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.

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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?

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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.

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Tracey Lenox is seeking the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney, pledging more transparency, accountability, and diversity.

Name: Tracey Lenox

Party: Democrat

Town: Manassas

Running for: Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney

Website: votelenox.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Criminal Trial Lawyer

Education: Undergraduate at College of William & Mary. Law School at University of Connecticut Law

Community Involvement: Tracey Lenox is a Prisoner Advocate. She serves on the Georgetown University Institutional Review Boards (2013-present). She is the co-head of volunteer training and primary presenter for “So You’re 18” High School Outreach for PWC, Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park (2010-present). Tracey is also a Rules and Discipline Chair. She is a member of the Northern Virginia Soccer Club (2008-present) and was previously a coach and age league commissioner from 2008-2012.

She is a member of the Prince William County Bar Foundation (2015-present), the PWC Evidence-Based Decision Making Policy Board and the Opioid, Pre-trial and Case processing sub-committees (2018-present), and the Manassas Rotary Club. She is President-Elect of the Prince William County Bar Association.

Questions and Answers

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

Lenox: The top three issues that must be addressed by the new Commonwealth’s Attorney are the following.

1. The lack of transparency and accountability in the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

2. The lack of diversity in the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

3. A misguided focus on conviction and incarceration for juvenile offenders and misdemeanor/non-violent offenders instead of a focus on using resources to combat serious and violent adult crimes, with this misguided focus usually working to the unequal detriment to communities of color.

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

Lenox: 1. I would institute robust data collection and analysis of charging decisions, plea offers and sentencing recommendations, among other data, to make clear how decisions are made in the office. I would use the analysis of that data to formulate policies that ensure equal justice and fairness to all communities, while maintaining the safety of our communities. I would make the data collected and the policies formulated a matter of public record, for purposes of both transparency and accountability.

2. With the goal of building an Office of highly skilled, ethical and diverse prosecutors, I would publicly advertise for all positions within the office, and I would actively advertise and recruit highly qualified minorities from local law schools. I would also seek recommendations and assistance from local minority Bar Associations to recruit highly qualified minority lawyers. I would create a welcoming environment in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office that would attract and retain skilled and ethical minority lawyers.

3. I would establish an office culture that prioritizes prosecution of violent crimes and threats to public safety over most misdemeanor, status and non-violent crimes. I would institute office policies to prefer diversion and treatment options for most misdemeanor, status and non-violent crimes, creating paths for these offenders to earn their way to dismissal of charges and to clean records. I would personally scrutinize and be the decision-maker in every case where a juvenile is eligible for transfer as an adult, to ensure that this procedural step is taken only in the most egregious and dangerous of cases. I would institute polices that would seek treatment for offenders suffering from mental illness and drug addiction, instead of relying on incarceration as the default approach to managing these sorts of cases, as a proven method to both reduce the jail population while reducing recidivism.

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

Lenox: The Commonwealth’s Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer in Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park (except for misdemeanors in Manassas Park.) Her office is responsible for charging decisions for a range of criminal cases and traffic offenses, up to and including capital murder.

She is responsible for decisions about how to proceed with each charged case, including 1) which cases to prosecute and which to drop, 2) who gets plea offers and what sorts of offers are made, 3) who should be diverted and treated as a result of their charges with the possibility of dismissal of charges and second chances, 4) which cases should be tried, and 5) what arguments to make about sentencing, including jail.

The Commonwealth is responsible for arguing for or against expungements of criminal records and for arguing for civil forfeiture of assets used in or the product of crimes, when that forfeiture is appropriate. The Commonwealth is responsible to carry through on the statutory duties imposed to secure crime victims’ and witness’ rights and through the Victim-Witness Assistance Program, the Office assists victims of crime as their cases proceed through the criminal justice system.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Lenox: I have extensive and thorough experience as a criminal trial lawyer. I have been a criminal trial lawyer for 25 years. During that time, 90% of my cases have been criminal cases, along with protective orders and school discipline hearings. I have a thorough knowledge of every kind of case and issue that could be handled by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, and I have actually tried every kind of case, including traffic charges, drug charges, financial crimes, malicious woundings and other violent crimes of rape, robbery and murder, as well as expungement motions and civil forfeiture hearings. I have tried a capital murder case to verdict. No other candidate has this kind of experience.

