Economic development, city’s schools likely topics

On Friday night, candidates seeking a seat on the Manassas City Council will try to convince voters why they should get the job.

Three of the seven seats on the council are open and only one incumbent, Marc Aveni, is seeking reelection to what is currently a board dominated by male Republicans.

Democrats say that is not reflective of the

changing, more diverse nature of the city. On Election Day Nov. 4, they hope voters will agree.

“I am a Democrat, and with no women currently on the Council, yes it’s a challenge for me to run and face that but somebody’s got to step up to the plate,” said Patricia Richie-Folks, an advertising executive making her first bid for political office. “Our city is very diverse and it needs to be depicted that way on the City Council.”

Joining her Friday night will be fellow Democrat Ken Elston, director of the George Mason University’s School of Theatre. Republicans Marc Aveni, an incumbent Councilman, and former Councilwoman Sheryl Bass, who is looking to reclaim her seat after she lost a reelection bid in 2010.

Historic Manassas Inc, an organization tasked by the city to draw more people to its historic Old Town neighborhood’s shops and restaurants, will host the event. Economic development is expected to be a key topic.

“We need to find new ways to market our city and promote its schools to get more people to move here. Once you have the rooftops to support retail, more retail shops will come,” said Elston.

The Manassas City Schools Education Foundation will co-host the voter forum, so, naturally, schools will be discussed, say candidates. The city’s schools get a bad wrap for things like low test scores. And, this year former Jennie Dean Elementary School Principal Robin Anthony Toogood resigned after state officials discovered he forged his Bachelor and Doctorial degrees.

“The situation in the past with the schools, it was bad, but more people are seeing changes with the new superintendent with a new strategic plan that is aggressive,” she said.

Bass, who was one of the first women ever to serve on the Council when she was appointed in 2008 to complete the term of former councilman, also says the Council could use a female on the board. Everything about her campaign, from her website to the campaign yard signs with her name on them, is branded pink.

“I’m a real gal and I think people see that I’m ready to work to make the city a better place,” said Bass.

Not returning to City Council are Vice Mayor Andrew Harrover and Councilman J. Steven Randolph. Both have spent years on the Council.

The candidates’ forum will begins at 7 p.m. Friday in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.