediums of communications like television, internet, and social media, access is plentiful. I’m available on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For those who prefer public engagements, I issue press releases to educate and inform the public of issues that impact our community, and hold town halls for community input on concerns facing the county.

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

Bailey: I’ve never made a public facing mistake. I’ve always strived to avoid mistakes of judgment, ethics, and morality. When I make mistakes, I’ve always used them as an opportunity to learn from them, and never repeat them.

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

Bailey: I am a community leader and I’ve been working to advance this community for the last 17 years. From my work on the Virginia Commonwealth Board of Psychology, to my work at Project Mend a House, or my committed involvement in my church, I have been leading and working at all levels of our community.

I’m asking the people to vote for me because my wealth of experience leading at all levels, and because of my many existing relationships with State and Local Officials, and community leaders that will help us address the challenges of transportation, economic development, and mental health that our country faces.

Rhonda Dickson, retired Prince William County Deputy, seeks the position of Prince William County Sheriff. Morale and officer safety are some of her top priorities.

Name: Rhonda Dickson

Party: Independent

Town: Woodbridge

Running for: Prince William County Sheriff

Website: rhondadicksonforsheriff.com, Facebook

Work: Retired Prince William County Deputy
Part time at Mission BBQ as the Community Ambassador

Education: Trinity Temple Academy

Community Involvement: Rhonda Dickson is an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Questions and Answers

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

Dickson: 1. Morale and manning 2. Officer safety 3. Building security

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

Dickson: 1. Ensure employees have a voice and their concerns are heard and addressed.
2. Equip all cruisers with spotlights for officer safety during night time traffic stops. Future cruisers will also have climate control in the rear of the vehicles for humane transport of inmates and mental health consumers.
3. Create a K-9 unit for drug and explosives detection. Since 1983, there have been no major security upgrades to the Judicial Center. There are items that need to be addressed ASAP, but I will not discuss in the open because it will put the employees and citizens that come and go on a daily basis at risk.

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

Dickson: The Sheriff’s Office has three primary functions: Courthouse Security, Transportation and Civil Process. The Sheriff must also uphold the Constitution of Virginia to the utmost of their ability and answer to the citizens of Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park who elected them.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Dickson: I have 15 and a half years of experience with Prince William County Police Department. There I was a patrol officer, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center instructor and a Motor Officer. I was with the Sheriff’s Office for more than six years assigned to the Mental Health Transportation Unit and Courtroom Security as a Bailiff.

I am retired from the D.C. Air National Guard where I was Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist and earned a Meritorious Service metal. I have a diverse background, which provides me the experience needed to the office.

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

Dickson: Overall I believe the average citizen understands local government. For those that don’t, I will ensure that I am out and about meeting and greeting as many citizens as I can and involving myself in as many Community events as I possible can.

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

Dickson: I certainly have. I learn from those mistakes and ensure I don’t make the same ones again. That’s how you grow as a person.

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

Boddye: I bring something that has been lacking in that office for too many years — empathy for our employees and the citizens of Prince William County. I will employee a diverse group of people, keeping their needs and the needs of the citizens in mind. I will listen to the concerns of the citizens and address them to the best of my ability.

I have committed my life to public service for more than 42 years combined, and I’m not ready to stop. My heart belongs to my native Prince William County and I am ready to take on the challenges that she has for me.

Jennifer Carroll Foy is running for re-election to the 2nd District of the House of Delegates. She references her track record of bipartisanship and backing legislation that improves career access and technical education.

Name: Jennifer Carroll Foy

Party: Democrat

Town: Woodbridge

Running for: House of Delegates – 2nd District

Website: jennifercarrollfoy.org, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Attorney

Education: Virginia Military Institute, Virginia State University, Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Community Involvement: Jennifer Carroll Foy was the first public defender to ever serve in the Virginia General Assembly. She now devotes her time as an attorney advocate representing abused and neglected children in court. She was also a foster mother for eight years.

Carroll Foy believes strongly that no child should be without a nurturing home. She started the Foundation for Foster and Orphan Children, a nonprofit committed to building better futures for orphan and foster children.

Questions and Answers

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

Carroll Foy: 1) The second district has some of the worst traffic in the country.

2) We are seeing a teacher shortage in our public schools with many teachers leaving for districts in Fairfax or Arlington or leaving the profession altogether.

3) There are not enough jobs in Prince William and Stafford, leading many residents to need to travel to DC for work.

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

Carroll Foy: 1) I have introduced bills in 2018 and 2019 that would study the possibility of extending the metro to Prince William County. I have also consistently voted for increased funding for transportation.

2) I passed legislation last session that changes licensing requirements for teachers to put more teachers in the classroom. I am also proud to have supported 5% pay increases for teachers.

3) I passed a bill that helps veteran-owned small businesses get access to capital in hopes that they will expand and create jobs in Prince William and Stafford.

