REVIEW - The Diary of Anne Frank at King George High School

by Neil Richard

You are both blessed and cursed if you missed the recent production from the Theatre Department at King George High School. Blessed that you missed the intense emotion and cursed for missing yet another great production from teenage actors. This was not the uproarious comedy of The Princess King.

In what I can only describe as the most depressing play I've seen since Shenandoah at the Riverside Center, the student actors did a tremendous job of meeting the challenge head-on. With tact and poise, the cast was able to convey nearly every emotion from humor to terror. There were moments of happiness. Moments of laughter. Moments of sadness. Moments of shock. But through it all, the cast remained loyal to the themes and were adept at making those of us in the audience feel those feelings.

The cast consisted of:

• Alex Croce as Anne Frank
• Ally Miller as Margot Frank
• Aniyah Reynolds as Mrs. Frank
• Isak Watson as Mr. Frank
• Grace Terry as Mrs. Van Daan
• Ben Stone as Mr. Van Daan
• Jason Knott as Peter Van Daan
• Brandon Thomas as Mr. Dussel
• Kelly Hoffman as Miep
• Brandon Croce as Mr. Kraler
• Blake Ferro as a German Officer
• Andrew Denton as a German Officer

Alex, playing Anne, was able to skillfully go from acting like a little girl to being old enough to want to kiss boys. Ben and Grace, playing Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan, acted like you'd expect a married couple to act. Isak, playing Anne's father, was a wonderfully calm and cool character who kept everyone, including the audience, grounded.

Just like anyone that went to see the movie Titanic, we all knew how the story would end. But we still clung to some shred of hope that the story would take a turn and everyone would survive. In the end though, reality hit and the audience was left in tears as we heard seven of the eight Jews hiding in an attic would never live beyond the concentration camps.

Despite the audience leaving in tears, there was hope on the horizon. The Theatre Department will have two more productions this season that should be funnier. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be on stage from January 22 to 25, 2020 and The Little Mermaid will be shown from April 29 to May 2, 2020. We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance.

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2019-10-15 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Every single article published here on Project94 crosses at least two desks, goes before at least two sets of eyes, prior to publication.  On the occasion that I have written articles, Neil Richard has been my editor.  Likewise I have copy edited every piece he’s written.  We use each other as a sounding board during these sessions.  It’s worth noting that the four founding members of Project94 have different political ideologies.  It’s part of what makes this publication unique.  Collectively, we have no agenda other than to report the truth and let you, the readers, form your own opinions.  On those occasions when we publish our opinions we clearly label them as such.  I wrote a dissenting opinion piece on Chris Werle during the Service Authority fiasco, in part because I felt that his side of the story deserved to be told.  Neil and I remain friends in spite of this difference of opinion.  This is due, in no small part, to the quality of Neil’s character.


I say this because I want to be sure we are clear on this point: our allegiance is to truth, and to King George County.  Neil had misgivings about writing up his coverage of this particular meeting, for reasons that should become clear in the text of the article itself.  However it is our shared belief that providing coverage to you of your local government, and speaking the truth of the events of the night of October 15th, 2019, was the most important thing.  Neil was the man on the ground that night.  If you’re of the opinion that another reporter should have covered this, Neil would agree with you, and the decision to publish this rests squarely on my shoulders.
                                                                                               -- Sean Gates 10/17/2019

The Board of Supervisors began their meeting at 7:18pm.
There was an amendment to the Agenda to strike the presentation from the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC). The amendment was approved.

Public Comment began with an announcement from Jeff Bueche that Public Comment would be limited to five minutes instead of the usual three minutes because of a request.

I gave Public Comment. To prevent any doubt over what I said, you can watch it here [beginning at 00:56].

2019-10-15 - Service Authority Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

The Service Authority began their meeting promptly at 6:30pm.

There were no amendments to the Agenda.

There was no Public Comment.

Christopher Werle began his Board Report by saying he met with Mike Bennett and Jonathon Weakley, General Manager, to discuss the Wiley-Wilson Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the Purkins Corner Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). On the same day, October 4th, he also attended the fundraiser dinner for the Gladys and Ira West Scholarship. On the 7th, Werle reviewed three years of power outage data from Dominion Energy in an effort to complete the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant application. He said he would go into more detail later in the evening. On the 8th he attended the joint session between the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Werle also gave an update on the Fairview Beach riverbank stabilization project and said that FEMA has sent a memo to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding their conclusion that the project would not impact the short nosed sturgeon.

Q&A With Nick Minor

by Neil Richard

I had the chance to sit down with Nick Minor to ask him a few questions related to economic development and tourism. What I expected to be a brief interview turned into a 90 minute discussion! Here are the questions I had along with some from your neighbors.

