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Roads, schools are issues in the Garrisonville District
Incumbent Mark Dudenhefer faces Laura Sellers in Garrisonville District board race
Date published: 10/25/2009
BY JONAS BEALS Both candidates for the Garrisonville District seat on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors know what life is like for many of the voters in their North Stafford district. Incumbent Mark Dudenhefer, who is seeking a second term, "slugs" to his job with the Army Corps of Engineers. But that's only one reason he sees transportation as a key issue. Laura Sellers slugs and sometimes drives with her father to her job in Crystal City as a social science research analyst. She agrees that transportation is a concern, but the 24-year-old graduate of North Stafford High School and North Carolina State University says improving education is her prime issue. Aside from his personal experience with congestion and gridlock on local roads, Dudenhefer has firsthand knowledge of the importance of transportation--and especially road safety. His 17-year-old daughter Emily died in a car accident in 2004. Dudenhefer has used his position to promote initiatives such as the Youth Driver Task Force and a transportation bond package passed last November. "Transportation is as much a passion for me as it was the day I decided to run over four years ago," Dudenhefer said. "I feel I've accomplished a good deal in terms of making our neighborhoods safer." He points to work he has done with the Virginia Department of Transportation to install traffic-calming measures such as stop signs in the county. With the road bond passed, he hopes to see progress on the State Route 610 widening as well as pedestrian improvements. "These things take a very long time," Dudenhefer said. "It's a constant fight to maintain the ground you've gained and build momentum for the future." Sellers acknowledges that the transportation network needs improvement, but her focus is education. "Fifty-three percent of our schools are failing," she said. "Are roads really our priority right now?" Sellers lists her priority as improving the relationship between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors. By improving communication, she hopes to increase teacher salaries and improve education. "These are my teachers," Sellers said. "they will hold me accountable. Along with her more tangible goals in education, Sellers would like to see more participation by young voters. "We have a lot of commuters and we have a lot of students," she said. "My background is in youth development. I want to find ways to make the youths come together. We have a lot of youths in the county that want a reason to care. They want someone to care about them." Along with education, both candidates would like to improve public safety in Garrisonville. Dudenhefer feels he has already made important strides in that area, but wants to do more. "In 2006, a Hampton Oaks home burned to the ground," he said. "We found out we had the worst response times in the county. Due to moving equipment and hiring over 50 fire and rescue personnel, Garrisonville now enjoys the best response times in all of Stafford." Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 10/25/2009
I will vote for Laura Sellers!
(posted by
haole
, Oct. 25, 2009 10:57 am)
We need her calm, analytic approach to meeting our challenges. We've had too many hot-heads on the Board whose behavior during meeting has set a poor example. Ms. Sellers is young -- but several of our Stafford leaders have been young when they were first elected. George Gordon, who held the office of Commissioner of the Revenue for over 60 years was 23 years old when he was elected. Gordon's successor, our current tax collector, Scott Mayausky, was elected to hold this office while still in his 20s.
Laura Sellers is the real deal
(posted by
haole
, Oct. 25, 2009 10:41 am)
I recently met Laura Sellers at a local event. I was very impressed with her knowledge and common sense approach to local government. She has tremendous energy and enthusiasm for solving problems our county faces. I liked what she had to say about supporting schools because schools are a major economic development driver for our community. I also appreciate her analysis of our fire and rescue system and how we must invest in this basic protection -- for our own good!
Didnt Sellers mommy
(posted by
USA2007
, Oct. 25, 2009 8:35 am)
run for an office and lose in Stafford? Maybe mom is running again for office through her daughter.
It's a clear choice for me -
(posted by
briefcaseman
, Oct. 25, 2009 7:22 am)
Mark Dudenhefer. Mr. Dudenhefer has accomplished a lot in 4 short years. Why? Because he is experienced and knows how to push through red tape and just doesn't give up until the job is done. We need someone who understands money, can prioritize & properly budget. He understands living within your means. Sellers ia a 24 year old with a college grad that still lives at home with Mom. Mr. Dudenhefer pays his own bills and doesn't live off of others or their money.
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