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

Carroll Foy: My job is to represent everyone in the district, even those who don’t share my party affiliation, and deliver real results for everyone that makes our community stronger.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Carroll Foy: I was the first public defender ever elected to the General Assembly, so I bring a different perspective. I am an attorney who represents children in Prince William so I know the struggles that families and children face on a daily basis I was also a foster mother for nearly a decade. Finally, as a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, I know how to work together to execute a common mission.

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

Carroll Foy: I do. Citizens in my district are very well-informed and it’s my job to serve their interests. However, it’s also my job to make sure that government is accessible and explain the inner-workings of the General Assembly to everyone in my district.

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

Carroll Foy: No.

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

Carroll Foy: I have a proven track record of delivering for our community. I passed legislation that makes it easier for foster parents to adopt their foster children. I have passed bipartisan legislation to promote career and technical education, address our teacher shortage, and support veteran-owned small businesses. I will continue to deliver real results for the people in my community if re-elected.

Robert Thomas is running for reelection to the House of Delegates – 28th District. In his first term he passed legislation for tax reform. Taxes and the economy remain one of his priorities.

Name: Robert “Bob” Thomas

Party: Republican

Town: Stafford County

Running for: House of Delegates – 28th District

Website: bobthomasva.com, Facebook, Twitter

Work: President of Capriccio Software, Inc.

Education: Sandusky High School, Northern Virginia Community College – Associates, Excelsior College – Bachelor’s

Community Involvement: Virginia House of Delegates, 28th District 2018-Present
Stafford Board of Supervisors 2012-2018
United States Marine Corps 1995-2003
President, Capriccio Software, Inc.
Member, Spotswood Baptist Church
Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission 2012-Present
Virginia – North Carolina High Speed Rail Compact 2018-Present
Rappahannock River Basin Commission 2012-Present
Virginia War Memorial Board 2018-Present
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission 2018-Present
Potomac Watershed Roundtable 2012-2016
Virginia Railway Express 2013-2018
Rappahannock Regional Library Board 2012-2018
Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce – Military Affairs Council 2015-2016

Questions and answers

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

Thomas: Transportation, Public Safety, Taxes and the Economy

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

Thomas: Transportation: Transportation issues affect all areas of our community, from our ability to enjoy ample quality time with our families to the ability of the Commonwealth to attract new businesses and jobs. One of the first things companies look at besides the quality of the local school system is the ability to move their employees, customers and products efficiently.

We are finally seeing major projects come to fruition on the I95 corridor, but we must find ways to make progress on the secondary roads in our communities. I have been working with the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce and the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance to build strong relationships in Richmond to make sure the Smart Scale funding process works for our region.

Recently, the Secretary of Transportation agreed to analyze a potential change to Smart Scale for how weekend traffic is accounted for in the scoring process. In addition, I was able to defeat multiple transportation bills in Richmond that would have hurt our region. In my freshman session, I earned the Free Enterprise Award from The Virginia Chamber of Commerce for my work in the transportation arena. I will continue to make transportation a top priority for our region and for the Commonwealth.

Taxes and the Economy: I believe government should live within its means just like our families and businesses do, so I was a strong supporter of sending over 1 billion dollars back to the taxpayers, the second largest tax cut in Virginia history. Virginia must undertake serious reforms to provide tax relief for Virginia families and to become more competitive with our neighboring states in attracting businesses.

I passed legislation to allow Stafford County to set a competitive tax rate for distribution facilities to attract them to the county. For transportation, as fuel efficiency has increased, the gas tax has become a decreasing source of funding to fix our transportation crisis. The General Assembly, as part of our budget, is finally looking to address this situation, but any solution should come with an overall tax reform package. Effective tax reform will boost Virginia’s economy and has positive benefits for all Virginians.

Public Safety: As I speak to voters throughout the district, safety is a paramount concern which is often highlighted. In Richmond, we passed several pieces of legislation to address school safety. Students, parents and teachers deserve a safe environment for education and I was proud to partner with Stafford Sheriff David Decatur and his team to put forth legislation to help localities place more appropriately trained professionals in our schools.

Although some people think of illegal immigration as a federal issue, unfortunately Virginia is left to deal with the impacts of our broken system. I voted for legislation this year that would prevent localities from becoming sanctuary cities. Far too often, immigrants themselves become the victims of crimes, because the perpetrators know they will not come forward. We need to, within the law, remove these dangerous criminals from our communities. I will continue to put forward legislation that supports our first responders in their mission to keep our communities safe.

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

Thomas: The job of Delegate has two main roles. The first is legislative, where you must work to pass legislation for your constituents and the Commonwealth as a whole. Many legislative ideas come from constituents or organizations and a great deal of time is spent with them crafting proposals and testifying for legislation.

The second part is constituent service, which actually consumes the bulk of your time as a Delegate. Our office is responsible for working hundreds of cases with state agencies on behalf of individuals. We handle everything from interfacing with VDOT on road maintenance, working out issues with tax returns, helping customers with the DMV, to connecting constituents to services of various agencies.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Thomas: In my first term, I have built a strong reputation for being an effective legislator by building relationships which benefit my community. My understanding of local government allows me to be a resource to other members of the General Assembly. Being a business owner gives me expertise from a hands on level as we try to make Virginia more business friendly so our residents have access to high quality jobs.

