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?

Ashworth: The Commonwealth’s Attorney is the people’s prosecutor, elected to represent the interest of the people of the county in criminal cases. The Commonwealth’s Attorney is a constitutional officer sworn to uphold the law, and has the power to exercise prosecutorial discretion, which takes considerable experience, ethics, and compassion.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Ashworth: The Commonwealth’s Attorney is a prosecutor. I am the only Democratic candidate with experience as a prosecutor. I was a prosecutor for eleven years, nine of which I served in the Special Victims Unit, where I tried the most difficult cases involving the most vulnerable and innocent victims in our county. I was awarded the Justicia Award by the Virginia Women’s Attorneys Association for my efforts in combating domestic violence and sexual assault, and my handling of victims and mentorship of attorneys.

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

Ashworth: It is my hope that the average citizen has not had to interact with the criminal justice system, as a defendant, victim, or witness to a crime. However, those who have been involved in the justice system know our current system is not fair and just. You don’t have to be intimately familiar with the inner workings of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office to know there is rampant racial discrimination, over-prosecution of low-level offenses, and over-incarceration in our prisons and jails.

It is critical that our next Commonwealth’s Attorney address these issues and ensure that progress updates and conviction data from the office is fully available to the people of the jurisdiction online. As Commonwealth’s Attorney, I will not only make all information available online, but I will be an active participant in community events and organization meetings to keep our community updated on the activity of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.

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

Ashworth: When I was a young attorney, I made a mistake in a jury trial by questioning a defendant on the stand about his prior felony conviction. The defendant’s attorney made a motion for a mistrial which would require an entirely new trial. I successfully argued against the mistrial, and the Judge denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial. That evening after court, I reviewed the relevant case law, and I determined that I had been wrong: I had improperly asked about the defendant’s prior criminal history. The next morning, before the trial resumed, I told the defendant’s attorney that I was wrong to have questioned the defendant about his prior history and that the Judge had ruled incorrectly in denying the motion for a mistrial. I told the defense attorney that I would advise the Judge in open court of my error and that if the defense wanted to renew the motion for a mistrial, I would, as the prosecutor, not object. The defense attorney chose to renew his motion for a mistrial and it was granted without objection.

It was more important to me that justice be administered fairly and that the defendant have a fair trial than for me to win the case. This is an important lesson for all prosecutors to learn, and it was a particularly humbling and formative experience for me to have to appear before the court and acknowledge that I had been wrong.

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

Ashworth: I am the only Democratic candidate who has experience as a prosecutor, which is the job of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. I am the only candidate who has delivered justice for victims of violent crime. I am the only candidate who has practiced prosecutorial discretion by not prosecuting low-level offenses and diverting juveniles away from the justice system. I am the only candidate who has run my own business and managed an entire office of attorneys. And I am the only candidate who has drafted a mission statement for the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office that focuses on restoring the values of fairness, integrity, and honesty to our criminal justice system. I’m qualified, prepared, and ready to bring criminal justice reform to our jurisdiction on Day One.

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.

Qasim Rashid, a human rights attorney, is running for Virginia State Senator for the 28th District on a platform of equality, increased healthcare access, and prioritizing education. The district includes Stafford and a portion of Prince William County.

Republican Richard Stuart currently holds the seat.

Name: Qasim Rashid

Party: Democrat

Town: Stafford

Running for: Senator for the 28th District

Website: rashidforva.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Human Rights Attorney

Education: University of Richmond Law

Community Involvement: Qasim Rashid has long been involved in the interfaith community to build bridges of dialogue and understanding between Muslims, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, and non-believers. He volunteers with his local Bar association through their community events, such as working in a local shelter to provide food for those in need. He is also an active volunteer with Humanity First USA.

Most recently Qasim’s youth org helped clean up the national parks during the government shutdown. He also launched the #LoveThyNeighborChallenge during the shutdown to encourage those who had means to buy food and groceries for those who did not. The challenge ended up reaching families across Virginia and across the nation.

Qasim is a board member of several non-profit organizations dedicated toward peace-building and combating economic inequality. He works with education nonprofits to improve education policy, close the achievement gap and secure funding for schools and resources for children from marginalized communities. He continues to provide pro bono support to women who are survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as he has for the last decade.

Questions and Answers

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

Rashid: Passing the Equal Rights Amendment, passing increased healthcare access, and giving teachers the pay they deserve.

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

Rashid: By working together with my colleagues in the Senate and the House, we will pass and ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. To increase the accessibility to healthcare, I would advocate for Medicare for All with private options. I would also protect our Medicaid expansion recipients and fight for them against unconstitutional roadblocks that block their access.

With thanks to the House of Delegates, teachers pay was increased but we need to do more. I would work with my colleagues to increase their pay even more so that Virginia will not have to face any crisis of quality in our standards of teaching and teachers.

