First, this is primarily for residents of Prince William County, but others may nevertheless be interested in what’s been going on here.

I have often expressed disdain for the “discretionary” (I like to call them “slush”) funds provided to members of our County Board of Supervisors, but recent information has surfaced that sheds a whole new light on what some of our locally elected officials have been doing with those funds.

And, I’m disappointed to report, that it appears that some members have been using these taxpayer dollars for personal benefit — as they vote to raise our taxes here.

I would strongly encourage you to visit sheriffofnottinghampwc.blogspot.com to learn more, check the facts, and come to your own conclusions about what is going on.

The worst offenders need to be held accountable. However, with respect to stopping this from happening in the future, there will be a vote this Tuesday by the Board itself to put an end to their slush funds.

I’d encourage you to email or phone your Supervisor to let them know how you feel about this issue and how you expect them to vote on Tuesday. You can get contact info for each Supervisor at the county website.

Thanks for your time and consideration, and for being a partner in our efforts to make our community, Commonwealth, and country a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

-JMF.

As you may be aware, on Saturday, April 14, Republicans in Prince William County will gather in a convention (it’s really more of a large meeting) to elect a new leader for our local GOP committee.

I hope you’ll consider attending. It is not necessary to have been active in the committee in the past or have been active with a campaign. Any registered voter living in the county is eligible to sign up and attend. If you’ve never been to something like this before, it’s a fun, family-friendly experience. Some folks have said it’s the most “democracy-in-action” they’ve ever participated in. While kids can’t vote, they are very welcome.

Anyway, we are fortunate here in Prince William to have a committee filled with wonderful people and principled conservatives. And, great leaders. Our current local chairman, Lyle Beefelt (who is stepping down), has done a fantastic job at the helm through the challenging and exciting times we’ve experienced over the last several years. I’m proud to call Lyle a good friend.

I’m also proud to call both the gentlemen running to replace Lyle friends as well. They are both fine men who have served our country, commonwealth, and community with honor and dedication — and as of late, mostly in the trenches.

Yet, when it comes time to vote on April 14, Amy and I will be supporting Bill Card.

Bill and (his wife) Karen have been longtime and consistent supporters, volunteers, cheerleaders, defenders, and — most importantly — friends. Good friends, through every campaign and controversy, they have always been among those we can count on the most.

That’s why we’ll be voting for Bill. But the reason you should vote for Bill (if you sign up and attend) is that he’s as much of a servant leader as anyone else I know, with a solid background in running organizations, executing strategy, adjusting to changing environments, and ultimately producing results — first as a Marine officer (Lt. Col.), and later as a successful small businessman.

There’s a lot of things that can and will happen here in the coming months and years, and Bill is well prepared to pilot us to the next level.

I hope you’ll join Amy and I in supporting Bill, and we look forward to (maybe) seeing you at the county GOP convention in mid-April.

To sign up, fill out the “Delegate Filing Form” and get it to the PWCGOP office on or before March 31. To learn more about Bill, visit his website atVoteBillCard.com. You can also contact him at Bill@votebillcard.com.

Best wishes —

-JMF.