The September 18, 2025 Guest Speaker Will Be

WJCC Superintendent of Schools, Daniel Keever, PhD.

Dr. Daniel F. Keever is a seasoned and student-centered educational leader with three decades of experience in PreK–12 public education. He currently serves as Superintendent of Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) Schools, where he previously held roles as Deputy Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer. In these capacities, Dr. Keever has led strategic planning, operations, human resources, technology, and student services, while advancing the division’s Elevate’28 strategic priorities. Under his leadership, WJCC achieved significant improvements in teacher recruitment, student attendance, and school safety protocols.

Prior to his work in WJCC, Dr. Keever held multiple leadership positions in Virginia Beach City Public Schools, including Senior Executive Director for High Schools, high school and middle school principal, and Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated commitment to collaborative leadership, instructional excellence, and organizational improvement.

Dr. Keever holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Old Dominion University and is a licensed Division Superintendent in Virginia. A former classroom teacher and soccer coach, he is deeply committed to holistic student development and cultivating future-ready learning environments. His leadership is grounded in communication, innovation, and building strong relationships with staff, students, families, and the broader community.

(To Print A Copy Of The Luncheon Reservation Form - CLICK HERE)

The August 21, 2025 Luncheon Guest Speaker was

Delegate Amanda Batten

Delegate Batten discussed her history of service to the people of James City County, which includes being a volunteer with the County Committee, including Chairperson, and the working for the State Senator and Delegates from this area. She then went on to be asked to follow Delegate Pogge as the representative for the area, which has recently been reconfigured to change its boundaries. She spoke of various polling results and what is believed to be affecting various portions of her district and her prorities for the next legislative session.

She spoke of the many issues regarding energy production for Virginia, and the affects that data centers have on an area in general. She commented that without new sources, we could be facing significant grid shortages in the next ten years. She described her extensive door knocking efforts throughout the district, and how many folks are surprised to find her at their doors, but are appreciative. CARMA member comments and questions were very focused on the election and there were significant volunteers available to help her campaign on different tasks. Amanda Batten was thanked for her open comments, her humor at times, and for presenting many details that will never be read in the media. She was presented a bouquet of flowers for giving of her valuable time to address the luncheon group.

(Note - Congressman Wittman, originally scheduled, had to cancel, but will be
rescheduled as soon as possible.)

The July 17th CARMA Luncheon Was A

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Invited to the CARMA Luncheon on July 17th were:

Delegate Amanda Batten's Campaign Manager Chris Giella - House District #71
Delegate Chad Green - House District #69
JCC Supervisor Candidate - John Slokovitz - Jamestown District
JCC Supervisor Candidate - Tracy Wainwright - Powhatan District
WJCC School Board Candidate - Sarah Ortego

They all provided updates to their campaigns, and remarks about

the essential issues facing the County or Board Of Education in the next few yearts.

The June 19, 2025 Luncheon Speaker Was

Jeff Ryer, Virginia First District Republican Committee Chair

Jeff Ryer was his usual candid spokeman, who started his discussion with stating that President Trump is a Dem problem. They don't like him, the conservative policies he puts forth, or anyone associated with him, just because of the association. This past Virginia Legialative session saw hundreds of liberal dem bills get sent to the governor, only to be vetoed. Had a Dem governor been in office, Virginia would be looking more like California already. The Dems use absentee voting to their advantage and want this method unbridled of any rules or regulations. The GOP, in order to battle this wave of extremely liberal and damaging legislation to Virginia must elect a GOP Governor, or gain the majority in the house, or senate or both to stop the dem bills from becoming law.

