Political Season Shapes Up With Heated Races,Rhetoric; Supervisor Campaigns Will Key On Personalities, Development
If initial rhetoric from candidates in Prince William County is any indication, this year's election campaign will be dominated by personal attacks and a heated debate about the pace and quality of development in the fast-growing county.</br></br>All of the supervisors but one filed for reelection by last Friday's deadline, and most face at least one challenger. Brentsville Supervisor William J. Becker, a Republican, will not be running because of health problems, and Vice Chairman Maureen S. Caddigan (R-Dumfries) is unopposed.</br></br>Democrats and Republicans will choose their candidates during primaries June 13. Independent candidates and School Board members, who will be elected for the first time this year in nonpartisan races, have until that date to file their intention to compete in the November general election.</br></br>Democrats, who have forged a working majority on the Board of Supervisors with Caddigan and Supervisor Terrence Spellane (I-Coles), might be expected to gloat about their success in keeping the county fiscally sound during a recession, to herald construction of new roads and to highlight economic development projects, such as the Prince William Institute.</br></br>In announcing her reelection bid, supervisors Chairman Kathleen K. Seefeldt (D) pointed to completion of a large segment of the Prince William Parkway, expansion of regional libraries, new parks and the successful effort to lure the American Type Culture Collection biotechnology lab to the county.