Via wants to keep Dumfries moving forward

By Aileen Streng

Published: April 8, 2008

Brenda L. Via thinks her hometown of Dumfries is moving in the right direction and she wants to help it continue.

“We have started a lot of different projects that we’ve started that I would like to see finished,” said Via, 46, who is running for a second four-year term on the Dumfries Town Council.

“I want to continue to serve the town because I have a big investment in it — I was born and raised here,” Via said.

The Dumfries Town Center is under construction next to the Dumfries Town Hall and could serve as the centerpiece for the town’s efforts to redevelop its Main Street into a pedestrian-friendly downtown area.

“I think we are going on the right path with that,” Via said.

She would also like to see the town continue its infrastructure improvement plans by adding curbs and gutters to more neighborhoods.

“Dumfries is trying to maintain the small, friendly town feeling while providing nice amenities without raising taxes, which we have been able to do during my term,” Via said.

While economic times may be rough now, Via said they will turn around and she wants the town to be in a position to welcome more new businesses as well as new families.

She also praised the council’s choice of town manager when it hired Dave Whitlow a few years ago. “He is the best asset we’ve ever had. He has insight and is right on top of things.”

One of those things that Whitlow and the council have been working toward is the closure of Potomac Landfill.

“We need to continue to work towards getting a date of closure at the landfill, so that the residents will no longer have to deal with the nuisance,” Via said.

Via is a member of the Dumfries United Methodist Church where she has held different positions over the years. She is a part member of the Dumfries Architectural Review Board, Citizens for a Better Dumfries, Brownie and Girl Scout leader, as well as parent teacher associations at Dumfries Elementary, Graham Park Middle School and Potomac High School.

Dumfries staggers the four-year terms of its six council members.

The seats up for a vote this year are currently held by Via, Stephanie Bradley, and Rafael Lopez. Bradley is also seeking re-election. Also running are Dorothea D. Barr, Nancy H. West and Sean Robinson.

There are 2,212 registered voters in Dumfries. The town’s population is about 5,000. Dumfries Town Council members make a yearly stipend of $5,642.

The town election is May 6.