Sharon Pandak, candidate for Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, is sharply challenging her opponent, Chairman Corey Stewart, about his positions on the critical issues affecting the County, in a series of public debates. During the Committee of 100 debate, (http://video.google....)
Sharon again highlighted Stewart's numerous inconsistencies (some might even call them flip-flops) and his campaign of "slogans without solutions." Sharon descried the Chairman as "media crazed," concerned more about his next TV interview than providing positive and productive leadership for Prince William County. Sharon noted that Stewart has "delayed action on every critical issue except immigration until after the election" and "none of the problems facing Prince William County have been resolved."
Sharon provided clear and precise answers and used the opportunity to inform the public and offer real solutions, not simply spout off more campaign slogans. Sharon's incumbent-like performance left Stewart visibly flustered and shaken, and on numerous occasions, fumbling for words. Sharon's clear victory left the audience and public eager to hear more from the surging Pandak campaign in the upcoming deb ates.
Sharon illustrated Stewart's combative style and divisive rhetoric and the serious damage it has done to the County. A primary example is Stewart's disastrous relationship with the School Board, which once had a strong and effective working relationship with the Board Supervisors, widely known as one of the strongest in Virginia.
Sharon reiterated her opposition to illegal immigration and shared her compelling plan on how the County can address illegal immigration without polarizing and dividing our community. Unfortunately Stewart continues to use the community's frustration over quality of life issues and anger at the federal government's complete failure to address illegal immigration to hide the fact that he has no effective plan to deal with illegal immigration in Prince William. Sharon harshly rebuked the Chairman for his divisive and destructive handling of illegal immigration.
Sharon noted that the illegal immigration resolution passed by the Board on October 16 (authored by Coles Supervisor Marty Nohe) is a drastically modified version of the original resolution championed by Stewart and his political crony, Supervisor John Stirrup. Sharon clearly outlined that the resolution is nothing more than a costly, hollow victory for the Chairman. County residents will pay dearly for the Chairman's mistakes; in increased taxes, in lost economic development and a damaged reputation.
Sharon demonstrated the clear differences between her comprehensive, progressive and optimistic vision for transportation and Stewart's limited, pessimistic thinking.
Stewart's simple statement that the County will never get Metro in our lifetime showed his lack of vision and his negative attitude towards the County's future. Instead of working to find real solutions to the problems we face, he always claims that the County is simply tapped out and out of options. Sharon showed her support for alternative and innovative transportation ideas, but repeated her strong opposition to the HOT lanes which are nothing more than a "band aid" approach.
Sharon noted that her extensive record of accomplishments, her relationships at the regional, state and federal levels and her bipartisan reputation make her uniquely qualified to serve as Chairman and secure transportation funding and regional cooperation. Sharon assisted with the development of the PWC Parkway, VRE and PRTC bus service, and has worked with other localities, the General Assembly and Congress in obtaining groundbreaking legislation. Sharon strongly believes that there are viable solutions to traffic gridlock that destroys our quality of life.
Sharon called Stewart out for his fiscal irresponsibility. Because of Stewart's measly $20 tax cut, people lost their jobs, teachers did not get adequate raises, kids did not get new schools and our community did not get enough new police officers and firefighters. Sharon stated that if we don't invest in our future now, we will pay far more in the future. Stewart does not trust any government with his money. Sharon knows that we cannot trust a Stewart-led government with our community's financial future.
I hope you will join Sharon and her team at the remaining debates and offer your support for Sharon, the next Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. As Sharon said, on November 6th with your help, Corey Stewart's "15 minutes of fame will be up.
- I worry about the number of people who showed up at last week's Board Meeting thanking him for his mailer;
- I worry that Sharon's website is woefully behind; the home page should be publicizing her comments from this debate and her excellent comments at last week's meeting during 'citizen time', but instead features a picture of 'National Night Out' from August; 'Hot Topics', also from August (and earlier); and the most recent 'News' release from early Sept. Stewart's website by contrast, hits hard from the front page with this little gem:
At 2:30am, under the leadership of Chairman Corey Stewart, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously passed the funding of the illegal immigration crack down marking Prince William County as the toughest county in the nation on the problem of illegal immigration.
I have handed out lit for Sharon and wear my Pandak For Chairman t-shirt everywhere I can--including to the gym this morning where I ran into Mike May. [NOTE: If anyone here is in the Occoquan district, there is a candidate forum with Mr. May and his challenger, John Gray tomorrow. I told him I would be there with several questions. He asked me not to wear my t-shirt.]
I thought one of her best comments was how she was here to stay, and didn't regard this position as a stepping stone, as he clearly does. It is so obvious that Mr. Stewart's priorities are for him and him alone, but he is one slick operator and I'm very worried too many are buying into his game.
In contrast Sharon Pandak looks steady, intelligent, and good on her feet. I hope that PW Dems get out and really work hard for her these next two weeks. PWC deserves better than the sleazy tactics of Corey Stewart.
BTW, wasn't the guy who spoke for the illegal immigrants at the BOCS "meeting" (and in the RK video) a terrific and accomplished speaker?