Question: What is your role within the County government?
Answer: I'm the Director of Economic Development and Tourism. I promote the County in the best possible way I know how and involve the appropriate stakeholders like the Board of Supervisors, Economic Development Authority, etc. I plan and direct the County so it's prepared for future growth but also for potential setbacks in the economy. King George is heavily dependent on the government with the base in Dahlgren so a hit to them will be hard on all of us. If we can diversify the County so it's a mix of residential, retail, industry and more. Also a mix between government and non-government.

OPINION - Finalized CIP Means Smaller Courthouse

by Neil Richard

On October 23rd, the Board of Supervisors met to finalize their Capital Improvement Program (CIP) plan for the coming year. There was bad news and worse news, depending on where you stand with the idea of a new Courthouse.

Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, broke the bad news first. Any future capital projects would need to be funded by borrowing more money. And to cover that new borrowing, tax rates would need to go up. In breaking down his math, Dr. Young explained that future revenue from the landfill has already been leveraged in full. While this has already been discussed at length by the Board for several years, Young went on to explain that by including the annual school bus purchase, annual ambulance purchase, and annual Sheriff's Office radio purchases, the expected funding available from the landfill drops to a paltry $192,000 per year. [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Chair of the Landfill Advisory Committee.]

This led to the data showing that any new borrowing would result in an annual debt payment. In other words, borrowing money means a loan payment needs to be made. Using the current King George Middle School Expansion Project as a rough estimate, Young said that for every $10 million borrowed, $500,000 a year in loan payments would need to be made. Although other variables like the market, interest rates, and costs weren't factored into this estimate, it was a solid starting point for wrapping your head around future borrowing.

From here, Dr. Young explained that a one (1) cent tax increase means $270,000 in revenue for the County. Therefore, $500,000 in loan payments equals a two (2) cent tax increase. Which means that if the County wants to borrow $40 million to build a giant warehouse for Beanie Babies, they would need to raise taxes eight (8) cents to cover the cost of the annual loan payment.

Dr. Young then laid out the real bad news of the night. Due to upcoming financial needs, a tax increase is needed. The SAFER Grant expires soon and will need one to two cents to cover the costs. The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) hasn't raised rates and will likely do so in the coming year resulting in a one to two cent tax increase. Another penny increase would be needed to cover the increased cost of healthcare and another penny for the Rappahannock Regional Jail. The school budget would also likely result in another two or three cents. While all of the projections and predictions were not verified and set in stone, they gave the Board a solid gut check in looking at what the future held: the high probability of a tax increase.

With the bad news out of the way, Dr. Young asked the Supervisors to come to a consensus on the Courthouse decision. With the new information in front of them, the Board discussed where they stood. A majority decided that a 50,000 square foot Courthouse was the best option. This would mean no more 13,000 square feet of shared space for the County staff as they discussed at their last CIP meeting on the Courthouse. It also meant that the Courthouse would double in size but still be smaller than what they needed as soon as they move in. Cathy Binder was the lone Supervisor asking for more space and more to preserve the existing Courthouse but to manage everything through a phased approach. The residents on the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee and the rest of the Supervisors agreed that 50,000 square feet seemed adequate and that the existing Courthouse should be preserved in some way. If that meant removing newer portions or remodeling or something else was yet to be decided. However, both Binder and Vic Mason did let the Board know that the mold had returned to the Courthouse despite recent remediation work.

Once that decision was made, the Board then went on to discuss other capital projects and it was decided that a committee of citizens would likely be a good thing to have to help the Supervisors gather more input and new ideas. Part of that discussion was the future needs of the School Board, their offices, and the Pre-School. Some Supervisors seemed to be frustrated that the School Board hadn't taken action on the old King George Elementary School or other projects over the years.

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Candidate Interviews 4 of 4 - Board of Supervisors

by Neil Richard


Editor's Note: Board of Supervisors, At-Large District, is currently held by Ruby Brabo. Annie Cupka is also running for the same position. Board of Supervisors, James Madison District, is currently held by Richard Granger. He is running unopposed. Board of Supervisors, Dahlgren District, is currently held by John Jenkins. He previously announced he is not running for re-election. Jeff Stonehill is running to fill the vacancy.

