William H. Westhoff

I’m tired of sitting in Woodbridge traffic, Monday through Sunday. How about you?

I recently heard Frank J. Principi, County Supervisor speak about his efforts and vision for a “New Woodbridge.” Frank’s untiring commitment for better transportation options, widening Route 1, and quality neighborhoods through smart growth of planned communities is sure to create more local jobs, that will surely reduce the gridlock — a real win-win for Woodbridge.

For these reasons I ask your support of Frank J. Principi on Tuesday, November 8. Together we can make a positive difference.

Janice Buie

It is time that candidates stop making empty promises to con the  voters. What voters want is transparent government, and elected officials with integrity. I’m supporting Frank J. Principi for Woodbridge District Supervisor because I believe he has demonstrated the energy, vision and focus over the last four years to bring the community together to effectively plan our future. We are now starting to move forward toward realization of these plans. He fights for the residents of Woodbridge. That’s not an empty promise. That’s the reality!

Jane Thompson

I have been following the upcoming local election with great enthusiasm.  As a relatively recent arrival to the Woodbridge area, the number one issue that I’m voting on in this next election is transportation.  It seems that the Board of County Supervisors in the past has allowed housing developments to pop up without giving much thought to the additional roads we would need to handle all the new residents.  While I understand that development is a good thing for Woodbridge, I am truly sick of this gridlock.  As I am sure you all know, a perfect example of gridlock is Route 1.  It definitely needs improvement and Woodbridge clearly needs innovative local politicians to help solve our transportation issues.  One of the many reasons I am supporting Frank Principi for Supervisor is because he worked to get the funding for road improvements and continually introduces new ideas to solve these transportation issues.  I thoroughly appreciate his work and his dedication to the Woodbridge area.  It’s clear that we need to make some major changes in Woodbridge, and I think Frank Principi is the man to be our advocate in this fight.

Kristina Emminger

In 1911, A.M. Davis made this statement,  ”Actions speak louder than Words, and are more to be regarded.”  Frank Principi has done just that and more for the citizens of Woodbridge.  As you recall from the last election, he got there by working on the Board of Equalization, the Transportation Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Potomac Hospital.  For the past four years as our Supervisor, he has continued to bring the community together to make important decisions affecting our community and to elicit feedback on the issues that matter most to the residents of Prince William County.

I admire Frank’s style of leadership;  Clear, concise and to the point.  He, along with many of us residents, recognize that there needs to be strategic redevelopment in Woodbridge, especially in our road networks and in the area of road improvements.  On numerous occasions, Frank Principi has offered several innovative and forward thinking solutions to our transportation issues, especially to the gridlock on Rte 1.  Many of which are doable in the short term to alleviate road congestion.  I feel that he should continue to push the projects forward and to keep the citizens informed as well.

I recall an old maxim of “What someone does, is more important than what someone says.”  The very idea of a major combat command relocating its headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Woodbridge, VA is beyond belief.  Especially based on the “efforts” and conversations of a local candidate, whose never held an elected office before.  As a voter, I am more inclined to vote for with what I have seen accomplished, than what a candidate thinks I want to hear.  Therefore, I feel that Frank Principi is a man of integrity.

I’m supporting Frank Principi for reelection as the Woodbridge District Supervisor because I believe he is a “man of his word”, a true visionary with a proven track record of accomplishments, boundless  energy and a sustained focus on the  plan for our future.  The results are coming to fruition on a daily basis.   Join me on Tuesday, November 8^th and reelect Frank Principi.

Del Bender

Principi is the best choice for Supervisor

As we prepare to vote next week, I hope that everyone researches the candidates and looks for their involvement representing the people in their community. I have known Frank Principi for over 9 years when we served together on our school PTO committee. He always offered fresh ideas and great solutions and was always available to help with whatever needed done.

I admire Frank’s style of leadership. He came to be Supervisor by working in the Woodbridge community on the Board of Equalization, the Transportation Committee, and the Board of Directors for Potomac Hospital. He is committed to public service and to improving the lives of Woodbridge citizens.  He was Chairman of the Future Commission 2030, where he listened to the views of Prince William residents and created a vision for our future based on what he heard from the community. For the past four years as Supervisor, he has continued to bring the community together to make decisions and get feedback on the issues that matter.  I believe true leadership is the ability to listen closely, bring all the major players together, continue to push forward, and to keep the citizen’s informed.

Frank Principi has done just that, and I urge you to support him this Tuesday, November 8^th for Woodbridge District Supervisor.

Jean Giles

I encourage Woodbridge residents to join me on November 8, 2011 in voting for Frank J. Principi for Supervisor.  I am impressed with his efforts to work with residences and businesses to create a vision for a New Woodbridge.  As soon as he took office, he began to address redevelopment and revitalization of the Route 1 corridor.  He held a three-day Charrette that brought state, local and federal experts together with local residents and stakeholders to create a revitalization plan which will attract new businesses to the area and create jobs. Since then he has shown leadership in his efforts to implement the plan.  In addition he has spearheaded efforts to bring commuter ferry service to Woodbridge in order to address transportation issues.

