Opinion

I applaud the governor’s decision to maintain the moratorium for now. However, a decision to move this process forward should have been an open process, especially if the mining will take place in our backyard. In the event of a catastrophic failure at a waste disposal facility, radioactivity in Lake Gaston (primary drinking water source for Chesapeake/Virginia Beach) could reach levels 10-20 times greater than allowed in the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Any threat to our public health should not be tolerated. The NAS study stated that uranium mining in Virginia poses serious health risks. Our climate, ripe with hurricanes and floods, is untested ground. Could the uranium waste be washed away and into our drinking water? Governor McDonnell’s actions beg the question, “Are we killing the goose to feed the gander?”

With greater business model flexibility, the Postal Service can return to profitability and financial stability. A flexible business model would speed product and pricing decisions, enable a five-day per week delivery schedule, and permit the realignment of mail processing, delivery and retail networks to meet lower mail volumes. It would also allow the Postal Service to more effectively manage its healthcare and retirement systems, and better leverage its workforce.

For an organization that generates all of its revenue from the sale of its postage, products and services – and is contending with declining use of First Class Mail for bill payment – having the flexibility to quickly adapt and react to the marketplace is vital. Our immediate goal is to reduce our annual costs by $20 billion by 2013, which would put the Postal Service in the black and ahead of the long-term cost curve.

To the residents of Woodbridge,

With Thanksgiving upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to give thanks to the residents of Woodbridge for re-electing me to a second term. I look forward to continuing to work together to create the “New Woodbridge.” We will revitalize the Route 1 corridor, implement smart growth principles, explore a variety of transportation solutions, preserve our neighborhoods, and work to build a stronger sense of community.

Friends, neighbors, and citizens of Woodbridge, Woodbridge has spoken.

In every campaign, there is a victor and the vanquished. Today, I congratulate Frank Principi and wish him well in his next term serving the people of Woodbridge on the County Board of Supervisors.

I am writing in support of Fred Sweat for Supervisor in Stafford County’s Griffis-Widewater District.

I’ve gotten to know Fred because he owns Sunnyside Nursery near my home in North Stafford. It’s a wonderful nursery and unique gift shop and I am there often meandering about the flowers, sculptures and beautiful water features. And while his nursery operation is impressive, I am more impressed with the man himself.

This week, VDOT will hold a series of hearings on the I-95 HOV/HOT (High Occupancy Vehicle/High Occupancy Toll) Lanes Project. As President of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, I see this project as critical for the long term prosperity of our region. It will boost the local economy, create jobs and help get traffic moving on congested Interstate 95.

Research from George Mason University found that construction of the I-95 project is expected to support 8,000 jobs and create significant opportunities for small businesses and contractors. It could not come at a better time. While our economy is showing signs of recovery, the construction industry is still hurting. This project will help get contractors back to work.

The 36th Senate District of Virginia needs new leadership, and Jeff Frederick is the best person for the job.

Everywhere you go these days people are hungering for a new environment in the halls of power, a new wind that will blow down barriers to business and job creation. They are tired of arrogant regulations, burdensome taxes, and unnecessary layers of government that have assumed lives of their own and are killing the very same enterprises they should be supporting.

Once again the members of the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department rose to the occasion assisting or making more than two-dozen water rescues. Headlines may not have made reference to OWL, but I can tell you that the citizens, other fire departments, the police department and local politicians all took note of the services you provided Thursday night.

On September 11 2001, within moments of the worst attacks on U.S. soil, the members of this great department left their jobs, said good-by to their families, stopped what they were doing and headed for our three stations. Every fire truck, ambulance and special piece was staffed and on the road. Our units were sent north to backfill other fire and rescue stations. Eventually, through continued station transfers and dispatches, some units end up at the Pentagon. Once again our members performed admirably to say the least, no matter what their role was that fateful day.

Prince William County had a very busy weekend with several major events going on all over the County, including the 150th Commemoration of the Battle of First Manassas/Bull Run, Youth for Tomorrow Fundraising Event at Old Dominion Speedway, Virginia State Senior Little League Championships at Veterans Park and Aquapoloosa on the Potomac River.

In anticipation of heightened call volume, OWL VFD off duty fire fighters and EMS came in to help staff additional apparatus. In addition to the normal apparatus that was staffed, OWL VFD staff two additional ambulances and boats 502 and 512.