Volunteers for the GOP must step up and take the place of so many Dem paid campaign staff. Staff coming from all around the country to work on local to statewide campaigns, and being paid in some cases, to do it. Virginia has seen a very good percentage of the state's population pleased with Governor Youngkin's performance, the environment for job creation and business formation. Many of the Dem proposed bills would end those advantages in Virginia. All three of the statewide Dem candidates have votes on record. These voting records must be communicated to the "iffy" voters. While the candidates claim to be moderates, they are anything but. While the Dem Lt. Governor candidate is mysteriiously absent on many of the hard votes because she wasn't needed, that doesn't make her campaign rhetoric go away. She is very liberal, and very much for changing Virginia to be more like California, Illinois, and New York. Spanerger is on record voting with Pelois over 90% of the time. She also was (is) a major supporter for almost all of Joe Biden's trillion dollar legislative bills. And most of that money never got to the intended projects or people!

The dems are angry that they lost nationally, they are motivated, they have money, and they will stop at nothing to embarass, any GOP candidate for anything whether real or not. Jeff believes this is a year where volunteers are needed, donations no-matter how big or small must be gathered, and all of the Dem tactics and false claims must be communicated.

Jeff was thanked for his enlightening discussion and presented with the CARMA Crucible!

The May 22, 2025 Luncheon Speaker was
Senator Danny Diggs

The Luncheon Discussion Recap
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Trevor Webb explained the Delegates absence and as alway, the priority was for him to take care of some family issues.
Trevor then went into a detailed discussion of the many steps a bill can take before it ever gets to the House (or Senate) floor for a vote. Quite mind boggling. With all these steps in the House, it is no wonder the Dems can virtually bury any legislation, good or bad, almost on a whim. They did this to many bills this past year.

Trevor then took a number of questions from the Members present, and provided detailed and complete answers to many interesting question. Trevor was thanked for filling in for the Delegate.

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Taxes & Affordability
Chad understands the squeeze of rising prices and housing costs on Virginia families. The gas tax hike, higher fees, and skyrocketing utility bills are all a product of failed Richmond policies. As your delegate, Chad has worked to introduce legislation that puts more money back in your pocket, including the bill to eliminate the Car Tax. Chad has introduced and supported numerous bills that would reduce the tax burden on Virginians while maintaining strong fiscal policy. Chad has worked with Governor Youngkin to deliver for Virginians and will continue the fight in Richmond.
Schools
As a member of the Education Committee, Chad has worked with policymakers from across Virginia to create a world-class education system. He believes that parents can best advocate for their children when they are in the driver’s seat. As the son of a teacher, Chad believes in turning more dollars directly to students so they can afford quality tutoring, textbooks, and study materials has been his mission in Richmond. Chad has also been a tireless advocate for programs that teach kids trades and offer apprenticeships.
Chad has also been an advocate for school safety. Parents should trust when they send their kids to school every day. Protecting children from threats, both inside and outside of the school, is a top priority as a legislator. That is why Chad carried a bill to create greater cooperation between law enforcement and schools to keep our kids safe.
Public Safety
Chad supports common sense safety laws that protect our kids, and ensure that violent criminals go to jail where they belong.
He will continue to stand with the brave men and women in law enforcement. Chad has consistently opposed the heinous attacks on law enforcement in Richmond and will continue to work to ensure that officers and deputies across Virginia have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.
Veterans
Hampton Roads represents one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country. Chad believes it is our solemn obligation to support the veterans that answered the call to serve our country. Chad vehemently opposed the reckless repeal of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) and continues to work to ensure that veterans receive the care they deserve. Delegate Green worked with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to restore VMSDEP after it was stripped in the 2024 Virginia budget.
Transportation
Chad has continuously worked to hold the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) accountable to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner and that roads are maintained. As a former supervisor, he knows the importance of quality roads, accountable maintenance, and timely snow and brush removal.
As delegate, he worked to remove the toll on the Coleman Bridge so that commuters from Gloucester County can work without paying a travel tax.
Beautification
Delegate Chad Green stands opposed to efforts to legalize cruise ship gambling in our waters. With recent pushes to bring riverboat gambling and other activities to our waterways, Chad will continue to fight against any legislation that allows gambling on our coasts.
Additionally, Chad voted against the recent move by the legislature to study a bridge from James City County to Surry County. The James River Bridge study lands in a historic and beautiful part of Virginia. This bridge would be disruptive for local residents and provide Peninsula citizens little benefit.

