Stafford, Va. — After replacing two people on his campaign staff, Jason Pelt says he’s now working with people who knew him before he wanted to be Stafford’s top prosecutor.
The Republican, who currently works as a defense attorney, says the two campaign workers were more interested advancing their political agendas and not Pelts, and are no longer with the campaign.
“It wasn’t that I let them go, it was a mutual ‘this is not working, no hard feelings,’ nobody got fired. They decided and we decided, almost mutually, that we just weren’t on the same wavelength,” said Pelt.
The move allowed the campaign to become even more focused on the Aug. 23 Republican Primary Election, added Pelt.
He faces current Stafford County Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Eric Olsen.
Olsen in April told PotomacLocal.com he planned to sell his home in Fredericksburg and move to Stafford to hold the position. (Candidates for the office must be a resident of the jurisdiction they wish to serve, according to state election law).
But his campaign has come under fire as of late, as some Stafford residents, and the authors of citizensagainstericolsen.com (who claim not to be affiliated with Pelt’s campaign) take issue with Olsen’s residency situation. They say Olsen has a “for sale by owner” sign on his home in Fredericksburg, and splits his time lives in a small apartment in the Hartwood section of the county.
Olsen told Fredericksburg.com he didn’t think his residency would be an issue in the campaign and that he has served Stafford County residents for the past 22 years.
“In May of 2000 we moved to the Griffis-Widewater area, and in 2007 we moved to the Brooke area of Stafford County. All our vehicles are registered here, our couch is here, I live here, and I didn’t move to Stafford County with the dream of one day holding this position,” said Pelt.
Several calls from PotomacLocal.com to the Virginia State Board of Elections regarding this issue have not been returned.
Pelt will face Olsen on Monday night during a debate sponsored by the Stafford County Republican Committee. He plans to stay on his message of fiscal responsibility.
“I started this campaign by saying Stafford County wastes money: and I’ve pointed out three areas that we waste money: jury trials, overcharging, and direct indictments,” said Pelt.