Candidate: Ruby Brabo

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: I moved here in 2005 from Germany. My ex-husband and I chose King George because we used to live in Stafford prior to going to Germany and he didn’t want to commute to DC on 95 North anymore. I was familiar with the area from our time in Stafford so I told him 301 was a better route. The time it took him never changed from when we moved back to when he retired. When we first moved to Stafford, there was one stoplight on Garrisonville Road. By the time we left seven years later, it took me 40 minutes to go two miles. I didn’t really care that King George didn’t have all the amenities at the time, I just like the peaceful, rural nature.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: I was actually asked by the Citizens for Non-Partisan Good Government to run for office in April of 2011. I always enjoyed politics and would create flyers for the community about where to vote and about big issues before that. I also spent four years as the President of my Homeowners Association and was able to prove that the County should not have let the developer leave before the infrastructure was complete. One of the comments I heard a lot was “you weren’t afraid to stand up to these guys.” They were rude to me and I had nothing to lose.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: I like to run, mountain bike, and garden in my yard. I also like to crochet. It helps me unwind after long meetings.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: I believe we can have unity and come together. I try to do that more so now than eight years ago. The best way to promote unity is to focus on the issues and to find solutions. Everyone wants a good quality of life and loves this community.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: A million dollars doesn’t do a lot with our issues. What could we realistically accomplish? My gut says, and some people may not like it, to give the money to someone like the King George Education Foundation (KGEF). A million dollars won’t solve our major issues like bike lanes or broadband. But KGEF could do a lot more over a longer time with that much money.

Campaign Finance Reports

Candidate: Annie Cupka

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?

A: November 17, 2005. My twins had just turned 1. We moved from Woodbridge, Virginia and found a place in the woods. We wanted to raise our kids in a rural area so we left our quarter acre lot in a subdivision for ten acres of trees. They can go out the front door and explore. My husband’s grandfather took him hunting in Mathias Point so he remembers it from when he was a kid being a great place. The schools are better now than they were 14 years ago but even back then they were better than what was in Woodbridge.


Q: What made you want to run for office?

A: Looking back on the jobs I’ve had in the past, I’ve always been a citizen servant. I worked as a police officer then stayed at home for five years raising our kids. After that, I volunteered at their school which led to me being a paraprofessional which led to being part of the King George Education Foundation which led to being a County employee in the Economic Development office. I feel like I’ve always served so this is the next step.


Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?

A: I like to garden, read, and go for walks. We also just bought kayaks and I’ve been enjoying that. I never really grew up in an outdoor or sports type of family.


Q: How would you promote unity within King George?

A: I feel like I’m already doing it in the schools with the King George Education Foundation (KGEF). A prime example is the Fox Smart Center. Our main mission at KGEF is unity. To take it to the next level, I think certain civic groups do well but we as a County don’t do it well. I’d like to see more community clean up days or beach clean ups. Ultimately I’d like to see a downtown area around the old Courthouse. Something like a Town Square there.


Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?

A: As a grant writer, I have to ask if there are strings attached. If there are no strings attached, I’d like to use it as seed money for a larger matching grant. The sexy answer is broadband but that may not be the right answer. I’d like to see more fire stations but that would leave the need to staff them. I think the most practical answer is to help with the Service Authority infrastructure. There are too many needs there. Not all houses are served by the Service Authority but we have to do something.

Campaign Finance Reports

Candidate: Richard Granger

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?

A: April of 2005. We used to live in Southern Maryland for five years prior to that but wanted a better place, better schools to raise our kids and my wife’s family lived here. Our realtor connected us to Tommy Burrell Sr. and he built our house. Our new house has enough room for my wife’s horse and we really like the rural nature.


Q: What made you want to run for office?

A: I knew Jeff Bueche before either of us was elected to office and he suggested I should run. I laughed at him. I’m not outgoing and more of an introvert. I thought about it and prayed on it and talked to my wife about it. In the end I felt led by God. I was nervous about it but I do what I can. I’m running again because I don’t feel like my time is done. It’s always been in God’s hands so if I get reelected, it’s His choice.


Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?

A: I saw “free time” and chuckled. It really is a commodity so most of my free time is spent with family. But I like stories. Science Fiction and Fantasy. I like to read, watch TV and movies, and play video games in that genre. It’s a way to unwind. I also love sports. Hokies!


Q: How would you promote unity within King George?

A: I was thinking about this question and ended up looking up the definition of “unity” to see if it helped. I think of unity of purpose when I hear this question. To meet the needs of the citizens of the community. There may be less unity on how to meet those needs but that’s not always a bad thing. We have lots of passion. We need to step back and listen. So for me, to promote unity, I try to lead by example and listen to others. Hopefully this helps me make wiser decisions. Diversity is a good thing but we need to be unified in our common goal.


Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?

A: A million dollars is really right in the middle. We can’t really use it for Capital Improvement Projects because those cost tens of millions but we could start by looking there. When I looked at the list, the King George Elementary School roof needs to be replaced and that’s expected to cost a million dollars. It’s not a fun answer but it’s something. I also think the Parks and Recreation Department sometimes takes a back seat to other departmental needs, like a new ambulance or something, so maybe repairing the tennis court or putting in a dog park. I’d probably look there, in Parks and Recreation, to see what can be done.

No Campaign Finance Reports Available.

Candidate: Jeff Stonehill

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?