The March 20th Guest Speaker Will Be
Delegate Amanda Batten - VA-71st District

Delegate Batten spoke about the unusual start to the legislative session, as the building had no water service as it was included in the Richmond area that was part of the boil water or not use it due to suspected contamination. While thought to be rectified quickly, it lasted for over three days. The legislators all went home after a brief opening and then continuance motion. She also described the fact that the democrats, rather than vote no on many of the Republican submitted bills, they simply did not schedule them for any committee hearings, or for them to move through the legislative process. Basically, 100s of bills were never considered at any point. Cell phone usage in schools has been banned by the Governor, but without any fixed penalty. This bill never made it through the committees. There was also a bill to limit social media use by children, but it too went nowhere.

Energy usage was a major consideration since the concentration of data centers in NOVA is greater than anywhere else in the world. Due to prior democratic legislation that limits power plants, it is now very possible that Virginia could face brown-outs. Dominion is granted a rate review every 3 years, this year in July, and there will likely be a considerable "hurt" felt in any new rate adjustments. With regard to criminal justice reform, an unintended consequence of prior democratic penalty reductions, sex offenders were relieved of having to register yearly. This was fixed in the 2025 session.

On April 2nd, the legislatures will reconvene to consider the Governor's suggested changes and vetoes. This will most likely include any of Governor Youngkin's amendments which are reactions to President Trump's executive orders. Some of the bills before the Governor are also some carryover issues from the 2024 legislative session as well.

Amanda chairs the House Republican caucus and spends an early morning hour going over each of the bills which are scheduled for that days committee(s) review and voting with all the caucus members. She said that the Democrats are in lock step, whether the Bill(s) make sense or not.

She recognized that this year's election in November, faces the challenge that so many Virginia residents are basically unaware that in Virginia we vote EVERY year. This is unlike many other states from where they may have come from, where that is not the practice. She said the average delegate race requires between 2-3 million dollars in funding.

Regarding bills passed; there were some tax rebates, no sanctuary city legislation, and nothing about men competing in women's sports. She reviewed each of the top three races in Virginia, as well as ALL of the House will be once again be elected this year. She received questions regarding her own seat, and said she was one of the 13 delegates to be targeted by the Dems this year. She responded to questions about J6ers, that the members of the legislative chambers are not permitted to interfere with any actions by either the executive or judicial branches of Virginia government. Delegate Batten was (once again) thanked for her candid comments, and enlightening discussion.

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As the representative of the 71st District of the Virginia House of Delegates, I look forward to the privilege of continuing to serve constituents during my third two-year term. This year’s “short” legislative session is constitutionally mandated to last for thirty days; however, the duration is traditionally extended to forty-six days to allow more time for completion of legislative work.  The General Assembly is scheduled to convene on January 8.  During the following six weeks, House and Senate members will consider thousands of bills. More importantly, the General Assembly will amend and pass the biennial budget to establish spending and revenue priorities for the final year of the budget.

Constituent input is important to me, and I ask you to take a moment to complete my online survey. I will work diligently to provide timely updates about legislation that comes before the General Assembly during the 2025 session, and I hope you will sign up to receive my weekly e-newsletter. If you have questions about legislation or budget items, please email DelABatten@house.virginia.gov.

Additionally, if you ever require assistance with a state-related matter or agency, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Although our district office in Norge is closed during the legislative session, our Richmond office is open. We provide year-round support with Virginia agencies including the Virginia Employment Commission, Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Taxation, and the Department of Transportation. Again, thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving you in Virginia’s General Assembly. My door is always open, and I look forward to hearing from you during the upcoming weeks and years.

Dianna Moorman is the General Registrar and Director of Elections for James City County. She has a staff of four people who do all of the voting and registering administration for the county. Her staff has grown from two assistants as result of the expansion of voting intervals, the population growth in JCC, and the significant new regulations and requirements placed on the office.

