Rick Smith, an information technology director, and life-long Prince William County resident has announced his candidacy for Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.
The incumbent, Chairman At-Large Corey Stewart, will have to face off with primary candidate Chris Crawford in the upcoming Republican firehouse primary in April.
Smith was a graduate of Osbourne Park High School in Manassas and has a degree in business administration from Strayer University.
According to Smith, he has worked for the American Banker’s Association for 19-years.
“I started my career in the banking industry – spent about seven or eight years doing that – and then I went to the American Banker’s Association to do information technology work,” said Smith.
Within the community, Smith has been the treasurer and president of the Enterprise Elementary School PTA, treasurer for the C.D Hylton High School Choral Boosters, a coach for the Boys & Girls Club basketball team and the Prince William County Hockey Club. Additionally, Smith has been appointed to three boards; the Citizen’s Resource Protection Area Review Committee, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Smith stated that one of his main motivators to run for the board was a diminishing community spirit.
“For me, the reason I’m running is really about community. It’s about having lived here for most of my life – growing up here, choosing to raise my children here,” commented Smith.
During his candidacy, Smith is looking to address improving education, public safety and economic development.
“I have a real problem when our board says we should have two uniformed officers for every five residents, and yet based on the current population, that the number [of officers] should be between 860 to 880, and we’ve got about 670. That’s a huge problem for us, in terms of our safety,” said Smith.
There has not been a large enough investment in bringing good jobs to Prince William, according to Smith.
“Since I was 19 years old, I’ve been commuting to [Washington] D.C. and I would love to be able to have a good, high paying job in Prince William County…but the jobs just aren’t here. And the reasons the jobs aren’t here, I believe, is because we haven’t invested in our infrastructure,” Smith said.
According to Smith, he feels that Stewart isn’t looking out for the community he serves, and this is why he has decided to run for the seat.
“I’m not somebody who is ever going to have Prince William County be in my rear-view mirror, and I think that Corey is. And I think a lot of the decisions that he’s made during his time on the board have reflected a greater interest in a political gain for himself, and not what’s best for Prince William County,” Smith stated.
Smith lives in Meadowbrook Woods with his wife and four children.