A: I moved here in 1997 from Mechanicsville, Virginia. I worked for the Virginia Marine Police [part of the Virginia Marine Resource Commission] and patrolled from Westmoreland and King George all the way up to D.C. I really liked it here and gave up my boat in 2004 to become a deputy with the King George County Sheriff’s Office. I like that King George is close to the beaches and mountains and it’s between D.C. and Richmond. It’s close enough to the city when it’s needed.


Q: What made you want to run for office?

A: While patrolling, I found that I really enjoyed the Dahlgren area. When talking to residents, I found what was important to them. When I was patrolling one day, a woman said I should run for Board of Supervisors because she would vote for me. That planted the seed and I became more involved like serving on the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee. I retired from the Sheriff’s Office and decided to run. [John] Jenkins said he wasn’t running again and said he was comfortable with me taking his seat. I feel I have a unique insight as a retired County employee and a business owner. I know the pitfalls faced by prospective business owners in King George and know how the public wants to be treated by a County employee.


Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?

A: I don’t have much free time but I do try to take one day off a week to relax. My wife Marsha and I like to boat and sail and ride mountain bikes. I also enjoy the trails at Caledon State Park and hanging out with our cat and our horses.


Q: How would you promote unity within King George?

A: I would try to connect people by doing three things. I would support events, like an open mic night or fishing tournaments. I would connect people through community education and awareness. And I would encourage businesses to use local resources like the Chamber of Commerce to help sustain small businesses. It takes all of us to make a community and I’d strive to connect everyone in the County.


Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?

A: I would set up a water connection fund for small businesses. As we know, the King George Service Authority is in a bad place now but it is getting better. This impacts growth and we need business growth for the County’s economy to thrive. But if our water and sewer connection charges continue as they are now, business will go elsewhere for more reasonable rates.

No Campaign Finance Reports Available.


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Candidate Interviews 3 of 4 - School Board

by Neil Richard

Editor's Note: School Board, At-Large District, is currently held by Tammy Indseth. She previously announced she is not running for re-election. Gayle Hock, who currently occupies the Dahlgren District seat, is running to fill the vacancy. School Board, James Madison District, is currently held by Kristin Tolliver. She is running unopposed. School Board, Dahlgren District, is currently held by Gayle Hock, who is running for the At-Large District seat. Carrie Gonzalez is running to fill her vacancy.

 

Candidate: Carrie Gonzalez

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: My husband and I have lived here for 12 years. I grew up in Pennsylvania. It was a very small, rural area. I went to Penn State for engineering and got a job at Indian Head in Maryland where I met my husband. He grew up in Puerto Rico. We used to live in Waldorf and looked at moving to La Plata but when we came to look at King George, we were shocked that people, complete strangers, would wave to us. When we’d drive through at night it was dark and we could hear crickets. It reminded me of home.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: After having two kids, I felt like I had more to give. We’re all busy and it can be overwhelming but the community needs people to step up and represent those that aren’t heard. Somebody needs to do it. For the School Board side of things, my kids are now 3 and 5. My son started Kindergarten at Potomac and I feel the schools are a good place for me to start. Teachers have a hard but very important job. I feel that when things get hard, we need people to step up.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: Free time is such an enigma. I feel like there’s never enough time in the day to do everything. I enjoy cooking and baking and sharing that with my kids. We’ve enjoyed going to the Farmer’s Market for years now. I enjoy reading but never have enough time. I also enjoy gardening. My mom lives near us now and we share a garden. I also try to stay in shape and enjoy running, biking, swimming, and yoga. I also enjoy playing the piano and I’m a member of the Dahlgren Jazz Band which is made up of base employees.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: Communication is key. I don’t remember the exact quote but in your Local Leaders interview with Mike Bennett, he said something about “it’s not what you do but how you do it, it’s not what you say but how you say it.” I think that we’re so divided as a population and it’s so hard for us to start a discussion with others on the other side. We need to stay open-minded and listen. It’s a shame that we don’t. With my kids I’ve learned that they’re human sponges and don’t question what you say. It’s made me realize that all views and opinions are different. That doesn’t mean opposing opinions aren't valid or wrong and that they should be respected. It’s important to be aware of how we’re received and perceived by others. To answer your question, I would promote unity by leading by example through honesty, transparency, and respect.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: A traffic circle at Owens in Dahlgren. There’s been a lot of chatter about traffic lately and with the new bridge coming, it’s going to increase. There’s base traffic, a day care center, housing developments there. I know the turn lanes were put in to improve it but it still scares me to go through there.

