Stirrup's departure leaves Gainesville primary race wide open

With the departure of two-time Republican incumbent John T. Stirrup, the Gainesville District supervisor seat will be a hotly contested one in 2011

Five Republicans – Martha Hendley, Peter Candland, Steve Botello, Suzanne Miller and Michael High – will square off in the Aug. 23 primary. The winner will await Democrat Ann Wheeler, Stirrup’s appointee to the Social Services Board.

Each candidate brings a unique background and several have connections to Stirrup. Candland and Botello worked on Stirrup’s budget committee and Hendley is the Gainesville representative on the Planning Commission.

Miller has worked in product development for the Department of Defense and has taught in the Prince William Public School System, while High is a systems engineering manager supporting the DoD.

What are the two most important issues to the Gainesville District?

Miller: To create jobs in our county to increase our tax base and improve quality of life while protecting our preserved land. We face problematic times, and the most difficult challenges are upon us at all levels of government to create jobs and be fiscally conservative.

At all levels of government, our service businesses (retailers, dry cleaners, grocery stores, and restaurants) are struggling in what is trending to a service-based economy. However, in Prince William we have the unique opportunity to foster “producing” jobs to feed these service businesses.

In the Gainesville District our challenge is to grow our economy while preserving our agricultural heritage. There are strategies at the local level that can help the economy here in Prince William. To improve quality of life and our infrastructure means local jobs, local business, local shopping, and sustaining the American dream to own a small business that is at the heart of any community.

The second issue is transparent government spending. … Our county budget for next year is $878.3 million, and spending is trending upward as our county grows. In this economic climate, I will stand vigilant to control spending at the local level before it gets out of control, as it has at the federal level.

High: Transportation and public safety. Transportation affects everything from quality of life to business development. There are many things in the pipe line to study and solve this issue, VDOT has the I-66/U.S. 15 interchange on their RADAR screen, we have the Bi-County/Tri-County Parkway plan, VRE extension and Bus Rapid Transit to name a few. My job will be to evaluate all the options and provide the best solutions for the best value.

Our fire and EMS services are starting to be stretched thin. They are required to provide first response to fire and Basic Life Support (BLS) within 4 minutes and Advanced Life Support (ALS) within eight minutes, which I found out first hand couldn’t be met.

Although our crime rates are down, we are currently short 263 officers based upon the standards of two sworn officers per 1,000 residents. This deficit will need to be addressed over the next couple of budget cycles in order to maintain the established standards.

Wheeler: The transportation infrastructure and the education system are struggling to keep pace with our growing community. On the Board of Supervisors I will work to target investment in our transportation infrastructure and extend the VRE to Gainesville and Haymarket.

In addition, I will work tirelessly to bring more corporate businesses into the county so people do not have to travel the congested roads to get to work. That, partnered with encouraging the growth of small business, will increase the quality of life for all residents.

As a second issue, as a mother to two daughters, I see that our schools are struggling to keep up with growth. I will work to fully fund our schools and reduce classroom over-crowding.

Ensuring that Prince William County has a world-class school system is important for the future of our children as well as making it an attractive place to move to. As I’m talking with voters in the Gainesville District, I have learned that we can do better for Prince William County families by improving our transportation and protecting the value of our schools.

Botello: Clearly one of the most pressing issues is the general economic climate with the very real recent and current problems in Washington this effects each one of us all dramatically not only in our day-to-day lives but also in the foreseeable future.

For our focused concerns here specifically in the Gainesville District of PWC I would put forth a combination of a strong business development mindset and smart, intelligent residential growth.

Just last week Virginia was named the number one state in the country for the potential of the strongest economic growth in the entire United States. That says something for what we not only have shown nationwide in the past for business opportunity here in the commonwealth but for what business leaders also see in our great state for pro-active business development in our district, county, state and country.

I believe the Gainesville District is the crown jewel for PWC for pure opportunity, positive growth and the increase of the quality of life for all the residents, families and businesses. With that though we also need something more…a mindset that we aren’t just going to “let it happen” but we need to encourage, strive and take the lead so we achieve and ensure the maximum positive outcome for all in the next coming decade.