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

Thomas: Yes, but we can always do better. I send thousands of letters to my constituents giving them updates on how the General Assembly session is progressing. At the doors, I receive very positive comments and people tell me they really get a feel for what is going on. I also enjoy individual conversations and have an open cell phone policy where anyone can call me. I try to attend as many community events as possible to give people an opportunity to share their thoughts an concerns with me.

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

Thomas: I’ve had to learn to be very careful when speaking to the media, because comments are quickly twisted out of context.

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

Thomas: I have a proven track record at the local and state level of getting positive results for our community. Third party organizations have affirmed the leadership I provide to my constituents. I have received the Virginia Chamber of Commerce “Free Enterprise Award” in both of my first two years in the General Assembly. The Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce honored me as “Rookie of the Year” in 2018 and “Delegate of the Year” in 2019. The Virginia Education Association recognized me as a “Legislative Champion” and the Virginia Transit Association gave me their “Distinguished Legislative Leader” award in 2019.

Paul Milde, a local business-owner with a background in transportation, aims to find effective solutions to the region’s gridlock and repeal Obamacare’s expansion at the state level.

Name: Paul Milde

Party: Republican

County: Stafford

Running for: House of Delegates — 28th District

Website: paulmilde.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: President & Owner of CIP Finishes

Education: Woodbridge High School

Community Involvement: Paul Milde attends Andrew Chapel Methodist Church and strives to remain active in the community by serving on the Regional Transportation Action Committee on the Chamber of Commerce. He financially supports the Adopt-a-Classroom initiative at Stafford High School. He also volunteers with the Stafford SPCA and the Aquia Harbour Lions Club.

Questions and Answers

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

Milde: Repealing Obamacare’s expansion at the state-level, finding solutions for transportation, and defending the right to life of innocent babies.

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

Milde: Unless we repeal the expansion of Obamacare at the state-level, Virginia will experience an interminable fiscal crisis. When my opponent was breaking his promise and joining with the Democrats to enact this budget-busting scheme to extend a safety-net program designed for the truly needy to able-bodied adults, Senator Richard Stuart warned, “We’re either going to see big tax increases or big cuts to services, to the sheriffs, to the teachers, to a lot of people.” Senator Stuart kept his promise; Bob Thomas broke his. I will file a bill to repeal Obamacare’s expansion on my first day in office.

Transportation is a critical issue for the people of Stafford and Fredericksburg, affecting the quality of life for everyone in our region. As a three time past chairman of the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, two time Virginia Railway Express, and two time of the Stafford County Infrastructure Committee, I know our area needs a delegate who will be dedicated to alleviating traffic congestion. I have a record that proves that dedication, and have achieved real results that have addressed some of our critical needs in Stafford and Fredericksburg.

Like every Virginian, I cringed when I heard Governor Ralph Northam defend terminating the life of an infant after birth. I’m 100% pro-life and will work to repeal my opponent’s vote to hand $6 million to abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood. And, I will fight against the abortion lobby’s agenda to allow late-term, partial-birth, and post-birth abortions.

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

Milde: To represent the interests of the people of Stafford and Fredericksburg in the Virginia House of Delegates, and to serve as their intermediary to state government and its agencies.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Milde: I served on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for 12 years and was elected to be the Chairman as well. I’m proud of my conservative record of strengthening our economy by slashing regulations and taxes (like the jobs-crushing Business, Professional, and Occupational License [BPOL] tax and personal property taxes). Additionally, I supported reforming education spending by supporting categorical funding for schools to better ensure our tax dollars are going straight to the classrooms, not the bureaucracy.

I voted to ensure our Sheriff’s and Fire & EMS departments were adequately funded. I was also elected to be Chairman of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Organization (FAMPO). I am the only candidate in this race with the knowledge and experience to tackle our region’s gridlock.

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

Milde: When I served on the Stafford Board of Supervisors, constituent communication was vital. I will remain in touch with every corner of my district while in Richmond by emailing weekly updates and posting regularly on Facebook. Additionally, I will mail legislative recaps at the end of each session and host town halls.

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

Milde: The mistakes I made were in my private life, as everyone who has been receiving Bob Thomas’s campaign mailers is well aware. I have a felony conviction from 1986. Sixteen years after being convicted of a felony in 1986 when I was 18, I earned my rights back by demonstrating – through an extensive and rigorous process – I had earned the privilege of having them restored. The voters of Aquia District are very familiar with this, since my Democrat opponents made it the centerpiece of their campaigns in 2005 and 2009, and as Bob Thomas has done again this year.

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

Milde: As a father, business owner, and former Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, I learned leadership attributes by experience. Whether it’s my employees at my business, my family, or chairing the Board, being a leader is about demonstrating firm and consistent principles and values, and having the persistence and dedication to follow through on them.

Kenny Boddye is running for Prince William County Supervisor of the Occoquan District. His campaign focuses are for increased school funding, transportation improvement, and improved county services.