Campaign Finance Reports

Candidate: Gayle Hock

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: I moved here in 1970. My husband got a job here after having been here for a co-op. I became a Social Worker in King George. It was so different here in the 70s. I remember actually visiting a family that lived in a cave on the Rappahannock River. I eventually went on to work as a Social Worker in Fredericksburg then transitioned to home health then pre-school then finally arrived back at King George as a Social Worker before eventually becoming the Supervisor of Family and Children’s Services.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: I was getting ready to retire four years ago from school and a friend at the School Board Office suggested it. I had worked with countless School Board members, Superintendents, and Supervisors so I thought they were crazy to suggest it. But they said I could represent the “voices that aren’t heard” and, as a social worker, that really resonated with me. My favorite students are those that are on the verge of being suspended or expelled because often times they didn’t get heard. We’ve had some intervention programs that have worked well but they’ve gone away over time.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: My dogs. We have three standard poodles, two of them were rescues. They’re country poodles so they’ll roll around in deer poop and chase squirrels. I also love to quilt. And I love plants but I wouldn’t call it gardening. I like to dig in the dirt and sometimes I’m lucky enough that something grows. We live on the river so we love being on the water through all the seasons. We’ve lost track of how many boats we’ve had during our marriage.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: Working in the school system, we created unity via suicide prevention, classroom integration, and more. But unity with a destructive motive is disastrous. You could consider lynch mobs a form of unity so we need to be careful of our own motives when building unity. Unity starts with a conversation. You can’t unite with someone you don’t know. Which means we need to start listening which will build trust. Divided groups can then come together with common goals and efforts. The Opp Shop is a successful example of a community project. It started as a conversation that evolved into what it is today. They raise over $100,000 a year in donations. Fall Festival is a great opportunity too. Communities also do great at uniting over disasters. It takes somebody with organizational skills and trust. That’s a lot of words for no specific answer.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: Sad to say, but a million dollars isn’t a lot of money. Anything we do for the community takes funds to create, execute, and sustain. We offer a lot for college-bound kids but not enough. It’s good but I’d like to expand Career Technical Education (CTE). We’re doing amazing things but I’d like to see more. Maybe a free-standing program that could expand to include the Middle School and adult education classes. Including community college courses like welding or diesel mechanics or cybersecurity. If we had a location, we could expand existing programs from colleges here. So a million dollars would get us started but we would need to find a way to sustain it.

No Campaign Finance Reports Available.

Candidate: Kristin Tolliver

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A. 1985. I lived with my roommate at the time. I don't know that I chose as much as stayed. I met my husband here and got a Masters degree in Social Work.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A. I decided that when my son went to school, I decided to run for the School Board. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. When the time came, my neighbor ended up running too so I stepped aside. Then they left and I ran. But I hate public speaking and being in the public eye.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: Exercise like jazzercise, cardio, and weights. I like to spend time with friends and time with my dog at home.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: Embracing diversity. Bring people together at community events. Cultural diversity. I think overall we're a solid community and we're still a safe and small town to live in and raise our kids.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A. My first thought was to spend it within the schools. One million doesn't really go far in the school budget though. We need to find a better way to support those with challenging behavior issues, especially in elementary schools. I think school psychologists and behavior specialists would help. We need to find ways to meet the needs of those kids. Outside of school, I think I'd like to see a dog park or a performing arts center. Although our High School does a good job. I think that would help feed into the unity in the community.

No Campaign Finance Reports Available.

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Candidate Interviews 2 of 4 - Constitutional Officers

by Neil Richard

Editor's Note: Treasurer is currently held by Randy Jones. He is running unopposed. Commissioner of the Revenue is currently held by Judy Hart. She is running unopposed. Commonwealth's Attorney is currently held by Keri Gusmann. She is running unopposed.

Commonwealth’s Attorney

Candidate: Keri Gusmann
Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: I came to King George in 2002 and moved here in 2012. I graduated from law school in 2000 and worked in Fredericksburg as a Public Defender. I beat Matt Britton a few times in court and he was impressed enough to hire me.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: Matt Britton resigned in September of 2012. Because it was less than 90 days before the next election, a special election was held in November of 2013. So I basically ran for election in November of 2013 to keep my job. But I really do love my job working as a prosecutor.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: Get outside either on the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail or Caledon State Park. I have a son that plays soccer and since I played soccer in the past, I also coach. One of the best parts about coaching is none of the kids care about what Coach Keri does for work. It’s great to coach them and it gives me an hour of not thinking about work.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: More sports. Because I played soccer and softball in college, I got a season pass to watch high school sports. We also enjoy the musicals and plays at the high school and my son and I think they’re better than some of the others in the area. I also like that there’s one high school. It allows kids that have rocket scientists as parents and those with blue collar parents living in a trailer park to get together and become friends.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: A supervised, pretrial living arrangement for those charged with misdemeanors. Sort of like a halfway house but without the negative connotations. There’s nothing like that in King George and not really anything like it in the region. But some place where people can go after they’ve detoxed in jail but have the supervision they need to stay on track. It would also be a supervised release program where people wouldn’t go back to their previous living environment and go back to their old ways. Plus it eases the burden on family and friends.

No Campaign Finance Reports Available. 