She spoke of many topics that are managed by her office. First she spoke about the redistricting in JCC which was effective in 2024. The rules mandate that no polling place shall have more than 5,000 registered voters. This requires a constant review of growth or losses in the precincts. Precincts in Roberts and Stonehouse are growing and will have to be looked at in the immediate future. Stonehouse especially needs to be realigned as it includes Colonial Heritage which is also growing quite rapidly. Next, she spoke about she and her staff being relocated 8 times in the last 20 years. They believe they are in their permanent home. In 2024, they saw 78% of eligible voters casting ballots and nearly 28,000, casting ballots before the traditional election day in November. Typically, a presidential election has the #1 turnout, and a governatorial election the #2. In the 2024 election there were about 1,500 absentee ballots, 860 provisional ballots, and 139 late ballots. The latter coming through the mail. The provisional ballots had to be processed manually, which includes establishing a voter registration for each valid ballot. She commented that this creation of a residency can change many tax situations for students, and voters. Some of which are not completely understood by those requesting to vote in JCC. It can effect college scholarships, out of town college tuitions, etc. The late ballots were mostly from military living out of state or country.

Virginia has a Privilege and Elections Committee in the legislature. It is the most junior (experience wise) of all the committees. Current rules, require that an election district do both pre and post election audits. Each with its own set of unique rules. She and her staff completed these. The second had them manage a manual count of 22,817 paper ballots to confirm it matched machine tallies. She also remarked that in JCC there were 56 unique ballot styles. Each one having a different configuration of "who" was being eligible to be voted for. Dianna stated emphatically that the final ballot counts in JCC were accurate!

Ms. Moorman then tooks some questions from the luncheon attendees: Q#1 - What were the primary factors that caused your staff to double? She replied that the numerous new rules and regulations, coupled with a 45 day early voting period were the primary causes. Rules require a certain number of staff be present during polling. To be able to supervise, and provide the expanded services more staff were required. Every same day registration (provisional) must be certified within the 10 day period following election day, before an election may be certified. Her budget is now 4X what is was 20 years ago.

She concluded her remarks with a few personal comments on what she envisions as possible solutions in the future to in-person polling and how a county similar to JCC might be organized. She was thanked for her information and detailed comments. The luncheon attendees were all quite impressed with "the voting process" which is obviously more involved and technical that most believe it to be.

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Dianna Moorman is the Director of Elections and General Registrar, and has worked for the past 16 years and has been
the director since 2016. In the attached video she tells of her career and the changes in the operations of the elections
office. There have been major changes in the technology of voting, the time intervals involved in her office, and
the necessary staffing to manage the pre-election day voting. The video address is attached here:

https://www.eac.gov/videos/2021-womens-history-month-women-elections-interview-dianna-moorman

Jonathan Mellis was at the Capital Building on January 6, 2021. He admits to being on site, but he didn't kill anybody
or do any serious damage to the building. They came to his home in February and arrested him, and put him in the
DC jail. From there on, for more than two years, his story evolves about the treatment, the lack of legal rights being
honored, and simply horrific almost daily events that have changed his life forever.

He related stories of the guards on one side of building escorting folks in, directing them to the chambers, and a completely
opposite scenerio on the West side of building. The capital police being pretty civil, while the DCMetro police were very
combatant with guns drawn. Rubber bullets being shot a people short range, and rubber balls being shot from large
riot guns at people were were not doing any harm to facilities or engaged in any type of fighting. Jon's recount of the
happenings of January 6th are alarming to hear, since the newscasts and television coverages were a totally different
accounting. The celebrities, Tucker Carlson, Mitch McConnell, Pelosi, and many others were caught in telling stories
of varying truth and reality. Right down to a medical examiner's report, the actual truth was being twisted to support
the cause and dialect of the Dems and Media.

The J6ers have a website with much more information - WeAreGoodMen.com - Please go and read their stories,
and watch some of the podcasts which are available at the end of the narratives. While Jon's legal issues continue,
he has some videos and some pictures that disprove much of what the media has made up about the day's events.