I have experience running a small business, as well as managing law practices and other lawyers. For more than 22 years, I have either run my own small lawyer’s office or managed the criminal division of a large Prince William County law firm, which I have done for the last 13 years. No other candidate has this kind of management experience, which will be needed to manage a large group of trial lawyers in the Commonwealth’s Office.

I have extensive training and experience in seeing and evaluating criminal cases from both sides of the litigation. I served as a substitute judge for 11 years, where I was both the fact finder and decision maker in all kinds of cases in the District Courts. No other candidate has this kind of experience.

I have been actively involved in issues affecting criminal justice and public safety in our community for over a decade, including being active in volunteer work in our high schools, with the local Bar Association, and in Evidence Based Decision Making in the Adult Detention Center to reduce the jail population and reduce recividism. I have been actively involved in what is currently called criminal justice reform for most of my 25 year career.

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

Lenox: I believe that many citizens are well-informed and understand their government, but it can be difficult to be well-informed given the sheer volume of competing information available in the public space and the difficulty in identifying reliable sources.

I also believe that transparency is a critical component of any public office, including the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. In order to develop and maintain open communication with the community, I would continue to develop and strengthen my existing connections to Prince William’s many local faith communities and civic organizations. I would appear regularly at houses of worship and community meetings to speak to the public and to hear what they need from the Commonwealth’s Office and to gather needed information about public safety in our community. I would maintain a policy of attending public meetings at the request of citizens to answer questions about policy and concerns of public safety.

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

Lenox: Early in my career, I worked with another lawyer in a firm, without verifying the lawyer’s professionalism and diligence. The lawyer failed to properly handle a case that I had entrusted to him, and it resulted in a founded bar complaint against me for failing to properly attend to the client’s case and failing to adequately monitor the actions of the other lawyer. Beyond the Bar’s sanction, this incident resulted in soul-searching about the role of other lawyers in my career and a re-commitment to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism that I have striven to adhere to for the balance of my career. This incident ultimately caused me to be a better and more effective lawyer.

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

Lenox: Your readers should vote for me simply because I am the most qualified person in the race for Commonwealth’s Attorney. I have extensive practical legal experience as both an advocate and a judge, and I have the management experience to be an effective leader of a large team of lawyers from the first day in office. I have a demonstrated commitment to transparency, the rule of law and fairness that goes beyond talk. I have a proven track record of advocating for equal justice, combined with a record of active participation in finding solutions for our community that preserve public safety and increase fairness for all.

LaTonsha Pridgen is running for the Coles District Supervisor position, bringing her years of experience in project management, and her passion from founding and running a nonprofit.

Pridgen is a political newcomer to Prince William County.

Name: LaTonsha Pridgen

Party: Democrat

Town: Manassas

Running for: Coles District Supervisor

Website: pridgenforcoles.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Certified Project Management Professional

Education: Bachelor of Science, Management Accounting – Park University
MBA, Marketing Management – Temple University

Community Involvement: LaTonsha Pridgen is the founder of Stomp Out the Silence, a nonprofit educating the community in child sexual abuse prevention. She is also a member of the NAACP.

Questions and Answers

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

Pridgen: From my time spent talking to the residents in the Coles District, the top three major issues facing our District are underfunded and overcrowded public schools, rampant and poorly planned development, and traffic congestion.

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

Pridgen: If elected, some concrete solutions that I would immediately propose are:
1) Review and amend the current revenue-sharing agreement with the school board so that it is aligned to ensure equitable funding of schools across the District.
2) Form constituent groups with representation from each precinct within the district to assist in finalizing a constituent-informed 2040 comprehensive plan which clearly identifies what and where we develop to include green space, bike trails, and sidewalks.
3) Increase the availability of attractive and affordable public transportation options across the district through expanded bus routes and schedules, extended VRE service, and Bus Rapid Transit to reduce the volume of cars on the roads.

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

Pridgen: The role of the Coles District Supervisor is to represent the residents of the district in the areas of land use, taxation, and county services in a morally and fiscally responsible manner. To me, this means building both a comprehensive plan and a budget that prioritizes the needs of residents across the district.

Coles is an expansive district and the needs vary depending upon which area of the district you are in. I believe ensuring that all residents are provided for means establishing constituency groups and having regularly scheduled communication with these groups to assess needs and make adjustments accordingly.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Pridgen: With close to 15 years of accounting experience, I am well-versed in developing and managing budgets for both nonprofit and for-profit entities. I also understand the importance of ensuring that your budget is aligned with your mission and goals. As a professional Project Manager, I know what it means to work with a variety of different stakeholders with varying and, often, opposing needs and wishes to drive towards a solution that will bring the greatest value to the group as a whole.