Name: Kenny Boddye

Party: Democrat

Town: Lake Ridge

Running for: Prince William County Supervisor – Occoquan District

Website: kennyforsupervisor.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Business Development Manager, Community Association Insurance Specialist

Education: B.A. from Georgetown University with minors in English and Japanese. Alumn of the Sorensen Institute’s Candidate Training Program, Virginia Progressive Leadership Project, and the NAACP NextGen Program.

Community Involvement: Kenny Boddye is the immediate past chairman of the Prince William NAACP Criminal Justice Committee, the Occoquan District Democratic Committee, and the Prince William County Democratic Committee Progressive Caucus. He is also a member of the following organizations: Prince William NAACP Political Action Committee, Virginia State Conference NAACP Environment & Climate Justice Committee, and Virginia State Conference NAACP Criminal Justice Committee.

He is an officer of the Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia. He served as vice president to Prince William Young Democrats.

He is an executive committee member of the Greater Prince William Climate Action Network.

Questions and Answers

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

Boddye: School Funding, Transportation (especially Old Bridge Rd) and County Services (Housing, Mental Health, Substance abuse)

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

Boddye: Re-prioritizing our budget toward more funding for the school division; advocating for more local, state and federal funds for roads and transit investment, including fixing our land use policies to win more funds from SmartScale; and putting back funding streams for county services and housing to at least pre-Recession levels.

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

Boddye: Psuedo-legislative position with oversight authority over the turf (land) and treasure (taxing and funds) for our county. County Supervisors must be knowledgeable in land use policy, tax policy, transit & transportation policy and understand the intersections between local, state and federal government. Must be a strong advocate for local issues, constituent services, and coalition building. Must also have good budget skills and be able to balance short term priorities against long term vision and planning.

Must also be compassionate, empathetic, and willing to represent a wide variety of thought processes, ideologies, and walks of life.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Boddye: My talents as an advocate for healthcare, criminal justice reform, transportation and good overall public policy. Also my marketing skills when it comes to building, maintaining, and advancing relationships with business leaders, community leaders, elected officials, and other relevant stakeholders. Finally, my ability to build consensus and team-build with other leaders to accomplish goals of all size.

I’ve lived in cities across the U.S. and have seen different transit systems and schools systems first-hand. I also have the lived experience of someone who grew up in a low income household; I know what it means to struggle.

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

Boddye: Most of our friends and neighbors understand the workings of local government that impact their daily lives – roads, schools, jobs, services and where people can build what. It’s how much influence the Board has – and the interplay between the Board of Supervisors and other bodies government – that is usually out of the public eye. As well as how much authority local government has when negotiating with developers, business leaders, and others who want to build and thrive in our county.

Opening these processes up to more community input – through citizen-led commissions, more public hearings, and a transparent explanation of how processes work – would go a long way to bringing more public insight into our local government. I intend to utilize social media, emails, public events and other community avenues to be as open and as communicative as possible.

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

Boddye: At a few key junctures in my public life, I have overestimated my own abilities and underestimated how much my world needed to be in order to meet certain challenges.

When I shipped off to New Mexico on an internship after college, I thought it would be relatively easy to organize people around healthcare reform. I didn’t anticipate how hard it would be to mobilize people who in theory all had the same goal in mind – fixing our broken healthcare system. A lot of the people I worked with, however, had widely different views on how to get there, and so I spent a lot more of my time talking about policy rather than actually driving them toward action. I didn’t ask for help from my colleagues nearly as much as I should have and my efforts suffered for it.

More recently, when I ran for the House of Delegates, I didn’t realize that running for office is – above many other things – a referendum on the bonds you have forged over the course of your life, particularly ones in your local community. Because I have lived around the country, I have friends in a lot of places, but most of them are not in a position – geographically, influentially or financially – to help me. I hadn’t yet formed enough relationships locally to even realize how little I knew or how few people really trusted me yet.

Both of these shortcomings humbled me in ways in which I will always be grateful. They forced me to learn that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or ineptitude, but a sign of maturity and respect. These situations also forced me to learn that trust isn’t usually built upon what you can with your own abilities, but what you can achieve alongside others for the betterment of the whole.

I’ve learned that true leaders are forged by being independent enough to keep your values, but also strong enough to rely on others to live them.

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

Boddye: I have a track record of serving the community, learning from others, working with a wide variety of people and fighting for what’s right rather than what’s politically convenient. I also have the lived experience to know what it’s like to struggle in life, and what happens when we ignore the most vulnerable among us.

Three years ago, I lost my mother to chronic homelessness and substance abuse. She couldn’t afford the care she needed, and by the time we were able to get her help, it was largely too late. Losing her taught me that we don’t have enough voices in government – especially at the local government – of people who live the everyday lives of their constituencies. That disconnect impacts the decisions being made, which impacts the quality of life in our community.

