Letter: Prince William County at a crossroads as elections near

Ask yourself: Are you better off than you were four years ago, or have your dreams been hijacked to serve the selfish aims of others?

Prince William County is at a crossroads, and the 2023 elections will decide whether we free ourselves from subservience to developer exploitation or slip permanently into the abyss.

A positive change awaits in the candidacy of Deshundra Jefferson for county board chair. She vows to restore transparency and integrity to a government that has been quick to abuse your trust and give away the store to big tech predators.

We must diversify our commercial tax base among all targeted industries, versus putting all our eggs into the data center basket, and focus on attracting small businesses by reducing barriers to their establishment.

Jefferson believes we cannot accept the rise in violent crime as the “new normal.” Instead, we should employ community policing, where law enforcement officers build relationships with community members in an effective partnership to promote public safety. We should develop programs to incentivize law enforcement officers to live in the neighborhoods they serve to increase their community investment and foster trust.

Taxes fund essential services, but we must scrutinize how they are spent. And we must ensure tax equity among homeowners, small businesses and big corporations. You deserve a fair tax bill and full value for what you pay.

Take back your county. Vote for Deshundra Jefferson in the June 20 Democratic primary.

– Bill Wright, Gainesville