11/03/2019
2019 Election-related Facts
1. Our opportunity – As a result of out-of-control new home development, our classrooms are the most overcrowded in all of Virginia and we have some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. It doesn’t have to be this way. Voting brings opportunity for change and sends a powerful message to those we elect that we’re watching to ensure their decisions are in the best interest of the citizens they were elected to serve – not their own or special interests.
2. Voting records – Since the beginning of 2016, the Board of County Supervisors has approved all but one of the new home developments for which it held a public hearing (and that one is now back for another hearing). Of the incumbents running for reelection:
• Supervisor Anderson (Occoquan District) voted to approve all but two of the new home developments.
• Supervisor Lawson (Brentsville District) voted to approve all but three of them.
• Supervisor Candland (Gainesville District) voted to approve only one new home development (with only 25 homes) since the beginning of 2018.
3. Campaign contributions – Three races for the Board of County Supervisors clearly stand-out in terms of campaign contributions received from land investors, developers, homebuilders, Realtors, mortgage bankers, and other members of the “Real Estate/Construction” industry in 2019, through the end of September:
• Supervisor Lawson (Brentsville District) received 49% ($84,984) of her campaign funds from that industry, which was her main source of donations. Her opponent, Hansford, received only 5% ($4,000) of her campaign donations from that source.
• In the Coles District race, candidate Vega received 38% ($36,145) of her campaign funds from that industry, which was her main source of donations. Her opponent, Sheikh, received only 6% ($5,125) of his campaign donations from that source.
• Incumbent Anderson (Occoquan District) received 27% ($23,092) of her campaign funds from that industry, which was her main source of donations. Her opponent, Boddye, received only 1% ($402) of his campaign donations from that source.
4. Bonds Referendum – The many bond-related concerns and questions include:
• Not all county residents will benefit from the proposed improvements. But all county taxpayers will have to repay the debt burden increase of as much as $396 million.
• Almost half of the supervisors voted against putting the referendum on the ballot.
• The Rt. 28 improvements will increase development pressure on the Rural Crescent.
• Road bond-related traffic congestion relief would be temporary, at best, since those bonds would be used to help justify county approval of many more new home developments, including the pending Kline Property and Devlin Road proposals (a total of 766 new homes). And developers who already have county approval to build the thousands of new homes waiting in the county’s development pipeline will also be inspired to begin construction. More new home development means more traffic congestion and school overcrowding.
Doug Widener
Citizens Alliance of Prince William (“Putting Children and Families First”)