I have the ability to bridge that disconnect because I am living the life of most people in our county. I have to brave I-95, Rte 28 and 66 constantly for work. I have attended schools with equity issues like the ones we have in our county and I know what it feels like to work full time, but not be able to afford basic necessities. Knowing what it takes for our community to be able to take care of its own isn’t some thought experiment for me; it’s how I’ve lived.

I also have the curiosity, relationships, energy and policy experience to serve our community. I will be able to hit the ground running when it comes to working with our partners on the local, state and federal level to get things done because I’ve been already working with them to better the lives of our fellow Prince William residents. I’ve worked with School Board Chairman Dr. Lateef on his priorities for our school system (which culminated in the FY 2020 budget). I’ve worked with our lawmakers to secure more transportation funding and I’ve lobbied for reforms to both our criminal justice and our healthcare system.

If I am given the honor of becoming the next Occoquan Supervisor, I will be able to bring that advocacy and work to the next level. It would allow me to bring forth the thousands of stories I’ve heard at the doorways of people throughout our community to bear, and use those experiences to move our county forward.

Aaron Edmond is seeking the Occoquan District Supervisor position. As a veteran himself, Edmond places high priority on improving veteran services and affordable housing.

Name: Aaron C. Edmond

Party: Democrat

Town: Lake Ridge

Running for: Occoquan District Supervisor

Website: edmondforsupervisor.com, Facebook, Twitter

Work: Senior Executive Assistant, Front Office Manager

Education: Franklin High School (Somerset , NJ), Currently Pursuing Undergraduate Degree in Public Administration, George Mason University

Community Involvement: Despite long days at the Pentagon and grueling morning/evening commutes, I never stopped fighting to get other Democrats elected and worked vigorously on several campaigns to flip key seats in the Virginia House of Delegates.

I also helped to successfully lobby the Prince William County School Board to update their non-discrimination policy to include gender identity and sexual orientation.

Lastly, I independently organized and chaired an Ad-Hoc Schools Committee comprised of local parents, teachers, students, and elected officials to lobby for more school funding to reduce classroom sizes and get a pay increase for our teachers.

Eagle Scout, Class of 2011

Awarded Presidential Volunteer Service Award (2012), President Obama

Member of Rotary Club of Lake Ridge

Streetlight Ministry Volunteer

Questions and answers

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

Edmond: Veteran Services, Education, and Affordable Housing

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

Edmond: Veterans Services: As a Veteran, I believe it is our responsibility to keep the promises we have made to those who have served and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. Having experienced social services in Prince William County, I will work with the Social Services Department in Prince William County to expand help for Veterans through Veterans assistance programs, Veterans employment programs, Mental Health Services for Veterans, and programs to combat Veterans homelessness.

As I have crossed the Occoquan District, a top issue among Veterans is that they don’t have access to reliable public transportation options to get to doctor’s appointments, on average missing 2-3 medical appointments due to this major quality of life issue. As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I would like to immediately invest in county run medical transportation vans that can pick vets up at home via constituent request and get vets to the doctor on time. I would like to start procuring transportation vans and building up staffing through county revenues and public private partnerships.

Education: As a former student representative on the Franklin Township Board of Education and as a Prince William County Democratic Committee Ad-Hoc Schools Committee Chair, I have an intimate knowledge of the challenges that school boards face to close the achievement gap, create equity in education, and fund vital programs that contribute to academic success. Every child, no matter where they live in our community, deserves access to a quality education regardless of their socioeconomic status or background.

Prince William County is the “second largest school district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are home to 100 schools and centers employing approximately 11,542 school teachers, administrators, and staff that serve approximately 90,203 students throughout the county. Prince William County schools have been ranked among the Nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance and ING, for three years in a row. The school system includes:

• 12 High Schools
• 16 Middle Schools
• 60 Elementary Schools
• 2 Traditional Schools (Grades 1-8)
• 1 K-8 (Elementary/Middle) school
• 3 Special Education Schools
• 1 Alternative School

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I am proposing that we focus on several key areas to provide students in Prince William County with a world class education. These key areas include; putting our children first by investing rapidly in capital improvements and creating more equity in our school facilities, supporting our teachers as they educate our next generation of leaders, looking at innovative ways to increase school division revenues, creating and fostering opportunities for educational partnerships to expand opportunities for higher learning, funding the expansion of Pre-K for all Prince William County residents, working to close the achievement gap, ending the school-to-prison pipeline, and funding critical special education programs. When we adequately invest in our public school system, our teachers are equipped with the best tools to educate the workforce of the future.

CHILDREN FIRST, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND EQUITY IN SCHOOL FACILITIES

Our children’s future starts today, and we should prioritize their needs first. Prince William County serves approximately 90,203 students in about 95 different facilities. Children are often packed into classrooms or trailers due to classroom overcrowding which does not allow for them to maximize their full potential. The school division has developed a Capital Improvements Program that begins to address the issues of overcrowding, but lags far behind in keeping up with our rapid growth as a county and current school enrollment trends.

