The Issues

Keeping Taxes Low and Government Accountable

There’s no question that homeowners have seen their taxes rise to the point where they wonder if they will eventually be forced out of the homes they love.

I champion keeping taxes low, especially for seniors and working families. There are two ways to do this.

On one hand, we need to tighten County government belts by keeping spending under control. Accountability is key. Budgets need to be transparent. Government operations need to be streamlined. And wasteful spending needs to be eliminated.

A big part of the taxation problem is County homeowners pay the lion’s share of government expenses – 70%. We need to diversify the tax base by attracting more businesses, and folks I've spoken to in the County have said Stafford needs to be a friendlier place in which to do business. I will provide the leadership necessary to make that happen.

Expanding Economic Development

Stafford County has a great location, bookmarked north to south by Quantico and the Rappahannock River. Heavy commuter traffic travels through every day, which has drawn gas stations, convenience stores, and fast food restaurants. But thus far, we’ve struggled to bring other businesses like sit-down restaurants for family and fine dining, and major retail establishments, for example. Why should Stafford residents have to drive north to Prince William County or further, or south to Fredericksburg and beyond? This needs to change!   

And, by creating conditions favorable for employers, we also drive job creation in Stafford. I will work to see that happen.

Growing Infrastructure Investment

Stafford County traffic is not just heavy – it’s a problem. A byproduct of Stafford’s tremendous growth, traffic congestion fits into broader concerns about infrastructure. When the County grows, its infrastructure needs to keep up. And that requires investments. In roads. Schools. Utilities.

I support investing in transportation improvements, such as road expansions and traffic management, to ease congestion along I-95 and major county roads. We also need to continue supporting initiatives that bring reliable high-speed internet to underserved areas.

But we also have to adopt a policy of responsible growth. That means when new developments are built, they need to include critical infrastructure. They need to construct the schools and the roads and coordinate access to utilities – not just build a lot of homes and leave the county scrambling to prevent overcrowding and strain on services. Responsible growth policies will keep County growth on a sustainable track. There’s more to my platform on Promoting Responsible Growth. Click here [link] to learn more.

Ensuring Educational Excellence

With Stafford’s prime location and substantial growth, it is imperative that our public schools become beacons of excellence for families in the county. There’s a lot that goes into ensuring education is excellent. We need top teachers, top-notch facilities, and the ability to pay for it all – without tax increases that overly burden homeowners.

Research conducted on behalf of the Virginia General Assembly has found that the Commonwealth of Virginia utilizes an outdated school funding formula that under-counts the number of staff that schools need while simultaneously under-estimating what those staff should be paid. Consequently, the Commonwealth does not fund schools at the rate that it should.I will bring Stafford’s concerns about adequate funding to the General Assembly and seek a resolution to this issue that benefits Stafford County. 

Schools are the Board of Supervisors’ biggest partner, and the work they do is critical. To ensure an excellent partnership, I will listen and be responsive, and ask that the School Board does the same, so that children and families are best served by these essential institutions.

Protecting Public Safety
Safety is fundamental. It’s the basis of a good community. All the good we want to do and the opportunities we want to offer are of little value without the confidence that we are safe.

I strongly support our Sheriff’s Department and our first responders and will ensure they have the resources, training and funding they need to keep our communities safe. It’s just as important to public safety that residents and police officers do not see themselves at odds, but rather as partners in helping the community thrive. For that reason, I will support programs that strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and residents, fostering trust and proactive crime prevention.

Promoting Responsible Growth

Growth often brings prosperity, but each proposed project must be considered to evaluate the consequences it will have on the county. What will the impacts be on traffic? How will the county’s natural and cultural resources respond? What will it cost to add the infrastructure required by this project? Will county services be strained?

The Board of Supervisors evaluates such projects under a framework adopted in 2018 and updated in 2021. This comprehensive growth plan envisions “Stafford County – 2040 – Where heart, home and a healthy business environment come together in one community.”

Fundamentally, this framework aims to incentivize growth in targeted growth areas, and carefully evaluate zoning change requests so that the rural character of the county is maintained. As Stafford County continues to grow, the need for detailed planning is apparent. I will bring residents’ concerns about traffic, infrastructure, services and taxation into all such planning so that the county we love grows responsibly.

Balancing Digital Age Needs with Common-Sense Conservative Values   
Data centers require vast amounts of land, water, power, and infrastructure for the approximately 180 people per 1 million square feet of space that they employ. While the County may benefit from taxes from these businesses, there are other situations that require a prudent and comprehensive look at all the potential positives and drawbacks around this issue. 

Since the Board of Supervisors signed the Data Center Ordinance in 2023, paving the way for the County’s first two data centers: two two-story, 250,000 sq. ft. buildings on 49 acres, applications for additional projects have proliferated. Some 11 applications stand before the Board of Supervisors.

This is beyond what the Board imagined just two years ago, and each application demands careful scrutiny, weighing heavily and thoughtfully what impact these businesses will have on residents. Data centers require cooling, including both massive chillers and water systems, and generate a great deal of noise. I am opposed to locating them close to residential areas for that reason. Yet they are fundamental to the digital age, as they carry vast amounts of internet traffic. This is a discussion we must have, weighing benefits and risks carefully and thoughtfully, and I will welcome constituents’ opinions.

Promoting Government Accountability and Community Values
In a representative democracy, those whom you elect represent you. That is what I will do, carrying forward Supervisor Meg Bohmke’s legacy of caring for constituents.

Each citizen’s constitutional rights are the cornerstone of our system. Consequently, I will champion individual liberties – free speech, Second Amendment rights, religious liberties – and ensure Stafford County remains a place where individual freedoms are respected.

I will hold regular town halls and listening sessions to hear residents’ voices on critical issues, such as new development projects. I commit to integrity and accountability, avoiding partisan overreach and focusing on practical solutions, to build trust in local government through open dialogue and fair decision making.

Stafford’s military community is an important part of the fabric of this county, and I will honor veterans and those on active duty by supporting veteran services and military-friendly policies.

Finally, I will work to untangle red tape, making it easier for residents and businesses to interact with local government. Stafford has a fairly well run government administrative operation, but I believe there is always room for improvement!