WYDaily sent an identical questionnaire to each candidate for the Jamestown seat on the James City County Board of Supervisors. Kevin Onizuk is the Republican nominee for the seat, and he faces Democratic incumbent Jim Icenhour. Onizuk’s answers are presented here. The election takes place Nov. 5.
View a completed questionnaire from Icenhour here.
1. Can you share your age, family and professional background history?
Candidate: Kevin Onizuk
Age: 42
Campaign E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 757-645-8996
Address: 4031 Galverneck, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Campaign Website: www.kevin4jcc.com
Married: Heather Onizuk for 16 years
Elementary Education teacher who now stays home to raise our family
Children:
Makenzie –14– Jamestown High School — Artist
Raegan –11– Hornsby Middle School — Irish Dancer
Chase –7– Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School — Cub Scout and Basketball Player
Employment: Career in lending since 1994
Currently with WestStar Mortgage since June 2008
Residential mortgage loan originator assisting folks in the purchase and refinance of their residences and investment properties. Branch Manager for the Williamsburg, VA office of WestStar, covering much of Southeastern Virginia.
Education: University of Delaware –BS– Business Administration
Current Civic Involvement: Monticello Woods HOA
Kiwanis Club of Toano
Active in PTA of local schools
Veteran of the Delaware Army National Guard
My family and I moved to Williamsburg, VA by choice in 2006. This is where we wanted to raise our family due to schools, activities, and quality of live here in James City County. When not working, my priority is spending time with my family and in activities with my children. We enjoy many organized activities (sports, art, dance, cub scouts, etc), but always love an afternoon at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. In my personal time, I enjoy physical fitness challenges to include CrossFit and competitive mud/obstacle runs.
2. What are your opinions regarding growth in the county? Are there areas within your district you’d like to see protected or developed?
If you’re having a hard time determining James City County’s long-term strategy for managing our growth, you’re not alone. I am concerned about uncontrolled growth in James City County. We are historically unique area and we have a responsibility to maintain the character and beauty of our county. My family and I moved here because of the natural beauty and uncongested surroundings, and I am committed to working hard to keep it that way.
As I talk with citizens during the campaign, the top concern I hear is growth, particularly the contrast in new retail spaces being constructed in the Monticello Road area while existing retail facilities go vacant. Citizens do not want to see Monticello Avenue starting to look like Jefferson Avenue. Clear-cutting forested lands to simply put up another shopping mall, while others go empty, is not on my agenda.
The Primary Service Area (PSA) and the Comprehensive Plan are the strongest tools we have to control growth in James City County. Through these we can insist on effective policies to control growth using land use predictability and responsible and consistent zoning practices. I will end the practice of changing the rules on the fly to ensure that the interests of our community and our private property rights are protected. I will insist we maintain a long-term strategy for preserving the natural beauty of our community.
3. How well do you think the board members communicate with each other and with the public? What policy changes, if any, would you make to improve communication with the public? What leadership skills do you possess that would better unite the board?
Some of our current board members do communicate with one another or with the public. Lately, we have seen our Board plagued with incivility and contention toward fellow members, and an active campaign to limit citizen input to the Board. This lack of cooperation and collaboration with citizens and other board members seriously limits James City County’s ability to move forward in a positive direction and in the best interest of our citizens.
We can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result. My opponent has spoken openly in the press that part of his solution to restoring civility is to limit the rights of the public to address the Board. So, his solution is to prevent having to hear opinions with which he doesn’t agree. I have a different approach. First, I’ll treat all my Board colleagues and every citizen who comes before the Board – regardless of whether they agree with me or not – with respect. I won’t be wagging my finger at fellow Board members or telling them to wash their mouths with soap. I’ll be collaborative and cooperative, and work with every member of the Board, regardless of party.
Every day, I work with people with differing opinions and viewpoints. As a mortgage loan officer, I need to coordinate home buyers, Realtors, attorneys, and underwriters, all for a common purpose. And even if we may disagree on issues, many become close friends. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.
4. County employees received a 3 percent raise this year after a five-year wage freeze. What is your assessment of morale?
Wage and employment stability have been a challenge over the last several years for civilian and government employers and employees, and James City County has not been immune. When Republicans won the majority in 2007, they eliminated the rain tax, reduced our debt, secured our first-ever AAA bond rating, and brought an end to the spending spree of the previous years. This effort toward fiscal responsibility has helped to maintain James City County through the “Great Recession”, and have allowed us to maintain the staffing needed for essential services in our county.
County employees should receive a fair compensation and benefit plan, one competitive with other localities. They should also be fair and impartial, discharging their duties without regard to partisanship. But when the county leadership is contentious and shows a disdain toward each other and the local citizens, that tone can bleed down into other levels of the county government. Citizens and business owners often speak to me about frustrations in working with James City County, and I believe our issues start at the top. When leadership truly demonstrates caring over politics and partisanship, our county can again prosper and thrive in a positive culture.
5. What challenges do you feel the county will face in the coming years? What do you consider the county’s hurdles to overcome these challenges, and how will you face those obstacles?
I have several priorities if elected, driven by conversations I have had with local citizens. As Supervisor, I would focus on the following:
Ensuring James City County is an affordable place to live
We have “big ticket” items on the horizon with the potential need for a new middle school and expenses related to meeting federal regulations for stormwater management. While my opponent argues we need to bring back the “rain tax”, I believe we need to manage our budget in a fiscally responsible manner and start saving for these projects. As Supervisor, I will end skyrocketing spending and debt while ensuring we provide quality services and schools to our citizens. I will insist on policies that protect our AAA bond rating without raising taxes, guaranteeing James City County will be affordable now and for generations to come.
Restoring civility and transparency to local government
Our current Board majority spends money and argues with the minority. There are secret meetings, Political Action Committees, and efforts to suppress the input of citizens. We have enough of that on a national level. We must remember we are neighbors working together for the common good, and remember that we are all in this together. As Supervisor, I will work with all citizens and Supervisors in a positive and respectful manner. My opponent has stated he does not believe one person can make a difference in the tenor of the Board, but I respectfully disagree.
Preserving the natural beauty of James City County
Maintaining and preserving James City County for my kids and generations to come is a top priority, as it is for the residents I am campaigning to serve. As Supervisor, I will work to develop a comprehensive, consistent strategy to preserve the natural beauty of James City County. And equally as important, this plan must be created with and communicated to the citizens so they are able to shape our future and plans for conservation.
Promoting local business and tourism
We have tremendous opportunity for the future of James City County. In the past several years, all we primarily created retail jobs paying $15 or less, not enough to encourage our young people to stay here for a career and family. Our challenge for the future is to create good-paying jobs and careers through supporting and attracting local businesses. We need to take full advantage of our Economic and Technology Opportunity Zones to attract business that would be an asset to our County, and would fit in with our vision for maintaining our community. Our county also needs to maximize our tourism potential, with a particular focus on growing our unique opportunity for sports tourism.
6. Talk about the regional goals you would like to see reached during the next four years and how James City County would benefit from them.
Regional cooperation can result in cost savings for our county, and create opportunities for growth in business and tourism. Currently our county has many cooperative efforts with Williamsburg City and York County, and future plans would include building on those relationships while maintaining the independence and integrity of James City County. My goals, as noted above, will be focused on James City County, and when possible work with our surrounding cities and counties toward those specific goals.