The Prince William County School Board and the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in recent years have formed a Joint Capital Improvements Committee to address reducing classroom trailers and overall capital needs, but they have still not managed to solidify a definitive plan to make the reduction of classroom trailers a reality. In 2018 they approved a plan that would eliminate 206 classroom trailers at 44 schools, but getting this plan funded and added to the capital improvements program has stalled. Originally the plan would cost Prince William County tax payers $159 Million and delays in making a final decision have ballooned the cost to $179 Million.

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, getting this portable classroom reduction plan included in the Capital Improvements Program and having it funded in the FY 2021 County Budget will be one of my top priorities. I would also like to bring more teachers, parents, students, members of the business community, and developers into the conversation to ensure we have a long term plan for smart growth and we create a permanent solution to eliminate classroom overcrowding. Having our students learning in trailers is not only a safety issue, but it has been proven to be a barrier to improved student performance.

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, another of my top priorities will be partnering with the Prince William County School Board and developing public private partnership to bring more STEAM labs and classrooms to schools throughout Prince William County. As we look with an eye towards the future and our 2040 Comprehensive Plan, we need to ensure every student has access to explore and develop a love for STEAM. The Prince William County School system should be a leader in our commonwealth and that starts with the realization that we need to start investing in STEAM labs now rather than later. When we fund access to dedicated spaces to advanced science, technology, engineering, arts, and math; we allow our students to think critically and practice high level problem solving regardless of their socioeconomic status or their background. Making these investments are critical to student development and their success in the 21st Century.

We must also ensure there is equity in funding our school athletic facilities to give our students athletes the best facilities to succeed and compete in an environment that keeps their safety in mind. As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I will work closely with the Prince William County School Board to expand funding for existing facilities so there is more room for student athletes to practice and will also fund updates to deteriorating facilities in our school system to improve safety and usability across all schools.

SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS

Many studies have found a correlation between job satisfaction and job performance. The correlation is just as significant when discussing our teachers. When we ensure that teachers are satisfied, our teacher retention rates will be higher, and we will see a correlation in student success rates. Currently, the annual salary of a teacher in the county is $59,000 while the average cost of living in the county is $65,000. The disparity in income versus cost of living requires most teachers to work two jobs or seek employment in neighboring counties where they can get a significant pay increase. By working closely with the Prince William County School Board, I will continue to push for annual increases in teacher salaries to ensure their salaries meet and are in keeping with the basic cost of living. For what our teachers give our children, that is the least we can do.

Not only is adequate funding needed for teacher salaries, but so is funding for teacher professional development. With the changes in the world and in the classroom, it is essential that our teachers stay up to date so they can deliver high-quality instruction aligned with college and vocational career readiness. How do we benefit our students if they aren’t entering the world ready to tackle these growing challenges? However, professional development for teachers is only successful if other items are in place (smaller class sizes, more support for teachers, up-to-date facilities and equipment, etc.). We must not only train our teachers to be experts in the classroom, but we must also empower them to be leaders.

In Prince William County, our children are important and are one of our most prized assets. Let’s make sure that everyone has a seat at the table so that we can ensure their access to a world-class education.

INCREASE AND DIVERSIFY LOCAL TAX REVENUES TO FUND SCHOOL DIVISION

In Virginia, school boards do not have taxing authority and are fiscally dependent on their local governments. Prince William County Government collects tax revenue from local sources (i.e. property taxes, local sales taxes, etc.) and then transfers a percentage of the revenue to Prince William County Schools. Working cooperatively, the School Division and the Board of County Supervisors created a revenue sharing agreement. The School Division currently receives 57.23 percent of the county’s general revenues under this agreement.

The real property tax is the single largest revenue source for Prince William County contributing approximately 65.1 percent of general revenues. It is levied on all land, improvements and leasehold interest on land, or improvements (collectively called “real property”) except that which has been legally exempted from taxation by the Prince William County Code and the “Code of Virginia.”.

Currently our county relies heavily on real property tax revenues from county real estate to keep our general fund for the county budget well-funded, but we have not adequately encouraged an environment to bring in more commercial revenues from commercial properties in the county. As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I will work hard to diversify our tax revenue base to bring in more commercial revenues to help fund our public school system through our current revenue sharing agreement.

BUILDING EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I want to continue to build partnerships with the tech, medical, and major business industries in our local area and with Northern Virginia Community College to create more college/career goals for Prince William County students. By working closely with the Prince William County School Board, I strongly believe that these opportunities will attract more people to our local community and give students an advantage in preparing to go into a competitive career market.

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I would also like to partner with Northern Virginia Community College (Woodbridge Campus) to encourage them to place greater emphasis on economic development initiatives to help diversify our local/regional economy and create high-paying jobs for our community college graduates. The perfect way to complete these objectives is to begin a broad conversation on the steps needed to bring a state of the art Innovation Center to Prince William County. This Innovation Center would provide opportunities for NVCC students, faculty, and staff to collaborate with industry leaders, participate in internships, and have a dedicated space to experiment with creating their own tech startup companies and inventions.

