Sept. 16 was the first of several Prince William candidate forums to be held over the next month. This forum was particularly important because it was supposed to feature the at-large candidates, who represent the interest of all the county’s residents.
The event was well-organized, but there was a significant gap in the insight the forum was intended to provide.
I believe an objective assessment of the debate is that it was very political but absolutely non-partisan. A significant number of the questions reflected a concern for racial equity, but this is to be expected from a candidate forum organized by more than a half-dozen African-American civic, social and political organizations, including the county chapter of the NAACP.
Concerns about racial equity in our school system and criminal justice system and the contracting practices of the county reflect public policy and political considerations, but they are not partisan questions and would not make the forum a partisan event.
Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, a candidate for at-large chair of the Board of County Supervisors, declined to participate in this candidate’s forum. Lawson premised her decision on expectations it would be a partisan event. As evidenced by the conduct of the forum, she was wrong.
More importantly, her decision disadvantaged the residents of Prince William in general, but was an especially grievous slight to the Prince William residents these organizations represent. If Lawson is unwilling to engage the NAACP in the process for evaluating candidates for elected office, what expectation could we have for her hearing the concerns of the NAACP if she were elected?
– Karl Brower, Woodbridge