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

Rashid: As a State Senator I want to advocate for all of my district, not just a portion. To me this means a passing policy that gives access to quality and affordable healthcare, standards of quality and higher pay for teachers in all schools and passing laws that help bring internet access to all of my district.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Rashid: I am a human rights attorney who, after earning my law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, has a long track record of serving diverse communities in Virginia. This includes work to combat domestic and sexual violence against women, uplift the incarcerated through prison chaplaincy, serve neighbors through blood drives and highway cleanups, and advocate for children’s education.

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

Rashid: The average citizen is the next Senator in the making. In my district, the 28th has not had the opportunities guaranteed to them from their public service for access. I have heard the frustration from all sides of the spectrum that they do not feel like their Senator, who has been in office since his 2008 election, has engaged with them.

It is time for the 28th Senate District to be represented by someone who will work with their constituents and not reap the benefits for personal gain. I will accomplish this through digital media, regular town halls, and an open door policy to make appointments with my constituents on a regular basis.

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

Rashid: I have certainly made personal mistakes as all people do, but fortunately I have not made public mistakes that harmed those around me. I have been fortunate throughout my life to have mentoring and guidance from incredible teachers at every stage of my development. As a Muslim immigrant, I recognize that I have had the eyeglass on my work in my public life, even being denied employment due to my faith. Often, people of color experience that they have to work harder and phrase their words tighter in order to be heard.

I have worked hard to build my platform on social media and mainstream media to serve as a conduit for marginalized voices. Through my roughly 400,000 followers, I have been able to listen to how different communities want their stories represented and, use my platform to elevate their voices, and for that opportunity, I am very grateful. It has affected me by teaching me empathy, patience, and conviction when working to undo injustice.

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

Rashid: A vote for Rashid for VA is a vote for representation. As Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley says, “Those who are closest to the pain should be closest to the power.” In my childhood, we lived in Section 8 housing and for many years of my adult life, we lived paycheck to paycheck — as 80% of Americans do today. I have worked extremely hard to get to a place where I can run for office, and the struggle I’ve experienced and continue to experience with crushing student loan debt is one that is all too common among middle class or lower income Virginians. I hear them because I have been in that struggle with them, that pain, for most of my life. I ask for their vote because I can speak to their experiences through first-hand knowledge, not through some survey or data sheet. I ask for their vote because I have been close to that pain and I believe I am best suited to elevate my neighbors to a place of power to alleviate that pain.

Our current Senator has voted against healthcare expansion, voted against common sense infrastructure development, voted against needed education reforms, voted against needed criminal justice reforms, voted against the Equal Rights Amendment. He has the power, but because he has not experienced the pain of many Americans, his votes reflect his personal views, not the needs of our fellow Virginians.

I was raised on the importance of service. My parents are teachers, my brother is a US Marine Veteran, and I am a human rights lawyer who lives to serve the marginalized. By being your public servant I want to hear about your needs so the legislation we pass proactively helps our district and relieves the pain.

Being a #TeamRashid member means having your voice heard and your priorities first. That is why I ask for your vote.

Raheel Sheikh is seeking a seat on the Board of County Supervisors for the Coles District. He is a local business owner with plans to improve education and transportation.

Name: Raheel Sheikh

Party: Democrat

Town: Manassas (near)

Running for: Board of County Supervisors, Coles District

Website: raheel4supervisor.com, Facebook, Twitter

Work: Local Business Owner

Education: Graduated from college in Pakistan. Microsoft Certified Professional. Dale Carnegie Leadership Program Graduate, and various other programs.

Community Involvement: Raheel Sheikh currently serves on the Virginia Workforce Development Board. He is a member of Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) and Public Affairs Civic Engagement (PACE) for Dar Alnoor Islamic Community Center.

He is a member of Virginia Gasoline Marketers Council (VGMC) and Virginia Automotive Association. He also volunteers for the Prince William County Public Schools robotics teams. In addition, he sponsors and donates to Girl Scout and Boy Scout fundraisers, youth sports teams, and PWCPS athletic events. He is the Homeowners Association President for the Reserve at Hunters Mill.

Questions and Answers

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

Sheikh: Education & Schools, Transportation, and Economic Development

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

Sheikh: We need to develop a long term comprehensive plan establishing smarter growth which includes schools, improved transportation and infrastructure, and business attraction and growth. As an appointed member to the Virginia Workforce Development Board establishing vocational training programs to create a seamless pathway from school to apprenticeship and internships to career.

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

Sheikh: From my perspective, the Supervisor serves as an advocate for all constituents within their district. Supervisor must make decisions on funding prioritization, setting local tax policy, and approving land use plans for the county while ensuring they are keeping the best interest of their constituents and the county. Also, the Supervisor should have a vision for the present as well as the future for the good of the county now and 20 years down the road.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Sheikh: My expertise comes from a few aspects; a parent, a commuter and, a business owner. As a parent, all three of our children attend or have graduated from PWCPS and have had a class or two in unsafe trailers. As a commuter, I’ve sat in traffic for 45 minutes to travel two miles. As a business owner, I see the impacts of traffic congestion as my businesses are along highly occupied roads.

I also understand how difficult starting a business within the county can be, which has an impact on the abundance of vacant properties and the reluctance of business growth within the county also resulting in revenue shortages falling into the laps of county residents in the form of higher property and personal property taxes.