 

Commissioner of the Revenue

Candidate: Judy Hart
Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: My family came here in July of 1962 because of my dad. He helped build the expansion that made it a four-lane highway. Ed’s Drive is named after him. I’m the youngest of four siblings and all graduated from King George High School. I also married a local and have stayed since.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: I worked for the County for about ten and a half years issuing business licenses. When a new Commissioner was elected, she didn’t want me to be part of her team so I left. I went to work for Spotsylvania County for about two years issuing business licenses there. I was in the process of helping a friend run for office and she was offered a job on base she couldn’t turn down but she dropped out of the race. My husband and I were on our back porch on the swing talking about it and he suggested I run for office. Before that it had never even entered my mind. So I prayed on it for about a week and the Lord finally told me I should run for office and make Regina my Deputy Commissioner. So that’s what I did and I won with 66% of the vote.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: I love to work in the yard. I could spend all day on the lawn mower out there cutting grass. I also enjoy working in my flower beds and do some sewing and needlework. I also make and decorate cakes, usually wedding cakes, for friends and family. I used to do that as a business but it became more work and less fun so now the wedding cake is usually my present to the couple. I also have three grandkids and I love to spend time with them.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: This was the hardest question on your list. I think, as Commissioner, my attitude helps the most. Just being kinder to everyone. When I took over I met with my staff and told them to be nice to everyone and to treat the citizens that come in like Chik-fil-A treats their customers. My dad told me that you don’t have to like a person but you do have to be nice to them. That’s been with me ever since he told me.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: I would put it towards the children. Maybe even schools and teachers. But the children have so many needs. Like lunches during the summer because they don’t get a lunch at school. My daughter is a teacher in Rockingham and I hear a lot of stories about the many needs of children.

No Campaign Finance Reports Available.

Treasurer

Candidate: Randy Jones
Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: I started working here in 1997 as a Part-Time employee. I became a Full-Time employee in 1999. I grew up in Westmoreland and moved to King George in 2013.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: I’ve worked every job in this department over the years. When Alice [Moore] retired, it seemed like the only natural spot left for me was Treasurer. Several people also suggested I run for office. Plus it’s kinda fun.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: Golf. I’m no good at it but I play often. I also used to coach in Colonial Beach for about 15 years. Boys Basketball and Boys Baseball. The basketball team was State Champion in 2009. Right now i”m coaching Girls Softball and Boys Basketball here in King George.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: I think relationships need to be built around work, school, and church. The last two should be the focal points of how to bring people together.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: I’m a big fan of Cedell Brooks Park. So I think investing in something recreational to bring people together would be great. If not that park, somewhere else. Basketball courts. Tennis courts. Shelters. Something for people to use to enjoy being together with others.

No Campaign Finance Reports Available.

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Candidate Interviews 1 of 4 - Sheriff

by Neil Richard

Editor's Note: Current Sheriff Steve Dempsey is retiring. There are two candidates running for office, T.C. Collins and Chris Giles

Candidate: T. C. Collins

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: My first arrival was in the early 1980s. As I began my journey as a Virginia State Police Officer, I returned again in the 2000s and became a full-time resident. I met my wife, Jennifer, here and my three children, Jennell, Tyler, and Jacqueline, all went to school here. I chose to live here because it’s home. King George is a great place to raise a family and to be part of a nurturing community.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: The theme of my campaign is a “a call to serve” because I truly believe I was called to this journey. It is by no means the easier route but I feel I must surrender to a higher calling of serving this County that I, along with my family and friends, call home. Although it is not the easy choice, it is a call that I am committed to and excited about.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: Every day I take a long walk, often with our family dog Roxy, and often in the very early morning. I use this time to reflect on my blessings and center myself. It also helps sets the tone for the coming day. I’ve also spent a lifetime dabbling in woodworking and other creative projects. I’ve created horse drawn hearses, furniture, and even made a Flintstones car out of a golf cart. This is an outlet for me to flourish in aspects that are detail-oriented but also examine bigger picture projects.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: My vision for unity in King George County stems from my commitment to justice. I want to foster genuine relationships with the community where the Sheriff’s Office is always present, accessible, and fair.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: I have seen King George flourish as new residents and businesses have made this their home. One way I would allocate the money is to prepare our infrastructure for the continuing increase of visitors and new residents. I’m also devoted to investing in our youth through preventative services as well as mentorship programs. This means with the updated Comprehensive Plan and increased traffic with a new bridge, more personnel and equipment but also community services. I’d like to see the School Resource Officers partnering with other community groups and service organizations during the summer to continue to mentor our youth. I am a man of solutions and have proven leadership skills that I feel can be used to build larger coalitions in the community. We can do more as a big group than we can individually.

