The political battle for Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors has evolved into a choice over style — between decisive, often divisive, action on illegal immigration and overdevelopment versus a more measured approach to combating the same problems.
Republicans running for re-election point to the illegal-immigration crackdown, housing moratorium and budget cutting of the last year as proof of their ability to confidently handle issues dear to voters.
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Democratic candidates contend voters want new leaders who will heal rifts in the community and address the same vexing problems with more reasoned approaches.
The competing appeals to voters have been most sharply drawn in the rematch between Republican Chairman Corey Stewart and Democratic challenger Sharon Pandak. Stewart won a special election last year, beating Pandak by 5,800 votes.
Pandak said actions on the housing moratorium, budget exercise and illegal immigration were designed not to solve the problems, but garner headlines and symbolism.
Stewart said the approaches have all helped prove his leadership in less than a year and show that he is willing to tackle controversial subjects voters want addressed.
“Sometimes you need to shake things up,” Stewart said during a Gainesville debate in September, “At times it has meant a little head-butting, a little arm-twisting.”
Democratic Woodbridge candidate Frank Principi called Stewart’s term “going from one crisis to another.” That’s not leadership, Principi said. “We need a board of supervisors we can trust.”
Principi is vying with Republican Chris Royse to replace Democrat Hilda Barg, who is retiring.
“Sometimes a leader has got to walk alone,” Royse said. “It’s very risky to be a local politician and take on immigration as strongly as I did.”