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

Sheikh: The local government is involved in more aspects of our daily lives than the state or federal government, and unfortunately the average citizen is not well-informed or doesn’t pay as much attention to local government as they should.

There are various ways I intend to improve communication. Hosting informative town halls to provide an understanding of our constituency on vast issues while also creating a forum for questions and input or solutions. I would like to further establish better lines of communication through phone, text, email, and social media outlets.

I’m also always open to suggestions, but if knocking on people’s doors or having an open door policy is important to stay connected to the community then I’m for it. Getting a better understanding of the local concerns to the people will always be valuable while improving our methods of communication.

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

Sheikh: I should have gotten involved earlier especially since over-development, over-crowded schools, increased traffic congestion, and poor economic development have increasingly plagued our county. This has led to me becoming an advocate for all and has also encouraged me to run to bring change, a different perspective, and solutions that make sense to everyone for a better Prince William County.

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

Sheikh: I’m a leader who will lead by example, a 16-year resident, local advocate, and a local business owner who has created jobs within the county and will continue to invest.

Invest in every student by pushing to lower the ratio of students to counselors in our public schools, and eliminate the use of unsafe trailers, because our kids’ safety comes first.

Invest in every family as we sit in traffic congestion entirely too long. I’ll fight for better transit and telecommuting options to alleviate road delays and work with lawmakers to reduce the time spent on local routes and highways as family time is valuable.

Invest every resident with smart economic development and create vocational training programs building the workforce to attract businesses. Promote small business startup to include veterans. Increasing tax revenue because as residents, our tax dollars shouldn’t be the only dollars funding the county. Invest in first responders and teachers by promoting incentives to allow these public servants the ability to afford to live within the county.

Lastly, invest in Prince William County with the unique voice I will offer to the Board of County Supervisors while guiding the county to a more prosperous future. I believe I am the best candidate in this race, and I hope you will vote for me.

With many years of experience as a teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools, Lisa Zargarpur wants the focus to be on student success and better funding in Prince William County.

She lives outside Manassas and is running for Prince William County School Board for the Coles District.

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Josh King has served as Fairfax Deputy Sheriff for more than 10 years.

He lives in Prince William County and is running for Prince William County Sheriff.

Voters in a statewide Primary Election on June 11th may choose King or Democrat Brian Fields.

The Republican incumbent, Glendell “Glen” Hill is seeking re-election. He’s held the position since 2003.

Independent candidate Rhonda Dickson is also seeking the seat. Both Hill and Dickson will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5, 2019, General Election.

No stranger to local politics, King’s run at county sheriff comes after two previous unsuccessful campaigns the House of Delegates seat for District 2 in North Stafford and Woodbridge in 2015 and 2017.

Name: Joshua Lavon King

Party: Democrat

Town: Dumfries

Running for: Prince William County Sheriff

Website: king2019.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Fairfax County Deputy Sheriff

Education: B.A. in Public Administration from George Mason University

Community Involvement: Josh King is an Iraq War veteran, a deputy sheriff, a leader in his local union (SEIU), and an advocate for people with special needs. He and his wife, Candi, are the proud parents of three children, including a non-verbal teenage daughter with autism.

Josh is a member of the Virginia War Memorial Board, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Association of the United States Army, the Virginia Sheriff Association and the Prince William County NAACP. He previously served on the Prince William Disability Services Board.

Questions and Answers

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

King: 1) Building public trust between law enforcement and this majority-minority community
2) Better serving community members who have disabilities or who are in a mental health crisis
3) 287(g) partnership with ICE discourages people from reporting a crime, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

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

King: 1) Recruiting a new generation of diverse officers who reflect the community, then training those officers in cultural competence.
2) Increasing training and creating opportunities for officers to interact with differently-abled children and adults in civilian settings.
3) Ending 287(g) partnership with ICE under the current Sheriff

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

King: The Sheriff’s job is not merely to serve civil process or provide courthouse security. The Sheriff should create the model for how law enforcement officers interact with and ensure the safety of ALL residents in our community.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

King: I’ve spent more than a decade as a Deputy Sheriff and served in the military police during the Iraq War, which I believe qualifies me to take on the role of Sheriff. However, as the parent of a non-verbal child with autism and as an advocate for people with special needs, I feel I bring a unique and valuable perspective that will help law enforcement better serve ALL of our community members.

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

King: I think it’s hard for the average citizen to stay well-informed of local government when national news takes up so much airtime. As Sheriff, I will work to hold as many opportunities for public engagement as I can with the community, including forums, panels and town halls on issues related to law enforcement.

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

King: In 2017, I lost an election by 12 votes because I didn’t knock on 12 more doors. It reminded me that I need to stay focused on the basics and talk to as many voters as I can. I hope to make it to many of your readers’ doors!

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

King: I think voters are ready for a new generation of leadership to step up and take the reins. I’m a war veteran with more than a decade of law enforcement experience, but at 38, I will bring new energy and new ideas to the table that will make our community a safer and more inclusive place.