Note: Jon was in jail & prison for over 2 years, for charges that would typically merit a bench ticket. He served
time in solitary, as well as endured in-human conditions. All of this has left him convinced that the political
machine of the then sitting party and leaders were corrupt, including all those involved with the hearings. He
is working on a book, but also hoping president elect Donald Trump will come to the J6ers aid.

John Curran's discussion with the luncheon group covered many topics. He has reiterated that he is not running for Lieutenant Governor as a stepping stone to the Governor's office. He explained how the governor, the lieutenant governor and the attorney general in Virginia are all separate races, and can produce elected persons from different party affiliations. John stated he would certainly look forward to working with others from the same party, but outcomes are unknown.

John has a long history of working with DC groups going back to Presiden Reagan, Bob Dole, etc. He noted that to run for a state wide office you need to get about 14,000 signatures + some incase ones. His campaign has selected a manager and beginning on January 2nd they will be beginning to collect signatures. He does not like the car tax and sees it as a penalty every year and would like it changed or eliminated.

John thanked CARMA for the local support and is prepared to work for all the people of the Commonwealth full time. Please view his website for all campaign updates and information: www.curranforvirginia.com

BIO INFO:
John R. Curran, Jr. is currently a Candidate for Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Curran had run for James City County Board of Supervisors, Berkeley District in 2023. John is an active community member, dedicated father, husband, and proud Navy veteran who cares deeply about the issues facing our community and is focused on improving the quality of life for his neighbors in James City County. He served on the Two River Country Club’s Board of Governors, is currently the Grand Knight with the St. Bede’s Council 6828 Knights of Columbus, and a Lifetime Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Curran served in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed at Naval Telecommunications Command in Washington DC. During his time there he was detail to the Armed Forces Inauguration Committee to support President Reagan’s second Inauguration. Afterwards, John was requested for temporary duty to the President’s staff at the White House. During this time, Mr. Curran was transferred to the Pentagon to support the investigation and response to the Johnny Walker Spy case. Mr. Curran was then transferred to the Chief of Naval Operations where he served with the Counterterrorism Team. He then served onboard the USS Kittiwake, where he was involved in the recovery of the Space Shuttle Challenger after it exploded on Take off. Mr. Curran was also involved in multiple actions in South America and the Middle East. After being honorably discharged, Mr. Curran served in the US Navy reserve for an additional two years.

John has more than 30 years of business experience in government contracting, construction, environmental and alternative energy as well as, economic development around the world. Mr. Curran founded his own consulting business where he provides direct consulting services. Since then, Mr. Curran has provided support for President Clinton with his Welfare to Work efforts, President Bush on the efforts after 9/11, President Obama on his efforts with the Gang and Drug Violence Committee, as well as  President Trump on his efforts with Alternative Energy Infrastructure and Veterans Choice programs.

Mr. Curran also started Agri-Based Biofuels. The company that converted trash to fuels, primarily focusing on US military clients. This expanded into all types of alternative energy sources and integration. As the CEO Agri-Based then merged with Eco-Integrators that worked in agricultural fields as well as D3 a business that provided Economic Development support to small and developing countries around the world. Mr. Curran quickly became a well-known subject matter expert, and he was called on by the US Congress to testify multiple times on Energy and Environmental matters as well as the economic impact in those areas. Mr. Curran sold off the business to a Trust in the EU in 2018.

At this point Mr. Curran continued to consult with business and governments, mostly during their transition. Mr. Curran during this same time completed his bachelor’s degree in political science and his MBA in Economics, from The George Washington University.

Jeff Ryer spoke at length about the statistics and analysis done of the Presidential Election. His numerous points brought to life many of the items the packed house were seeking clarification for. While everyone was pleased with the election outcome, there were interesting changes in this election versus the 2020, and many elections before that.

Jeff began with some pure statistics from the country as a whole. Citing the popular vote as well as the electoral vote margins. 49 of the 50 states gave Trump a larger share of the popular vote. Average margin was about 4.5% more. It was obvious that there was a lot of split ticket voting, as many Senate and House elections that were democratic stayed that way. Senate races, for funding purposes, were divided into tiers and funding from the national party was only able to keep up with the Tier 1s and the remaining tiers were, to a lesser degree, provided assistance. The northern Virginia population has grown rapidly with the huge expansion of the Federal Govt. This resulted in a large percentage more Dem voters that either Obama or Biden had received.

