Get to Know Your Candidates: Journal Sends Questions Ahead of Early Voting

The Manassas Journal has sent questionnaires to candidates seeking local and state offices that directly affect Manassas and Manassas Park.

The questions focus on issues residents are asking about, including schools, public safety, taxes, growth, infrastructure, housing, economic development, technology and quality of life.

Every candidate in the same race receives the same questions.

Candidates have been asked to respond by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16. The Journal plans to publish their answers before early voting begins.

Readers can also begin learning about the candidates now. Campaign and candidate-information links are provided at the end of this article.

Manassas City Council

Seven candidates are seeking three City Council seats.

Eugene “Doc” Brown

Theresa Coates Ellis

Lynn Forkell Greene

Dianne Lane

Jill Spall

Colin Turner

Helen Zurita

The Journal is asking Council candidates how they assess housing and development, taxes and utility costs, public safety, school funding, technology and data-center investment, and the future of Historic Downtown Manassas.

Manassas City School Board

Six candidates are seeking three School Board seats.

Sara Brescia

Raul Campoverde Lindao

Murina Dove

Javanese Hailey

Lisa Stevens

Marcus Still

The School Board questionnaire focuses on academic priorities, spending, Board governance, English learners and accountability.

Manassas Park City Council

Three candidates are seeking three City Council seats.

Robert Maldonado Jr.

Maya Miernik

Kevin Moreau

The Journal is asking Manassas Park candidates about quality of life, taxes and utility costs, economic development, potential data-center development, infrastructure, public safety and school funding.

Virginia House of Delegates District 20

Two candidates are seeking one House of Delegates seat.

Nathaniel “Nate” Fritzen

Sonia Vásquez Luna

The district includes Manassas, Manassas Park and portions of Prince William County.

The Journal is asking the candidates about education, housing and transportation, criminal justice and public safety, technology and data-center growth, immigration policy and priorities in Richmond.

What Comes Next

Campaign pages provide information about candidates’ backgrounds, priorities and platforms.

The questionnaires will provide another way to compare the candidates: their answers to the same questions about the responsibilities of the office they are seeking.

The Manassas Journal will publish the responses after the Sept. 16 deadline so readers can review the candidates’ positions before early voting begins.