Finally, as the founder of a nonprofit organization, I know both the value and power of advocacy and the difference it can make to a community.

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

Pridgen: I do not believe that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government. I also do not believe that the average citizen understands just how critical and impactful local government is to their everyday lives. I plan on improving my communication with my constituency by forming a constituency liaison group that represents the 15 precincts of the Coles District and working with this group to establish a regular cadence of community outreach activities focused on educating residents.

Further, I believe that it is important that, as the next Coles District Supervisor, I make myself available to my constituency by going where they are instead of waiting for them to come to me with their issues and concerns.

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

Pridgen: I would not be human if I have never made any mistakes in my public life. These mistakes have taught me the danger of being reactionary. I have learned that, regardless of the situation or circumstance, it is always prudent to pause before reacting. I believe that pausing allows you to shift from a purely emotional response or decision to one that is balanced with logic.

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

Pridgen: From the very beginning, this campaign has been “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Despite the many hurdles and obstacles that we have faced along the way, this has NEVER changed.

As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home and then is spread abroad.” Prince William County has become a home for my wife and I, which is why it didn’t take me a decade to decide to stand up for the people of the Coles District. Residents of the Coles District deserve a leader whose only motive is to bring the voice of the voter to the Board of County Supervisors to ensure that we are all okay!

I pledge to serve as I have run with honesty, transparency, integrity, accountability, and compassion. I am READY to be “The Voice We Need, for The Progress We Deserve” and to work with my constituents to ensure that their voices are echoed by the Board.

Mark Wolfe, currently serving as a Manassas City Councilman, is running for Virginia’s 50th Delegate Seat with his attention directed to job access and funding public schools.

He’s running against fellow Democrat, incumbent Lee Carter, who’s made a name for himself as the only member of the House of Delegates who identifies as a Democratic Socialist.

Voters will head to the polls in a statewide Primary Election on June 11 to choose which Democrat will run to face Republican Ian Lovejoy, who is also a member of the Manassas City Council.

Name: Mark Wolfe

Party: Democrat

Town: Manassas

Running for: Virginia’s 50th Delegate Seat

Website: markwolfefordelegate.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Chief Operating Officer of MovieComm

Education: Ankeny High School in Iowa. University of Iowa for a bachelors in political science and history.

Community Involvement: Mark Wolfe served 11 years on the Manassas City Council, and worked on various boards and commissions before that. He served as executive director of the area’s largest non-profit arts organization for over 20 years.

Questions and Answers

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

Wolfe: Access to good-paying jobs, insufficient funding for public schools, and a lack of regional transportation options that leads to major traffic problems.

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

Wolfe: Keeping the 50th district a business-friendly area that incentivizes businesses to open their doors here and create high-paying jobs. Investing more in our public schools. Design a light rail project that will connect different parts of Northern Virginia and create more efficient options for commuters.

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

Wolfe: Representing our community and balancing the best interests of Manassas and Prince William County with the larger demands of the Commonwealth.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Wolfe: 11 years of service on the Manassas City Council where I have earned a reputation for getting things done in a practical, bipartisan manner.

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

Wolfe: Citizens who are interested in local government are generally well informed. The government makes information available in many ways. That being said, there can always be more done in reaching out to communities who might not be engaged in the process of local government.

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

Wolfe: I wish I had followed up more quickly and more strongly with staff in regards to the odor complaints on Sandy Court when they first came out. I also should have pushed harder for a quicker completion to the Portner Street project.

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

Wolfe: I am the only candidate in this race willing to put results for my constituents over narrow political ideology. Over the past eleven years, I have approached local government as moving the ball down the field and trying to improve the lives of everyone in Manassas. Whether it’s creating jobs, finding transportation solutions that reduce traffic, or making sure our law enforcement and fire departments are fully funded, I believe Manassas is a better city because of the work I’ve done.

Amy Ashworth, an attorney in Nokesville, wants to bring her prosecutor experience to the office of Commonwealth's Attorney. She is bringing awareness to fair handling of juvenile crimes, domestic violence focus, and discrimination in the justice system.

