WYDaily sent an identical questionnaire to each candidate running for James City County Board of Supervisors.
Joseph Swanenburg, a 53-year-old Class A Licensed Contractor, is the Republican candidate for the Powhatan District Supervisor of James City County.
Swanenburg’s answers are unedited and presented below.
The election takes place Nov. 7.
Read a completed questionnaire from the other candidate for Powhatan District, Michael Hipple.
What’s the one sentence that properly describes James City County?
James City County is a perfect place to live, work, play as well as raise a family.
What are the two biggest opportunities in James City County?
The first opportunity would be light industrial, manufacturing, medical or similar type of development. The second would be the redevelopment of underperforming retail locations, perhaps more appropriate is repurposing.
What are the two biggest challenges in James City County?
One of the two is finding a truly environmentally and fiscally responsible long term water source for JCC. Another would be realigning our local government to budgeting based on necessities, core government responsibilities first and foremost. There are many other challenges that come very close behind these such as properly managed growth, transportation and finding industry to provide an economic backbone for the tax base just to name a few.
In 2010 James City County’s population had roughly 13,800 people aged 65+. In 2016 that number increased to more than 18,000 people aged 65+. How are you going to help the county and Greater Williamsburg to prepare for a rapidly aging population? What are you going to do to help bring younger folks here?
Economic development is the free market economy that would bring in a younger population with quality jobs. For the elderly the county government must encourage facilities that can handle our aging population and streamline the process for this type of development to allow for the free market to fill the void of the needs of an older population.
More than 12,000 people in Greater Williamsburg are living in poverty. More than 5,500 of those people live in James City County, according to U.S. Census estimates. How are you going to help bring better paying jobs to the county and to the area?
We need to model our Economic Development after areas that are doing a far better job. We may need to consider not just changing land use designations but changing the zoning to easier facilitate the the process of attracting industry/manufacturing. We also need to consider looking to the West toward Richmond as opposed to the Peninsula or South Side for economic development ideas and businesses.
Stormwater issues have been at the forefront of budget discussions and Board of Supervisor’s discussions for several years now. County stormwater officials identified several communities that lack the drainage infrastructure needed to deal with runoff. How would you direct the county to manage drainage issues?
Neighborhood drainage, runoff, and stormwater affects everyone. Upgrading and rectifying problems such as those maintain and elevate property values for all the citizens. This raises the quality of life for the entire county.
The James City Service Authority is exploring alternative water sources in response to declining water levels in underground aquifers. One option is a multi-million deal JCSA first signed in 2008 to purchase water from Newport News Waterworks. Another would be the construction of a desalination plant on the Chickahominy River, and another option is direct-water injection into the Potomac Aquifer. Which of these options will provide for the county’s needs in light of a depleting groundwater supply? Would you look to renegotiate the deal James City County has with Newport News Waterworks? Why or why not?
I would not pay NNWW for the ‘privilege’ of buying their water. They ‘need’ to sell us water to satisfy their fiscal needs.The aquifer reinjection program is experimental at best. The very real prospect of either contaminating the aquifer or harming the limestone is far too risky. The Desal Plant ‘as proposed’ is an environmental disaster for the Chickahominy river. We have yet to fully vet other very real possibilities of other surface water nor have had serious consideration of desal from the York river. Pressure needs to be placed back on Richmond to the 14 industrial users that account for 90% of the aquifer withdrawals for them to reduce and find alternate sources for their needs. Public use should come first.
James City County has sought state grants from the Virginia Department of Transportation to help fund some of its major transportation initiatives and road projects. Which transportation issues do you think should be priorities for the county and what will your role be in improving transportation regionally?
Route 60 in Grove has been the most underserved area in the county going back 40 years. I am in disbelief at the lack of attention this area has received considering the volume of traffic, the public safety needs and the fact that the far end of Grove was established as industrial use over 40 years in the past. Route 199 is problematic at rush hour, I’m not sure of a solution there at this time. Expansion of Centerville Road needs to be a topic of discussion because the time will come when that needs to happen. The Lafayette HS and Seasons Trace access on Longhill needs to be addressed now. Regionally, the I-64 widening will solve many issues but another Hampton Roads crossing to South Side should be diligently pursued. I will follow through on all of these issues.
The Board of Supervisors has discussed for years whether or not supervisors should be elected in a staggered-election-cycle. How long should a supervisor’s term be? How often should they be elected e.g. a staggered-election-cycle or a uniform-election-cycle?