Lastly as the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I would like to build partnerships with existing colleges, universities, and trade schools in Northern Virginia to encourage them to offer reduced tuition rates and registration cost to current Prince William County employees. Expanding opportunities for current county employees to pursue higher education opportunities empowers our county workforce and keeps them competitive in their prospective fields.

FUNDING THE EXPANSION OF PRE-K FOR ALL PWC RESIDENTS

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I am committed to working with the Prince William County School Board to ensure we include funding and procure classroom space to expand Pre-K opportunities for all Prince William County students.

Research findings highlight the benefits of expanding access to high-quality preschool, especially for children who are disadvantaged, to improve the long-term outcomes for children and their families. For children at risk of falling behind in school, quality early learning and care programs can help improve their readiness for school and school success, with better attendance, higher test scores, and reduced grade-level retention (Karoly & Bigelow, 2005; Reynolds, Temple, & Ou, 2007). Other lasting benefits include higher rates of high school completion, greater likelihood of attending college, and higher lifetime earnings (Reynolds & Ou, 2011). By reducing grade retention, the use of special education and welfare, and involvement in crime, these quality programs can save between $4 and $17 for every dollar invested (Reynolds et al., 2007; Schweinhart et al., 2005)

Even middle-income families have difficulty affording center-based preschools, with the average cost per child estimated at one third of the median annual income in the county (Burd-Sharps & Lewis, 2014).

As Occoquan District Supervisor, I would like to build countywide interest in universal preschool and work with the Prince William County School Board to develop a way ahead to make this a reality for our residents. Not only will this give our students a competitive edge early on and provide our county savings in the long run, but it will also provide an economic relief for working class families.

CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, ENDING THE SCHOOL-PRISON PIPELINE, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING

Over the last decade the Prince William County School System has seen significant demographic changes with increased minority enrollment overall. These changes put our county in a unique position to increase achievement levels of minority and low income students. And as the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I am committed to creating academic equity across the county and to ensuring we fund the tools to close the achievement gap. These investments include adequate county funding for developing a rigorous curriculum, increasing academic standards, and retaining the best teachers.

Across the country the school-the-prison pipeline has become an epidemic and has proven to disproportionately affect students of color. As the next Occoquan District Supervisor, I am committed to protecting every student’s civil right to a quality public education and advocating for the end of zero-tolerance policies. I would like to work with our local Prince William County Police Department to ensure that our Student Resource Officers receive adequate training to deescalate situations with our students and prioritize keeping students in the classroom so they can continue to receive a world class education. More funding for student counselors and psychologists in our school system opposed to armed security guards are critical to students learning in a comfortable environment and not in fear.

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor I am committed to providing adequate funding in the budget for our special needs programs in our Prince William County School System in addition to adequate funding our gifted and talented/specialty programs. When funding our local school system, it is important that we encourage the school board to differentiate funding based on specific student learning needs, distribute funding for special education equitably, and provide special education services that result in the effective and efficient delivery of high-quality services.

Affordable Housing

As a member of the United States Navy, I moved to Prince William County in 2013 because of its diversity and the affordable cost of living, but I quickly discovered that Prince William County, like most of Northern Virginia, ranked above the national average for an affordable place to live.

Prince William County is home to more than 463,023 residents that make up over 149,120 households. One of the most significant expenses that residents of Prince William County incur is their rent or mortgage. On average, a household makes $101,059 and pays an average of $2,217 (27% of income) in mortgage and $1,620 (20% of income) in rent on average a month (Bureau, 2017). With the rising cost of living expenses and average wages and salaries not rising, more families are struggling to find an affordable place to live within the county. Finding a quality and safe place to live, shouldn’t break the bank for any individual or family in Prince William County.

Along with families that are looking for affordable housing in our county, a growing homeless population is also looking for shelter. According to a 2018 report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), there are well over 375 homeless individuals in the county.

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, I am proposing two initiatives to assist Prince William County residents with more affordable housing options, the affordable housing trust fund and expanding public-private partnerships on a local level. Creating more affordable housing opportunities means talking equity with an honest and common sense approach.

Housing Trust Fund

With the cost of living rising consistently and the lack of wage and salary increases, many individuals find themselves living from paycheck to paycheck. Zach Friedman wrote in his Forbes article, “CareerBuilder found that 78% of U.S. workers are living paycheck to paycheck”. This number may be further exacerbated by the recent federal government shutdown, which has resulted in more than 800,000 federal employees not receiving paychecks. (Friedman, 2019) I am proposing a Housing Trust Fund as an initiative to assist lower and middle-income individuals and families offset their monthly housing expenses in an emergency financial situation on a case-by-case basis. The unfortunate reality is that many residents in the county are just one missed paycheck or unexpected emergency from homelessness and/or financial hardship. The key to homelessness prevention is to create a safety net to prevent residents from becoming homeless in the first place. Addressing homelessness and taking preventive measures can save local government resources and revenues in the long run.

