WYDaily sent an identical questionnaire to each candidate running for James City County Board of Supervisors.
Jim Icenhour, a 72-year-old former James City County Supervisor, is the Democratic candidate for the Jamestown District Supervisor of James City County.
Icenhour’s answers are unedited and presented below.
The election takes place Nov. 7.
Read a completed questionnaire from the other candidate for Jamestown District, Tom Phillips.
What’s the one sentence that properly describes James City County?
We are a community that is eager to preserve its rural and historical character and actively strives to be one of the best places in the nation to live.
What are the two biggest opportunities in James City County?
We have a diverse population that has a wealth of professional and life experience to share, and we are a community that everyone would like to live in.
What are the two biggest challenges in James City County?
Paying for the infrastructure that previously approved development will require, and attracting a diversified commercial base.
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?
We need to provide our senior population with access to programs to keep them active and connected to the community and ensure that they feel safe and secure. To attract and retain younger folks in our community we need to offer top notch schools and a wide range of employment, housing and entertainment opportunities that meet their needs.
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 are always going to have a lot of jobs in relatively low-paying tourism services, but we must help people get the training they need to move into higher skill, higher paying positions. Through my service on the Peninsula Workforce Development Council, I have helped develop these types of programs, and I was proud to support the development of a Thomas Nelson Community College campus here to bring opportunities for educational and vocational advancement.
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?
I have a long record of working to address stormwater issues, which are so important for our environment, our economy and property values. During my two terms on the board I supported the county’s prioritization of stormwater improvements, which provided much needed help to our older neighborhoods.
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 have the County Administrator pursue all sources of water. We should not be dependent on just one source, and we need to balance our water draw from all sources to keep the cost to our citizens as low as possible. I would definitely favor renegotiating the current deal with Newport News Waterworks, or cancelling the second part unless it can be reduced to provide the lowest cost alternative for our customers.
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?
Our immediate priority projects are the widening of I-64 and completion of the Skiffes Creek Connector and phase one of the Longhill Road widening. We have worked with VDOT to ensure funding for all of these projects. As they are completed we will face increasing congestion on other roads due to the press of development. The entire Board of Supervisors must come to consensus on transportation issues and must consider regional cooperation if we are to successfully deal with them.
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?
I believe it is in the public’s best interest to maintain staggered four year terms for the Board of Supervisors, as maintaining continuity and expertise is important to effective local government.
What sort of experience are you going to bring to the county?
I have served two terms on the Board of Supervisors which has given me extensive experience in the operation of local government. I also served eight years on the State Water Commission so I am well aware of state and regional approaches to water supply issues. Also, I am currently serving as Chairman of the Virginia Board of Veterans Services, and I helped bring a benefits office to the Williamsburg area to better provide services and support for our Vets.
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?
Although the county has been well ahead of the curve on this issue, we need to make sure that our stormwater and environmental regulations are constantly updated to meet pending challenges.
Should recipients of social welfare or tax relief be tested for drugs? Why or why not?
Local government has no authority to take action on this issue – it is the purview of state government.
Should the county increasing taxes on its wealthiest residents to pay for more social programs? Why or why not?
I don’t believe that the Virginia General Assembly has given any county government the ability to impose differential taxation based on wealth.
Should property rights ever trump an individual’s gun rights? Why or why not?
A citizen’s right to own and use firearms does not necessarily mean that they can exercise that right on another person’s property.
Should gerrymandering or political redistricting be made into a non-partisan process? Why or why not?
I strongly favor non-partisan redistricting at the local level. Citizens need to have confidence that their election system is not being manipulated by politicians or special interests for their own advantage.
What are your top three policy goals?
Controlled growth: We need better control over how fast we grow, as evidenced by the number of empty store fronts in our community. Fiscal responsibility. The decision to build James Blair Middle School in two phases will waste $12 to $20 million that could have been better spent on other priorities. Non-partisan redistricting: We need to take this process out of the hands of politicians and special interests and return it to the control of our citizens.
Are you a member of any political organizations? Which political organizations are you a member of and what have they taught you?
I’m a member of the James City County Democratic Committee and have been for many years. When I first moved to James City County, we were in an explosive growth period, and the local Democratic Party was committed to electing candidates who would manage our growth better. That is still a critical issue for me.
Will you be participating in any forums or public debates? When and where?
I will be participating in the League of Women Voters forum on October 12th.
What is a question you wish we had asked?
Why are you running for the Board of Supervisors?
What is the answer?
I want to keep James City County the premier, desirable community that attracted so many of our residents. I have the experience, time and commitment to represent the interests of my fellow citizens on the Board of Supervisors.
