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Growth in focus

Growth dominates debate in Spotsylvania supervisor races.

By BETTY HAYDEN SNIDER

Date published: 10/26/2003

BATTLEFIELD DISTRICT

Benjamin Pitts

DATE OF BIRTH: 6/23/57

ADDRESS: 207 Southgate Ave.

FAMILY: Wife, Janice; one adult son, two teenage daughters.

OCCUPATION: Detective, Fredericksburg Police Department

EDUCATION: Associate's degree, Germanna Community College; close to completing bachelor's degree, George Mason University.

BACKGROUND: Supervisor for eight years, including stints as chairman and vice chairman; board member and former chair, Rappahannock Area Development Commission and Rappahannock Economic Development Commission; vice chair, Virginia Association of Counties' steering committee on government administration; member, National Association of Counties' steering committee on justice and public safety; member, Fraternal Order of Police and Falmouth Baptist Church; past member, Fredericksburg Rescue Squad and Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department.

PLATFORM SUMMARY: Continue focus on public safety, education, increasing commercial tax base and maintaining reasonable tax rate; improve quality of life for residents.

Chris Yakabouski

DATE OF BIRTH: 6/22/74

ADDRESS: Fairview Commons

FAMILY: Wife, Melissa

OCCUPATION: Self-employed, home remodeling

EDUCATION: Attended Germanna Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University.

BACKGROUND: N/A

PLATFORM SUMMARY: Control growth, improve transportation, increase tourism, fight tax increases, strengthen schools, attract better-paying jobs.

BERKELEY DISTRICT

Gary Bullis

DATE OF BIRTH: 1/26/38

ADDRESS: 3334 Fisherman Way, Bumpass

FAMILY: Wife, Linda; three adult children

OCCUPATION: Retired deputy program manager and technical director, Nuclear Attack Submarine Program

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, N.C. State; program management, Defense Systems Management College; executive program, University of Virginia.

BACKGROUND: Coached youth sports programs for more than 20 years; chairman, Construction Coordination Committee, Rockland Creek Estates Home Owner Association; tutored high school algebra.

PLATFORM SUMMARY: Support 2 percent growth policy; limit large-scale housing where proffers are inadequate; aggressive recruiting of high-tech industries and federal facilities; keep open mind on public-private school partnerships and charter schools; oppose tax increases; aggressive approach to tourism program.

Mark R. Kuechler

DATE OF BIRTH: 3/11/50

ADDRESS: North Point subdivision

FAMILY: Wife, Diane

OCCUPATION: International business consultant

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, University of Wisconsin

BACKGROUND: Life member and president, Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department; past chairman, Spotsylvania County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commission; treasurer, Spotsylvania County Teen/Senior Center board; member, Mary Washington College Foundation board; USDA Emerging Markets Advisory Committee.

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Date published: 10/26/2003