Ron Frazier
Where do you stand on the courthouse project?
“The existing historical courthouse is inadequate for conversion to a modern facility. To make the modifications necessary will compromise if not destroy the unique building. It is not totally unchanged over its 188 year history, but largely unchanged.
Likewise, for those that think the proposed separate building is too large, they may not really have thought out or looked at all the information. A large two story addition on the rear of the existing building and then a separate facility constructed for Building, Zoning and Administration is even worse. The existing courthouse should be restored but used for meetings of the board and other public bodies, with the potential as an auxiliary courtroom when or if ever needed. The ground floor could be used daily for county administration. All the hours the Building Committee has spent on the new courthouse should not be wasted.”
What is the most urgent issue facing the county now?
“The most urgent issue facing the county right now, in my opinion, is whether we will have open government as designed by the founders and spelled out in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, OR continue to have many and apparently all major decisions made outside public meetings. Everything done behind the scenes will result in the failures we are seeing right now from the takeover of Co. 4 to the Broadband fiasco. I will do everything in my power to stop the back door dealing.”
What have you accomplished in your time as an elected official? What are you most proud of?
“Over the years I have worked with others in saving the taxpayers millions in unnecessary spending. I believe ‘proud’ is not a good word, but thankfully humbled by the knowledge the voters of Jackson District have entrusted me with their vote. I am not, and never will be, an activist but a representative of the people.”
Why do you want to be reelected?
“There are several major decisions that must be made and handled properly in the immediate future. I believe I am best qualified to make those decisions of the candidates running this term for Jackson District representative. With that said, I think I can start to build back trust between the county and the volunteers.”
In recent Board of Supervisors’ meetings, you’ve been increasingly strident, including raising your voice and interrupting others. Why do you believe this is necessary?
“It is a real shame the way several current board members do not wait to be recognized by the chair to speak, they simply blurt out their thoughts or questions. They also don’t hesitate to start speaking even if someone pauses in their comments.
I will not allow other members to start shouting at me and gesturing with their fingers and the chair ignoring it. There used to be respect for each other, including respecting the fact the other member represents the residents of a district as you do.
I also will not allow a colleague to make false accusations against our volunteers without publicly challenging them.”
My current job, with Laurel Ridge Community College and Fauquier County Economic Development Department, requires me to think about the future, looking at labor market data and employment trends in our region, to identify and design training programs that will optimize work opportunities for our region’s young people.
I have to manage, wisely spend, then reliably report on the use of grant money. Most recently, I obtained a $385,000 grant for the purpose of expanding the Heavy Equipment Operator Program at Laurel Ridge. A signi cant piece of my prior experience, selling steel, required me to understand budgeting and scal accountability. I take great care to make wise use of taxpayers’ dollars — both in planning and execution of my projects — which is just what I want to see here in our county.”
Why do you want to be on the Board of Supervisors?
“I want to be on the Board of Supervisors because I love our county. I have lived in Rappahannock for 15 years and next door in Warrenton for 12 before that. My son will always call this county home; he will always be a ‘from here.’
I feel blessed to have brought him here as an infant, so all the Rappahannock wonders could be part of his formative years. I would like to see opportunities in our county so our children can stay, if they choose to do so; and in turn, provide the same special upbringing for their children.
We need balance. In addition to thinking about our youth, I think about our aging population and their needs. Our seniors bring richness, wisdom, and helping hands to our community. But, much like younger families who say they cannot a ord to live in Rappahannock, older folks say to me, ‘I won’t be able to retire here’ because of costs, distance to medical care, and di culties working the land. There are pipelines that need replenishing, or else we could face a whole new set of challenges.
I understand many of these issues are not within the purview of our Board of Supervisors and will never come directly to the board. But having these interests in mind does inform thoughtful work on tax policies that keep pressure o property taxes, and review of relevant zoning issues like family subdivisions.”
Why should Jackson residents vote for you and not your opponent, who has been serving the district for years?
“I am an underdog, running against a 20+ year incumbent in a tough race. In any race, you must move forward, not backward. For me, being a supervisor is about working on tough issues. That is best done through focus, persuasion of your constituents and your colleagues on the board, but also by being open to the ideas of others, which sometimes improve your own. Being critical takes important time and energy away from forward movement, from problem-solving and from
completing goals. My strategy in any race, job, task, and life itself, is to tackle challenges in a forward moving and solution seeking way.
I bring a fresh approach, one of listening and understanding the viewpoints of many, not just a few. That’s why I chose ‘Comer Hears Jackson’ as my motto for the campaign. I have been out, listening to the people in Jackson. I have tried to make myself available for conversation in many ways; a practice I will continue, if elected. I believe in collaboration and leveraging the strengths of the collective whole of any team to reach the best decisions.
In short, plain and simple, I want to be the change I want to see. This county, and Jackson District, are too beautiful and full of too much promise to be run under an ‘us versus them’ mentality. That does not solve problems. I want our children to see how it looks when people, even when they disagree, can work together and not be disagreeable.”