This November Loudoun citizens will face a crucial choice for the future of our County, our community and our home. The Board of Supervisors, the governing body for Loudoun, will have an election to see who will serve to lead us for the next 4 years. Every seat on the Board, including the Chair of the Board, is up for grabs. Of the 9 seats (including the chair) there are 8 competitive races, with 2 races having 3 candidates. This is our opportunity to influence and guide the future of Loudoun, from sprawl to taxes, to schools and roads.

With all that is at stake for Loudoun's future, we must expect more of our elected representatives than ever before – which means we must also expect more of ourselves in who we select. Thomas Jefferson once said, "An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy." To aid in this pursuit and help inform us all, the Coalition of Loudoun Towns (COLT), comprising the 7 mayors of the 7 Towns of Loudoun, and the 2 county wide new papers, the Loudoun Times-Mirror and Loudoun Now, have teamed together to present a debate series for the districts in Loudoun that directly oversee the towns. These include the Blue Ridge District, the Catoctin District, and the Chair-at-Large, who runs countywide (see map attached).

This debate series will ask hard-pressing questions of each candidate and see what their vision for Loudoun's future truly is: No topic will be off-limits! How do they view the recent Loudoun 2040 Comprehensive Plan, where do they stand on education and our school, what will they do to fix our congested roads and how will they temper growth in Loudoun to preserve our natural, historic and heritage assets? These topics are amongst a few we will cover.

The format will be a 90 minutes debate, with all candidates on the ballot being invited – and I am happy to announce that all candidates have accepted! Candidates will be asked a direct question, with 90 seconds to answer, and the other candidates then having 30 seconds to respond, and the first candidate a final 30 seconds to rebut. The debates will be open to the public, on a first-come, first seated basis! We hope to see you there!!!

Debate 1: Catoctin District, September 16th, 2019 – 7:00pm-8:30pm
Lovettsville Firehall, 12837 Berlin Turnpike, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Candidates: James Forest Hayes (D), Caleb A. Kershner (R), Samuel Kroiz (I)

Debate 2: Blue Ridge District, October 3rd, 2019 – 7:00pm-8:30pm
Purcellville Historic Bush Tabernacle, 250 South Nursery Ave. Purcellville, VA
Candidates: Tony Buffington(R), Tia Walbridge (D)

Debate 3: Chair-at-Large, October 9th, 2019 – 7:00pm-8:30pm
Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Dr., NW, Leesburg, VA 20176
Candidates: Robert J. Ohneiser (I), Phyllis Randall (D), John C. L. Whitbeck, Jr. (R)