Campaign Finance Reports

Candidate: Captain Chris Giles

Q: When did you arrive in King George and why did you choose to live here?
A: 1992. I got out of the Marine Corps and worked in Bowling Green for a couple of years before getting hired here in King George. Everyone was friendly and I fell in love with it. I love the ruralness of it. I grew up in rural, upstate New York so it was a perfect fit. It’s close to everything, the mountains, the beach.

Q: What made you want to run for office?
A: Not because I’m a politician. I’m the polar opposite of a politician. My mother-in-law says I have a servant’s heart. I wanted to keep the continuity of the office. I’ve been here for 27 years and saw how Sheriff Dobson and Sheriff Dempsey ran things. There’s crime here in King George but it’s different than the crime in our surrounding area so they must be doing something right.

Q: What do you do in your free time for stress relief or as a hobby?
A: Woodworking but I’m not that good at it. I also enjoy hunting, hiking, sports. Outdoors stuff.

Q: How would you promote unity within King George?
A: Transparency. Passing on information. I would also work with the officers on being more approachable. I’ve challenged my deputies to smile and wave at the car next to them when they make eye contact at a stoplight. I think it’s been helpful.

Q: If you received a $1 million grant to use for King George any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
A: Probably donate it back to the County to build and operate a community center for kids. Something to make a better life for youth. Sports. Respect. Something for kids to do so they don’t get into trouble. The YMCA is great, and maybe they have a program like that, but I’d like to see something that doesn’t cost money. A safe haven for kids. I’d also look at getting some extra training and equipment for the deputies.

[2019-10-23 - EDITED] No Campaign Finance Reports Available. The Candidate made scanned versions of the paper copies available on their candidate website here.

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OPINION - Urgent Care Project Dies On Operating Table

by Neil Richard

The King George County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission met on October 8, 2019 for what would be one of the most painful meetings I've attended over the past two years of following local government. Many would find it painful to sit through a five hour meeting and earn nothing but time away from your family. I don't have a brain tumor but I do enjoy going to these meetings because I get to learn about what's happening where I live and I get to meet new people and hear their story. I found this particular meeting painful because the joy was quickly sucked out on so many levels. In the spirit of being honest, I'll risk burning a few bridges to bring you what I felt about the meeting in as objective a manner as possible.

When my day began, my wife asked me when I was leaving for the meeting. I knew it would be busy night but thought that getting there an hour early was a little too crazy. Turns out, getting there an hour early was perfect. The doors were closed and nobody was allowed in until until 6:30pm. At least until Supervisor Jeff Bueche walked past and told everyone to come in regardless of what we were told previously. The extra ten minutes didn't make a huge difference but it ensured first choice of seats.

OPINION - Courthouse Decision

by Neil Richard

The King George County Supervisors and the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee dedicated a single night to discussing the future plans of the County but more specifically the Courthouse. This meeting on October 3rd was their fourth Capital Improvement Program (CIP) meeting of the year but not the first time a plan for the future Courthouse was discussed. You can find an abundance of links in our prior coverage here as well as a details from a tour I took earlier this year and a great article by Sean Gates linking the past and future. While many of the Supervisors referred to the discussion as the "elephant in the room" I felt like it was the horse that died years ago and has been continually beaten.

Thankfully, after this particular meeting, it feels like everyone has agreed to move forward with building a new Courthouse. There was a lot of discussion regarding how much square footage was needed and the impression I got was that all of the Supervisors felt only 50,000 square feet was necessary. One judge and the Commonwealth's Attorney, Keri Gusmann, both spoke to the projected need of 63,000 square feet by 2027 and the fear that not building it to that size now would mean increased costs in the near future. Even though she said it was shortsighted, Gusmann was careful to say she didn't want to "give back" the idea that the Supervisors would at least build 50,000 square feet.

2019-10-01 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

The King George County Board of Supervisors began their meeting after another quarterly, and short, Wireless Authority meeting.

There was an amendment to the Agenda as Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, asked the Board to move the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) presentations to the beginning of the meeting as requested by Steve McKeever who was from out of town. The Board approved.

Public Comment began with Dan Hingley, Operations Manager for AQUA and former Interim General Manager of the Service Authority. Hingley wanted to take a minute of the Board's time to make them aware of a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) in Presidential Lakes. He said about 750 gallons of untreated waste water leaked due to a break in a force main. Hingley said the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was notified as required and the issue had been corrected. He said that several residents notified the Supervisors and he just wanted to give them additional information.

Next was Alan Tye who was there to speak about the noise ordinance and said he appreciated everyone looking into the issue. He thanked Sheriff Dempsey who introduced him to Richard Granger. He said that the noise laws don't grow and account for the neighbors that shoot guns all night long. He was talking about large caliber rifles and handguns that would begin shooting at exploding targets after dark and go all the way into the morning. Tye said you can't cut grass after 10 pm but you can shoot guns 24 hours a day. He knew that because Sheriff Dempsey has sent officers to his house for years concerning his neighbor. Tye asked the Supervisors to consider the information given but also offered anecdotal evidence when his mother in law nearly fell out of her chair one night because of the noise. Tye said the noise impacts the health and welfare of residents.