Name: Amy Ashworth Party: Democrat Town: Nokesville Running for: Commonwealth's Attorney Website: voteashworth.com, Twitter, Facebook Work: Attorney Education: James Madison University for an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and George Mason University for a law degree. Community Involvement: Amy Ashworth and her family has been actively involved in the Prince William County community since moving here in 1997. Ashworth is actively involved in 4-H as a parent volunteer and currently serves as Treasurer for the Nokesville 4-H club. She also volunteers with the Prince William County Bar Association breakfast for the homeless, presents at “So You’re 18” programs serving local high schools, and participates in the “Wills for Heroes” program. She taught Sunday School at Trinity Episcopal Church. In her professional life, Ashworth served as Guardian Ad Litem for the 31st Judicial District, where she advocated for abused and neglected children in the justice system. She was President of the Prince William County Bar Association, serving from 2010 to 2013. She is also an adjunct professor at George Mason University, and has been a mentor to many young law students. As a Young Lawyer Conference Representative to the Virginia State Bar from 1995 to 1998, she started the “So You’re 18” program, which provides information and guidance to high school seniors about how the law affects them as adults. She also started a program to distribute a senior citizens handbook at senior centers to educate older residents about legal issues, such as Medicare and wills. Questions and Answers PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent?  Ashworth: The top three issues in our criminal justice system in our community are the fair handling of juveniles, domestic violence, and discrimination within our justice system. PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues? Ashworth: First, we need to focus on juveniles. We need to stop tagging them as felons, find ways to divert them away from the criminal justice system, and provide services to them and their families so they can become healthy and productive members of society. As a mother of two teenage sons, this is extremely important to me. On Day One, I will assign a senior attorney to exclusively handle cases involving juveniles. Second, we need to focus on domestic violence. Domestic violence is the most common call for service by police and accounts for many homicides in our jurisdiction. On Day One, I will assign a senior attorney to exclusively handle domestic violence so we can pay more attention to the serious domestic violence cases and sort out the minor “push-and-shove” cases fall within the mandatory arrest policies of the police departments and avoid unnecessary convictions. Third, we must face the reality that discrimination pervades our criminal justice system. To address this, I will diversify the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, mandate implicit bias training, limit cash bail, and uphold strict standards. I will limit the prosecution of low-level offenses like simple possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended license to avoid unnecessary convictions and reduce our jail population.

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

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Margaret Franklin is running for the Board of Supervisors for Woodbridge and wants to keep fighting for Woodbridge’s potential and growth.

The political newcomer seeks to unseat the long-serving Frank Principi, a Democrat who was first elected Woodbridge District Supervisor in 2007.

Name: Margaret Franklin

Party: Democrat

Town: Woodbridge

Running for: Board of Supervisors, Woodbridge

Website: margaretforwoodbridge.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Legislative Director on Capitol Hill

Education: Howard University with a Masters in Public Administration, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Political Science major and History minor.

Community Involvement: Margaret Franklin is an alternate commissioner on the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). She is the former Vice Chair of Prince William County Democratic Committee. She has also been a mentor with the Reach program in Washington, D.C.

Questions and Answers

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

Franklin: Transportation; Affordable Housing, Overcrowding of schools; Redevelopment of Route 1

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

Franklin: Increasing bus routes and local transit options; housing trust fund and incentives to provide for affordable housing units; updating and redesigning current schools, and luring diverse businesses into the Route 1 corridor through public-private partnerships.

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

Franklin: The Board of Supervisors helps manage the district they are elected to represent through budget priorities, constituent services, and community outreach.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Franklin: I have been working in public policy for almost a decade and understand the resources available to local communities.

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

Franklin: I don’t believe the average citizen understands what services are available to them on a local level. I plan to improve communication by hosting resources fairs all across the district to help residents understand what the Board of Supervisors is responsible for and how they can help residents build up their communities.

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

Franklin: One mistake I made was while drafting a bill to provide tax credits for veterans who open small businesses. In order to keep costs down, I decided to limit the tax credit for veterans of foreign wars. That was a mistake because all veterans deserve a chance to open and expand their businesses.

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

Franklin: First and foremost, I love my community. I believe that Route 1 has enormous potential and Woodbridge deserves someone who has the energy to keep fighting for the eastern end of the county. I want to be the Supervisor that fights for all of Woodbridge and not just the newer, more developed parts of the district.