A community Town Hall meeting hosted by Delegate Luke Torian the Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge Monday night was an opportunity for elected officials and political candidates to voice their views. It was also a chance for residents in Prince William County to communicate with law enforcement officials.
During the meeting, Torian, Supervisor John Jenkins, and Supervisor Maureen Caddigan spoke about community issues that they felt passionate about, as well as how to properly communicate with law enforcement as a community.
“We have a very compassionate, and a very caring community,” Caddigan said.
Among the primary topics discussed were the continuing conversation on homelessness, transportation, and school funding.
“I want to fight for continuous road improvements. Those pot-holes that you see out there [on the road] right now are not the norm,” Jenkins said.
Karl Brower, the Prince William County NAACP chapter president, and Maria Burgos-Singleton, a representative from Prince William County Public Schools also spoke about their respective causes and called for community action and acceptance of the county’s diversity.
The Prince William County Sheriff Glen Hill, a representative of the Virginia State Police and Prince William County Police Department Chief Steve Hudson all presented information about what their law enforcement organizations do within the county, and fielded questions from residents.
But the questions were not just directed at the panel representatives. Several attendees took the opportunity to ask questions about things like an extension of Washington D.C.’s Metro system to Prince William County, which Board of Supervisors Chairman At-Large Corey Stewart, spoke up about it in detail, referencing the extensions coming to Route 1, and the problems that Metro poses in the county.
“Metro would be great…I think we do have to be realistic about a couple of things…there is a cost that we do become a part of if we become a part of the Metro pack. We do have to assume a significant portion of a $6 billion dollars in debt. And frankly, the Metro’s aging – it’s aging very quickly,” said Stewart.
One of the most contentious parts of the Q&A session occurred when Riley O’Casey, an 8th grade teacher and vice president of the Prince William Education Association, asked county supervisors point blank if they stood behind the 4% tax rate allotted in the county’s 5-year plan. The tax rate is currently a controversial topic in the community, following an initial budget draft with only a 1.3% increase.
Jenkins and Caddigan immediately expressed their commitment to the 4%, while Stewart and Supervisor Mike May were reluctant to comment.
Never missing an opportunity to meet voters during an election year, candidates seeking local office were also there including Potomac District Supervisor candidate Andrea Bailey, Virginia State Senate 29th District candidate Jeremy McPike, and Prince William School Board Chairman candidate Tim Singstock.