Hendley: Rapid residential development has overwhelmed our infrastructure. The result is crowded schools and roads, and overworked fire stations.

It has also put the ratio of the residential tax base vs. commercial out of balance, resulting in homeowners shouldering more of the tax burden. An increase in business and economic development is needed to balance the tax base.

A high quality of life plus a conservative tax structure attracts economic development, which will bring good-paying jobs to the county and lower the residential tax burden.

Candland: Over and over at all of the doors that I visit and all of the community events that I attend, I keep hearing that voters want a Supervisor that will focus on jobs and keeping our taxes low. People are tired of the politics they see in Washington and they want someone with the real world experience to make a difference.

We are blessed to live in an area of the country with low unemployment and a strong economy, but we must have a local government that is focused on creating an atmosphere that attracts high-paying jobs today and for the future.

I have four young children, and I hope that they can have the opportunity to live, work and raise a family in this area. I have spent my career as a leader in business helping to create jobs, develop budgets, and react to the every-changing environment.

I will use my real-world experience in the business sector to focus on job creation and growing our local economy.

The other issue that repeatedly comes up while I’m visiting with voters is that they cannot endure more taxes. I will be the taxpayers’ representative on the Board of Supervisors. Politicians like to focus on “revenues” with no regard of the fact that these “revenues” come from the pockets of real people, real families and real homeowners.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Miller: I bring diversity and unique perspective to the supervisor’s job and I can relate to you. I bring 25 years of private-sector experience in product-based development and innovation and I will draw on these skills to lead our economic development in our community so that we have increased revenue to improve our infrastructure.

I am skilled at leading diverse skill sets and being resourceful to accomplish the larger goal and I will use this experience in the Supervisor’s job to accomplish our larger community goals. I have an appreciation of the need to preserve our farming heritage and preserve our protected land as our economy grows. I bring full-time commitment to the supervisor’s job. I bring constituent outreach and diligent work ethic to the supervisor’s job, and will work “ear and boots to the ground” for you.

High: What I do every day on my primary job is exactly the same thing that needs to occur as a supervisor. I listen to what the customer/citizens wants and needs are, my team and I translate that into some possible solutions, and then based upon the available resources the solution gets built.

Wheeler: I have dedicated my life to investing in our community and being an independent voice. I have brought my experience and background as an engineer and a business person to a leadership position on the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative board.

Through my experience and service on Prince William County’s Board of Social Services, I have been a strong, educated, and vocal participant working to make our community a better place to live and raise a family. Both of these board experiences have given me a depth of knowledge about the county and the issues facing our community.

On the Board of Supervisors I will continue to bring my understanding of the County to fight the right battles for the constituents of the Gainesville District.

Botello: I have both worked and volunteered in some aspect of public service and in my community for most of my adult life. I have been blessed on many ways such as with decades of real life leadership experience in the public safety world, wartime military service and successful business accomplishments for the past thirteen years (Nine of that as a business owner in the Gainesville District in PWC).

In addition I’ve voluntarily served in my local Prince William community in so many areas such as working with the Fraternal Order of Police for 11 years in the SantaCops program and in the Dare Program, working for nine years in two HOAs (six years of that as president) and one I am most proud of is serving PWC veterans, families and their dependents as the local post service officer for the past four years for the Manassas VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans.

And the record should show that I’ve also volunteered and been active on both the PWC Zoning Ordinance Review board since 2008 and on John Stirrup’s budget committee for the past four years.

Hendley: I have a long record of service in the Gainesville District being a voice for responsible growth. Since 2004 I have been Supervisor Stirrup’s appointee to the Planning Commission, consistently involved in the office with multiple county development concerns and land use issues in the community.

I will hold the line on the Rural Crescent and taxes, support business and economic development, and uphold the county’s policy on illegal immigration. With 25 years of experience in all areas of the district, I have the knowledge and experience to serve constituents well as a full-time supervisor.

I am best prepared to continue the good service and representation the Gainesville supervisor’s office has provided.

Candland: My first question will always be “what is the impact on the taxpayers of Prince William County?” While serving on Supervisor John Stirrup’s budget committee, I worked to ensure that every dollar was spent wisely.

The taxpayers know that they can trust me to put them first.