As an Independent voter, I look closely at the qualifications of each candidate.  I believe Frank has a proven record of accomplishments as a supervisor.  We need another four years of his continued leadership as the Woodbridge Supervisor.

Robert Buchenauer

“Frank Principi has shown real leadership during his past four years in office on the issues that affect all Woodbridge residents,” said Senator Mark Warner. “His efforts to encourage Smart Growth Developments along the Route 1 corridor will help to alleviate the congestion on our roads, while creating high paying jobs in Woodbridge. It is my pleasure to endorse him for re-election on November 8th. “

In his endorsement of Principi, former Governor Tim Kaine said, “During Frank Principi’s first four years in office, he has shown strong leadership addressing the traffic congestion that plagues Route 1 in Prince William County. Frank’s continued vision and leadership on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will provide real results for Woodbridge residents.”

Congressman Connolly said, “Woodbridge has seen tremendous improvements under Frank’s leadership. His focus on transportation, bringing businesses and jobs to Prince William County, and maintaining the County’s excellent school system is exactly what is needed for Woodbridge.”

Supervisor Principi has worked tirelessly with both Federal and State elected officials to deliver real results on the most important issues affecting Woodbridge families and businesses during his first four years in office.

“It is with great pride and honor that I accept the endorsements of Senator Mark Warner, Senator Jim Webb, Former Governor Tim Kaine, and Congressman Gerry Connolly. I have provided strong leadership, and delivered real results for Woodbridge families and small businesses in my first four years in office,” Said Principi. “By working with our federal delegation, we have been delivered on the vision of a New Woodbridge by revitalizing Route 1, reducing traffic and congestion along I-95 and Route 1, and protecting the property values and quality of life in our neighborhoods. Please vote on Tuesday, November 8th.”

Principi has also been endorsed by a variety of organizations, including groups representing local teachers, firefighters, police officers, and Realtors.

State mandated punishment for the late filing of this report requires a penalty of $250, with this fine rising to $500 if Chris Royse does not file the report within ten days of the deadline.

The News & Messenger reported that Royse’s treasurer has been out of town on business, which may result in additional fines due to State mandated reports on contributions over $500 during the last twelve days of a November election.

Failure to report these late contributions by 5:00 PM the following day results in penalties of $250, which will rise to $500 if the Royse campaign does not file these time sensitive reports before the next large contribution is received.

“Once again Chris Royse is not being completely honest with Woodbridge voters,” said Principi. “He misled Woodbridge residents on the Defense Department’s Africa Command, and now he is not being honest on who is funding his election campaign. Woodbridge residents have to wonder what Chris Royse will mislead them on next.”

These most recent finance incidents follow Royse’s claim of working with Africa Command (AFRICOM), to relocate their Headquarters to Woodbridge. Royse’s claim of actively pursuing AFRICOM was proven false by the Department of Defense.

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Even though the Department of Defense’s (DoD) own website says AFRICOM is staying put in Germany, Woodbridge Supervisor Candidate Chris Royse continues to mislead voters by falsely suggesting that the Military command is moving to Woodbridge.

Even after Royse was confronted about the DoD website and a letter from AFRICOM refuting his claim, Royse continued to spread this falsehood at an October 26^th Newport Homes Home Owners Association Forum where he continued to mislead voters into believing that US Africa Command (AFRICOM) is moving to Woodbridge.

During Royse’s opening remarks, he once again made the false and misleading claim that AFRICOM was “Moving from Stuttgart to the United States.”  AFRICOM’s own website tells a different story, stating, “The command has no plans to move its headquarters fromStuttgart and will be located here for the foreseeable future.”

At the same event Royse claimed he had been working on this issue since January, even though an official letter from AFRICOM confirms there has been no contact between AFRICOM and Chris Royse.

Chris Royse continues to mislead the voters of Woodbridge, even after his claims of working with AFRICOM to move their headquarters to Woodbridge have been proven false by the Combatant Command itself.

Royse first made the statement in early August when he told local media reporters that he was “actively” working with AFRICOM to relocate its headquarters to Woodbridge.  He said at the time that he wanted to make AFRICOM a “major campaign issue” for the fall election.  The official letter from AFRICOM confirms there has been no contact with Royse.

“Chris Royse is misleading Woodbridge voters about his number one campaign issue,” Principi said. “If he is misleading us about this issue, can he be trusted with any of the other issues important to families and businesses in Woodbridge?”

In an October 6^th letter from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Principi Campaign, an AFRICOM official said the military command conducted a thorough search of its records and could not find a single email, telephone call, or meeting with Chris Royse.  The DoD has no records of Chris Royse’s plan to relocate AFRICOM Headquarters to Woodbridge, Virginia.  AFRICOM’s own website states that “The command has no plans to move its headquarters from Stuttgart and will be located here for the foreseeable future.”