In JCC, it initially appears that the instincts of the voters seems to follow their education levels with the Dems truly becoming the party of the elite. This is a change. Trump carried hispanic males and a bigger portion of black males. Jeff said we should expect a very noisy first 100 days. Jeff then went on to answer questions:

Q#1 - He believes some voters sat out the election. They aren't gone, just didn't vote in this one. He spoke of how a book has been written showing that the easier it is made to vote, that there will be people in bigger numbers who don't. Statistically accurate. The idea that some of this was due to a crack down on illegal voting was discussed, but no opinion was given.

Q#2 - Several methods of funding candidates are being reviewed. Straight out gift cards are not legal.

Q#3 - Interestingly, California is still counting votes.

Q#4 - Student voting trends...some schools are showing a shift to more conservative trends...Notre Dame survey sees a change from 3-1 Dem, to now about 1-1.

Q#5 - Percent of Jewish population that voted is up, for sure in New York and Pennsylvania.

Q#6 - Our voter roles in Virginia are cleaner than they were. Thanks to Youngkin and constant pressure on offices.

Q#7 - He believes that the 2025 campaign for Winsome-Sears & Miyares will be based on keeping the "good things" moving forward and with an agenda of more good things to come.

Jeff was thanked for his very detailed comments, and for being always available to the CARMA group.

A Brief Bio: Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Jeff Ryer grew up in nearby Beverly, home to the Lodge family and, at that time, the closest Massachusetts had to a reliably Republican city.

After fainting on the altar at the wedding of Beverly Mayor Peter Fortunato’s daughter, Jeff was dismissed as an altar boy at Saint Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, ending his plans to pursue an ecclesiastical life. Eventually overcoming this embarrassment, he went on to be elected president of his graduating classes at Briscoe Junior High School and Beverly High School. Stunning the faculty at Beverly High, Jeff was accepted to the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

There, much to the surprise of the administration and the consternation of Government Department faculty, he earned a degree in Government, while simultaneously developing lifelong loves of scotch whiskey, tobacco, and the music of Randy Newman.

Putting his liberal arts degree to use in the field for which it best prepared him, Jeff Ryer began a successful seven-year career in retail automotive sales and management, initially selling Renault, AMC, and Jeep vehicles in Newport News, Virginia.

During the 1990s, he began managing political campaigns, specializing in local and state races in Virginia. Jeff Ryer continues in that field today and is the “Broadway Danny Rose” of his profession, serving as a consultant to Virginia’s most politically challenged Republican candidates and office holders.

Since 2010, Jeff Ryer has served as Press Secretary for the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus. A member of what is now the Williamsburg-James City County Republican Committee since 1993, Jeff was elected to the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia in 2016 and as Chairman of the First Congressional District Republican Committee in 2022.

The September 19, 2024 Luncheon Speaker Was Ruth Larson, JCC Board of Supervisors Chair

Biography: I live in the Greater First Colony neighborhood with my husband of 36 years, Craig. I also work with Craig on several ventures, including Cornerstone Hospitality, a business owned by Craig and his business partner here in Williamsburg. We have three wonderful grown children, all living in Virginia and working hard in their careers. I started my public service as a PTA mom. I got the bug to lead when others encouraged me to help the schools in a larger capacity, so I ran for School Board and served on that board for 10 years. I’m currently serving my 8th year on the Board of Supervisors. I am a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and The Virginia Association of Counties Supervisor Certification Program. I am also honored to be the 1st Vice President for the Virginia Association of Counties. This summer I represented James City County when our Comprehensive Plan received the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2023 Achievement Award for Best in Category for Planning. That national award recognizing outstanding planning represents why I’m running. 