The Housing Trust Fund is a repository of funding created through a diversion of county tax dollars, state funding, and grant funds into a central county department such as the Prince William County Department of Housing and Community Development to loan individuals in need of emergency funding to pay their monthly housing expenses. As one of the wealthiest counties in the United States it is our responsibility to ensure that we put the needs of all Prince William County residents first and take a hands on approach to homelessness prevention.

Public-Private Partnerships

Prince William County and the Northern Virginia region are home to many companies and nonprofits that assist individuals in need. While these organizations are successful as individual groups, I am proposing that we build more public-private partnerships on the county level to bring more affordable housing options to our community and provide more resources to get homeless residents off the streets and into quality housing.

As the next Occoquan District Supervisor my goal would be to bring our local county government to the table with all of these entities to create a repository of resources for individuals to utilize when they are in need. These private sector companies and organizations would meet with the Board of County Supervisors and county staff every quarter to assess the most current needs of the community.

Finding solutions to affordable housing and homelessness will involve having everyone at the table, from developers, nonprofit organizations, business owners, and government officials. As the next Occoquan District Supervisor I will work towards creating inclusionary housing programs that through county planning ordinances and revised zoning would require or incentivize developers to build below-market rate homes and apartment rental units for lower and middle income residents in the county. For these inclusionary housing programs to be a success I am committed to working closely with county staff and developers to ensure this initiative is in line with our local economic and housing market characteristics.

I am committed to finding solutions to lower the cost of living in our community through county revenues and public-private partnerships. By working together and thinking outside the box, we can make our community affordable for everyone!

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

Edmond: From my perspective as a Supervisor I would work with my fellow board members to oversee the operation of county government in conjunction with the County Executive in Prince William County.

The role of a local Supervisor to me is being a champion and an ambassador of your district. It is the responsibility of a Supervisor to be in touch with our constituents on a constant basis, this allows for us to best be equipped to relay their concerns to the BOCS in the important decision making process of running a local government.

From Social Services, to Budgetary Decisions, to Zoning & Development, to Economic Development, to Public Safety; Supervisors have the most power to impact the everyday lives of residents. Supervisors have to be eager to always learn and master a wide variety of complicated issues/topics. Lastly they need to be able to partner with a wide variety of neighboring county governments/municipalities to tackle issues of shared interest like transportation funding, major infrastructure projects, tackling homelessness, and reducing environmental impacts. As the next Occoquan Supervisor, I will not be afraid to partner with businesses, neighboring governments, and local leaders to develop an innovative vision to move Prince William County forward.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Edmond: I will bring my lifetime of service and leadership as a public servant in the military to my role as Occoquan District Supervisor. Joining the military as an E-1 I led my peers and quickly achieved the rank of E6 within 6 short years. I have an unwavering dedication to tackling difficult problems and sticking to the the task at hand. Becoming an Eagle Scout has taught me the importance of paying it forward and constantly looking at ways to give back. In essence, my greatest expertise is knowing what it takes to serve the public at large to do the greatest good. As a Naval Administrator at the highest levels, I have gained experience managing millions of dollars of government funds to manage official travel, logistics, and personnel assignments to critical mission areas at home and abroad.

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

Edmond: After the 2016 Election that caught many voters by surprise, I believe the average citizen is more informed than ever and paying close attention to the decision making of elected officials on all levels of government. I want to continue to keep my constituents informed by constantly being accessible in the community, reaching out to voters must transform into reaching out to constituents regularly after election day. I want to leverage social media in the digital age, regular op-ed pieces in local newspaper outlets, telephone town halls, in person town halls, and quarterly newsletters to keep my constituents informed and give them multiple platforms to provide me with their views/opinions on topics that affect them directly in real time. I would also like to expand Supervisor office hours to Saturdays so working families during the week have time to visit my office on the weekends when there schedules might be more flexible.

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

Edmond: Since entering in this race I have never promised to be the perfect candidate and as people we all naturally fall short occasionally. But I have quickly learned to learn from your mistakes and use them as a method to better yourself. Whether you fall short with career goals, personal finances, family relationships, or commitment to a personal endeavor; you have to be able to forgive yourself and acknowledge I am greater than my past mistakes. I am in this race to prove as politician you shouldn’t necessarily strive for perfection, but should strive for authenticity and the ability to put the needs of others before your own. I want to be a leader that proves that despite your personal shortcomings in life, you can always turn the page and step up to lead in your community to make a difference.

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

Edmond: My life story could have ended in many different ways, but through God’s grace, people dedicated to my success, and the art of perseverance I have always made the best of the cards I have been dealt. Three strong women; my Great Grandmother, Grandmother, and Great Aunt, representing two family generations would teach me the values of good character, accountability, respect for others, hard work and most importantly knowing right from wrong. These remarkable women stepped in to fill the gap and if I summed up the meaning of what they taught me, it would be “do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways that you can, as long as you can.” The strength that they instilled in me and the value in serving others has motivated me and defined my life’s purpose. As an Eagle Scout and as a member of the United States Navy Reserve, I want to make a difference on the local level and continue my spirit of service to others. The Occoquan District needs a fighter, and I want to be that fighter that works hard for their constituents every single day!