In two recent appearances (both captured on video, one on Royse’s own site), Royse said he “was talking to AFRICOM” and called it a “reality” that AFRICOM would relocate to Woodbridge within four years, a claim now proven false by DoD.

See the Letter.

From AFRICOM’s Website:

“What are the command’s plans to move to a location in Africa or elsewhere or establish bases in Africa? The command has no plans to move its headquarters from Stuttgart and will be located here for the foreseeable future. In addition, USAFRICOM is not seeking the establishment of bases in Africa or anywhere else.”

Video of Royse saying it is a reality.

Video of Royse saying he is talking to AFRICOM.

BIOGRAPHY: Frank J. Principi has devoted his service on the Board of County Supervisors to three priorities: better transportation, better development and better neighborhoods. He currently serves as the executive director for the Greater Prince William Community Health Center, and lives in Woodbridge with his wife Cecilia and their twin daughters.

TRAFFIC/INFRASTRUCTURE: Traffic congestion and gridlock are major issues for the Woodbridge District and Prince William County residents. Traffic tie ups along US Route 1 and Interstate 95 are commonplace as residents travel to and from work each morning and evening.

Over the last four years, Frank has guided $165 million in transportation improvements to US Route 1, Interstate 95, and the Virginia Railway Express. He has also obtained approval of $170 million in new funding for Route 1, the North Woodbridge Interchange, and Passenger Ferry Service on the Potomac River.

SOCIAL SERVICES: County government should refocus its efforts on adequately staffing our local administration of Medicaid and Medicare so that we can take advantage of new funding provided by the Federal government to better deal with an over 43% increase in our county population. County governments are tasked with providing the local administrative staff for intake into these programs, and unfortunately this staff hasn’t kept pace with the increase in our local population.

SMART GROWTH: The vision for a New Woodbridge is four distinct Smart Growth Town Centers: Belmont Bay, Potomac Town Center, Harbor Station, and North Woodbridge. These will include destinations for residents to work, live, and play, and will eventually be connected together through mass transit via rail, water, and Bus Rapid Transit.

SURPLUS: Prince William County should allocate any surplus spending, whether from our own budget or a Federal stimulus plan, towards helping to address our limited transportation infrastructure in the eastern side of Prince William County. We need to create jobs based on projects that provide a positive investment in our community for the future, which transportation infrastructure improvements would provide.  We should also allocate excess funding towards job placement and retraining programs to assist those currently unemployed.

Nearly four years later, it has become a reality thanks to hard work from Principi, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly,  D-11th, and a host of community partners.

On Saturday, representatives from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service unveiled the 325 acres of pristine riverfront property to the public, which stretches from the outskirts of Veterans Park south to Neabsco Creek.

The refuge is open to just boaters at this point but an imminent agreement between CSX, VRE and Prince William County will allow access for hikers and commuters in the very near future, said Principi. Boaters can only access the trail at the southernmost point of Farm Creek, which leads out into Occoquan Bay.

“This piece of property is a wonderful jewel for Prince William County and Northern Virginia in general,”Connolly told a crowd gathered near the VRE Rippon station Saturday.

Featuring a host of wildlife — including bald eagles, fox and deer — the property had been closed to the public since 1970.

In April, Connolly wrote to the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, suggesting that Featherstone be opened to the public.

Connolly cited Mason Neck State Park and Occoquan Bay Wildlife Refuge as examples of the compatibility of wildlife protection and public access. Now that the refuge is open, he believes residents will take even greater pride in its health and welfare.

“This is a great victory for the people of Prince William and for those who love the environment,” Connollysaid.

Principi said the opening of the refuge was a true collaboration. The developer for the recently approved mixed use development near the Rippon VRE station has proffered to build steps and handrails leading down from the train platform for commuters to safely access a future trail head.

Prince William Trails & Blueways Council member and long-time Woodbridge resident Lynda Silverstrandsaid she appreciates Connolly’s efforts to open the refuge.

“It’s pretty cool to have some place so close to home and be brand new to people,” Silverstrand said.

Karen Jones, a member of the Potomac Heritage Trails Association, made the trip from Loudoun County for the ceremony and expects she will be back again once the refuge is open.

“We go hiking everywhere,” Jones laughed.

Tidal forested wetland at the Featherstone Refuge Credit Kim Hosen

After being closed to the public for nearly 40 years, Featherstone Wildlife Refuge will be opened to the public Saturday.

Woodbridge district supervisor Frank Principi will join Congressman Gerry Connolly and Fish and Wildlife officials to open the Refuge at noon on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011. The eventwill be held at the VRE station, 15511 Farm Creek Drive in Woodbridge.

The opening of the Refuge will allow the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail to continue its path through the Woodbridge District. The trail traces outstanding natural and cultural features of the Potomac River Bain in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia for over 700 miles.

“By working together our Federal, State, and Local governments have been able to preserve this treasure along the Potomac,” Frank Principi said in a prepared statement. “And now we will finally be able to share this natural gem and environmental sanctuary with the residents and visitors.”