Family Background: It is very important to me to give back to the place that has given so much to me and my family through the years. I mean that sincerely. Both of my parents are from here so my family goes way back. My great grandfather came here to be a silversmith at CW. My mom’s dad went to the Shipyard Apprentice School and spent his entire working career at the shipyard. My dad’s mom was ahead of her time as a professional woman in her role as one of the first bank officers for Peninsula Bank (now Truist). My dad spent his career at NASA and my mom is still working fulltime as an RN for Riverside Ask a Nurse. I was born here, married my very supportive husband Craig who lived in the neighborhood we now live in when he was in high school, and we brought up our three children here and they all graduated from Jamestown High School. I have longtime institutional memory for context on local issues, and a lot of neighbors know me personally. I am grateful for the roots I have here and I want to work to ensure that if my grandchildren live here one day, that they also have a wonderful place to call home.

Schools and Issues: In June 2023, the proposal made by the City of Williamsburg to split the 60+ year school contract made schools the most important issue facing the county. If not the most important, then it is the most urgent and potentially most expensive. I am fully aware that any changes we make will impact the taxpayer, families and 10,000 students in James City County in the next few years when the contract expires in 2026. I now serve as one of the two BOS members on the School Liaison committee, and if we should split, I believe there may be solutions other than building new schools, but that will require experience and understanding of the school system which I bring because of my 10-year tenure on the school board.

Growth is my top issue: This is a beautiful community that retains a much-appreciated rural feel. I am always trying to achieve a balance between growth in the tax base through attracting new businesses and visitors to our historic county, and retention of beautiful greenspace. I care about the residents here and want to enhance the environment we share through smart governance and planning. My 10 years of experience on the School Board and my current position as Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors makes me the most qualified candidate to shepherd the issues that are before the county right now.

Where do you stand on the separation of the school district?

I will continue to encourage open lines of communication between the government bodies, and If at the end of the day the City of Williamsburg decides that their citizens will be better served by a separation then I will do everything I can to make a smooth transition. There will be many contracts to negotiate about the physical properties shared that will need to be divided, like busses, school equipment, and our multi-million-dollar shared renovations at James Blair, administrative space, etc. Should there be a transition, my priorities will be to keep the students and WJCC school division employees in the forefront of our planning as we work through the process, and to protect the taxpayer from any unnecessary expenses.

How do you plan to manage growth while also protecting the quality-of-life residents bought into?

JCC is a fiscally well managed County. The last two fiscal years we took a penny off of our tax rate to help our citizens recover from the impact of Covid on the economy, and we continue to have a Triple A bond rating. That saves our citizens money while still providing them with high quality services. We will continue to have growth in JCC. For example, we have parcels that may be developed by right, we have permits that were previously pulled but not built on, we will also have applications come before us that may or may not be approved, and we have some opportunities for infill development. As these land use decisions come before us, I will continue to ask questions to ensure that we have an infrastructure plan to support any growth or land use decisions, as in: Are the roads able to handle the traffic volume? If not, how can we work with VDOT to ensure they have a plan in place? Do we have space in schools? Do we have the employees needed to address citizens’ needs (i.e. police, fire, emergency)? Additionally, we always keep water supply in mind and stay on top of any plans to address water use as we grow. Citizen Services are part of the growth balance, too, ensuring that we can support a high quality of life for our citizens through good education for our students, the best and the brightest in our law enforcement and fire/EMS departments, and supporting our incredible parks and recreation department for our citizens to enjoy living here. We are incredibly well served by all these departments, and I am so appreciative. We can provide for all these needs because the Board of Supervisors has been fiscally responsible, ensuring that we are using tax dollars in the most responsible way we can, always looking for the most efficient way to accomplish a task, encouraging employees to share ideas for a better more cost-effective way to provide for our citizens. I will continue to work toward smart growth and make it a priority.

What is your view on unlimited campaign contributions? Should that change?

My view is irrelevant. If I could limit campaign contributions I would, but on January 21, 2010 the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions and enabled corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited funds on elections. That said, in my humble opinion, it is obscene the amount of money that is going to advertising outlets for elections.