Opinion
Prince William County is made up of close to half a million people.
Millennials (people born between 1980-2000) make up 23% of that population, though at the polls in an election year you wouldn’t know we existed. In a Presidential year, we are underrepresented, and in an off-year state and local election like this one, we might as well not exist.
So, I am writing to every 18 to 35-year–old living in the Occoquan District. Whether you went to Osbourn Park, Woodbridge, or Gar-Field Senior High School, whether you went away for college or went to NOVA, or whether you are a transplant to the area, I encourage you to check out Ruth Anderson to be our Supervisor who will work hard to represent us in local government matters.
Over 60% of millennials are not affiliated with a political party. They base their judgments on a candidate’s ideas.
As a long-time resident of Occoquan, Ruth is a candidate with a great platform and ideas that will benefit us (the Millennials), as well as the rest of the residents of our area. She is the only candidate I have heard talk about ways to keep Millennials in Prince William instead of having us move elsewhere. She wants to “bring Prince William home.” That’s her campaign theme and her driving message, something she learned from numerous communities she’s lived in while moving around the country during a 21-year military career.
Ruth wants to bring more “living wage” jobs to Prince William County so people can actually work where they live, spend less time commuting, and spend more time with their families. I know so many young professionals who spend so much of their time making that hike to their place of employment that will actually pay the bills, including that student loan.
She is going to do this by advocating for the phase-out of the Business, Professions, Occupations License (BPOL) tax. She’ll also push for a balanced mix of commercial and residential properties so businesses have space to set up shop. She also wants to set aside “enterprise zones” to be hubs for millennial entrepreneurs.
With Ruth’s emphasis on encouraging more living wage jobs in Prince William County, Millennials will benefit in so many ways. It will take some of the tax burden off the backs of residents and put it on businesses. She also wants to make core government services (police, schools, firefighters) state–of–the–art enterprises that will be supported by the new businesses (which will also keep professionals and Millennials in Prince William County).
I challenge every Millennial (and anyone who reads this article for that matter) to take out their cell phone and look up Ruth Anderson, right now, on her website, Facebook, or Twitter. Make a decision on who you want to work hard for your local community, right here in Occoquan. This Millennial wants someone who is going to implement policies that will encourage and support my desire for a better work/life balance.
That candidate is Ruth Anderson and I will be voting for her on November 3.
Jacob Mosser is a lifelong resident of Prince William County and works as a substitute teacher in Prince William County.