2019-10-01 - Wireless Authority Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

The Wireless Authority Board of Directors held their quarterly meeting on October 1, 2019. They opened their meeting at 7:48pm.

There were no amendments to the Agenda.

There was no Public Comment.

John Jenkins thanked everyone for coming out to speak and then realized it was the Wireless Authority meeting. He then said he had no report.

Richard Granger and Cathy Binder had no report.

Ruby Brabo asked for consensus to have Eric Gregory, County Attorney, look at dissolving the Wireless Authority and rolling everything into the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors. Brabo's colleagues agreed and Gregory said he could do that. Bueche added that he didn't see why there's a Board that meets but does nothing.

The was no Consent Agenda.

The meeting adjourned at 7:50pm.

2019-10-01 - Service Authority Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

The Service Authority Board of Directors began their meeting at 6:30pm.

There were no amendments to the Agenda.

Public Comment began with Kathy Marquis speaking about her recent billing issue. She said she and her husband moved to King George to escape the overcrowding in Waldorf. They both love the peace and quiet but said their builder didn't share the cost of water with them. They were shocked when they got their bill and wanted to express their concerns with being charged over $600 for two months of usage. Marquis said their usage didn't reflect their actual usage as they were nurturing a new lawn which must be maintained but wasn't warrantied by their builder. She said they either needed to water their lawn or pay to have it replaced. She said the sewage portion of their bill was twice as much as their water portion yet shouldn't be included. She said a separate meter for watering lawns instead of the current practice of using one meter for everything would be preferred. She also said that due to some discrepancies in the bill, she would like to see their meter tested to ensure it was working properly and suggested reviewing customer accounts as well. Marquis said she was aware of a rate increase for another ten percent every year for the next five years but never heard a hearing being publicized. She proposed that customers be notified on their bill about upcoming rate hearings. She closed by saying she loved her community and was committed to what it represents.

Sharon Miller was next to speak and echoed many of the same concerns. Miller said she chose King George County to be close to her children and grandchildren and was living on a fixed income. She said the builder told her the lawn and shrubs were not under warranty and she did her best to water them in an effort to keep them alive. She said she previously lived in Prince William County and was eager to get out of the northern Virginia area. Miller said her first water bill was $115 but her last bill was $428 for one person. She asked that the rates be shown on the bill with calculations. Miller asked how they could be charged for putting water in the ground instead of the sewer and felt something was very wrong somewhere. She said tearfully that she has come to the conclusion she may not be able to live here. After investing her life savings to be closer to her kids, she doesn't know how she can stay here with water bills like this.

2019-10-11 - Founders' Day

King George County will host Founders' Day, the Kick-Off Event for King George County's 300th Anniversary Celebration on November 15, 2019 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the University of Mary Washington - Dahlgren Campus.

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2019-10-09 - Speed Limit Public Notice

The Board of Supervisors of the County of King George, Virginia will hold a public hearing to receive public input concerning a speed limit increase on Routes 3 and 301, from 55 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour, on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room.

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2019-10-08 - Noise Ordinance Public Notice

The Board of Supervisors of the County of King George, Virginia will hold a public hearing to receive public input concerning proposed amendments to the King George County Noise Ordinance on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room.

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2019-10-03 - Public Notice

Public Notice regarding the upcoming King George County General Election on November 5, 2019.

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2019-10-02 - Public Hearings

The King George County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 to hear a request for a Special Exception Permit by White Hall Estate.

The Board of Supervisors of the County of King George, Virginia will hold a public hearing to receive public input regarding a proposed amendment to designate Potomac Landing as a Golf Cart Community.

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OPINION - Round 3 Of The CIP Budget Work Session

by Neil Richard

The Board of Supervisors held their third work session to discuss the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Based on their last two meetings where the Supervisors had asked for more information, they were able to better pin down their priorities and funding levels. However, nothing is set in stone just yet.

Jim Lynch spoke briefly during Public Comment to let the Board know he was there as a representative of the Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) and that he had submitted comments to Dr. Young earlier in the day about the upcoming Trailways Study discussion. Lynch also offered to answer any questions the Board may have. [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Treasurer of the Friends of DRHT.]

With a little shuffling, the Board first heard from Nick Minor, the County's new Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Minor gave the Board a quick rundown of the often mentioned gas line fund. The fund was originally created to pay for the expansion of a gas line from Spotsylvania or Stafford into the Industrial Park in King George. Located near the landfill and Birchwood Power Facility, the general idea is the gas line would be an additional utility that would attract more manufacturing and industrial development in the area. Minor said the "name of the game is business ready sites."