Uniform terms must be instituted for the benefit of the the citizen, the voter. Staggered terms creates real voter disenfranchisement. After 2011 redistricting, some estimated 1800 voters were bumped to a new district and forced to wait 6 years to vote for their supervisor, whereas another estimated 1200 voters were also bumped to a new district but were able to vote for their supervisor in 2 years. Furthermore, if the citizens feel the need to overturn an entire Board, they should have the ability to do so. Four year terms are proper but I would also have no problem with having a two term limit.
What sort of experience are you going to bring to the county?
As both a Realtor and Builder I became very familiar with zoning issues and the permitting process. On occasion I was dissatisfied with the answers/responses from both county staff and even elected officials. Attending Board of Supervisor meetings I learned that quite often logic and common sense were missing in the decision making process. Some functions and operations of our County government even appear to be purposely complicated so as to keep the public from understanding the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’. The more meetings I attended, the more I realized that we had/have room for improvement. Fiscal responsibility is of the utmost importance. The money spent by our county is not free money; the money is that of the citizens. Great care and responsibility must be used in all Board decisions; ultimately each and every decision has an impact on the citizen’s money. Since 2012 I have maintained an extremely active role in public input at Board meetings, Comprehensive Plan development and Strategic Plan development as well as many other areas/subjects that affect the citizens and the land use in our county. Due to my 38 years in JCC and my business experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge, history and understanding of James City County that few have.
The military and federal government are preparing for sea-level rise and increasingly volatile weather. Should the county government do more to prepare: increase environmental regulations (stormwater) or require new homebuilding standards?
James City is already one of the most strict counties when it comes to building standards, most of which do not come from the county but the state or federal regulations. James City simply chooses to properly enforce the regulations. Quite frankly James City is probably doing most of what it can already without more regulations from higher up.
Should recipients of social welfare or tax relief be tested for drugs? Why or why not? This is a tough one.
On premise, yes the recipient should be tested. In order to receive the benefits from the taxpayer dollar, they should be drug free. The problem is, if we do test, a person fails, they already have a drug problem, the result could be for them to resort to crime. There is no good, easy answer in this case although perhaps a stepped, incentive leveled program could help encourage less drug use.
Should the county consider increasing taxes on its wealthiest residents to pay for more social programs? Why or why not?
No. The top 10% already pay something to the tune of 90% of the bill at the federal level. Equality for all, everyone should be taxed at the same rate.
Should property rights ever trump an individual’s gun rights? Why or why not?
This is a legal question and I am not a lawyer. In my opinion, during the exercise of gun rights, if a person’s security and free use of their own property is threatened or feels substantially threatened, then an adjacent property rights could trump.
Should gerrymandering or political redistricting be made into a non-partisan process? Why or why not?
If it were possible, redistricting should be non-partisan. I have my doubts that it would ever be entirely possible. Districts should not be long thin grasping accumulations to pick out certain voting blocs. Districts should be compact to enable representation of the voters from that one specific area.
What are your top three policy goals?
First goal is to properly fund the first most primary purpose of government, Public Safety. Some of the ‘wants’ may need to be reduced to pay for the ‘needs’. Goal 2 and 3 are tied, Water and Government Transparency. The goal for water is to find a long term, environmentally and fiscally responsible source by vetting all possibilities. The reason I tie Water with Transparency is that for starters, we don’t know or understand what we may be getting for water. Furthermore, the County government needs to install an online checkbook registry for the public’s viewing, an online ‘at a glance’ supervisor voting records and reinstitute reasonable meeting times. Finally, within a 2 years time the ability for the public to comment at Board meeting has been reduced from roughly 42 down to 12; this also must be changed.
Are you a member of any political organizations? Which political organizations are you a member of and what have they taught you?
I am a member of the James City County Republican Committee and CARMA. They have taught me about the support network within the groups and that a little moderation and cooperation can go a long way in gaining that support.
Will you be participating in any forums or public debates? When and where?
I will be participating at the League of Women’s voter debate on Oct. 12 at the JCC Board room.
What is a question you wish we had asked?
Why are you running?
What is the answer?
I supported my opponent when he ran in 2013. In a few short months he turned his back on the Republican Party that nominated him, supported him, all the other citizens that supported him and elected him by shoving the largest real estate tax hike in county history onto the citizens. I knew at that moment I would be here today.
