Candidates for Special Election

The Town of Purcellville election is Nov. 5 and early voting starts Sept. 20 at the Loudoun County Elections and Voter Registration office. The Purcellville candidates’ interviews are in the order in which their names appear on the ballot. Below are the candidates running for the special election for the term of two years to fill the rest of Boo Bennett’s term.

Jonathan “Jon” Arnburg

Jonathan “Jon” Arnburg, his wife Cassandra and their 4 children live in Locust Grove. He has over 15 years of experience in public safety and emergency management. Arnburg is currently serving as the System Senior Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management for Inova Health System, where he oversees strategic planning, policy development, and program implementation. Arnburg and his wife are active in the community and volunteer at their children’s schools, youth sports, and their HOA.

Blue Ridge Leader: Name three reasons why you want to be elected to serve the citizens of Purcellville.

Jonathan Arnburg: My top priority as a candidate for the town council is to enhance the quality of life in Purcellville, focusing on infrastructure development, responsible spending, and most importantly our citizens to ensure our Purcellville thrives and remains a wonderful place for us to call home. I am committed to fiscal responsibility, aiming to manage the town’s resources wisely and ensure that taxpayer dollars are used effectively to support projects and services that benefit residents while maintaining a balanced budget. 

Building trust is crucial, and transparency in decision-making fosters confidence between the town council and the community. By ensuring clear and honest communication, residents will be better informed about issues and developments, enabling them to participate more effectively in local governance. This transparency also holds council members accountable, maintaining a high standard of integrity and ensuring that the council remains answerable to the citizens it serves.

BRL: Do you support the annexation of the Valley Commerce Center and other annexations?

Arnburg: No, I do not support the Valley Commerce Center Annexation, and here are some reasons why I do not believe it is beneficial for our town. An annexation of this magnitude is out of character with our 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Residents might find their preferences and needs less prioritized under the broader jurisdiction of a larger town or city. Additionally, annexation can strain the town’s budget by requiring the extension of services like water, sewer, and emergency services to the new area, which can be costly. 

If the new property does not generate sufficient additional revenue through taxes to offset these expenses, it could result in budget shortfalls. Expanding Purcellville’s boundaries also demands significant upgrades or expansions to existing infrastructure, including roads, public transportation, and utilities, which can be both complex and expensive—potentially diverting resources from maintaining current infrastructure. 

Furthermore, annexation can provoke community and political conflict, causing resistance from both current and new residents and creating tensions over how new areas are integrated into existing plans as we have already seen with the Valley Commerce Center proposal. According to Purcellville’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, there is a clear desire to avoid extending our borders, and a potential annexation of the Valley Commerce Center could lead to further annexations of additional properties, raising concerns about where it might end.

BRL: Is it necessary to raise the utility rates high double digits for the foreseeable future?

Arnburg: The short answer is no. There are often opportunities to manage costs and improve efficiency within utility operations. By implementing cost-saving measures, optimizing resource use, and investing in technology, a town can potentially avoid drastic rate hikes while maintaining service quality. 

We should thoroughly examine the over $1 million that employees under our General Fund are charging for work related to our Utility Fund staff. Additionally, we can consider applying a percentage of our $3 million meals tax to the water and sewer fund. This approach, once Town Council sets a policy, will eliminate the need for the double-digit rate increases proposed by our “Team Metropolis” opponents.

BRL: Do you support working out a deal with the developers of the Vineyard Square project on 21st Street?

Arnburg: It is important to work with the developers of the Vineyard Square development on 21st Street to ensure their projects align with the town’s character and the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The Vineyard Square developers, who have held active permits for over a decade, have proposed a plan that conflicts with both our Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. 

Their revised proposal, which still includes 36 condos despite a reduction from 40, remains too dense for the Historic Downtown area. I support allowing their permits to expire next year and having them resubmit a project that better fits in Purcellville. 

This approach aligns with our goal of preserving community identity by ensuring new developments enhance rather than detract from the town’s established aesthetic and social values. Strategic growth and planning are also vital, as they ensure that development supports long-term goals, including infrastructure, public services, and environmental sustainability. Engaging developers in transparent collaboration with town officials and residents fosters community support, reducing potential conflicts and resistance. Additionally, well-aligned developments can yield positive economic and social benefits, such as increased property values and improved local amenities, while also ensuring the efficient use of resources and infrastructure.

BRL: Do you support the revised zoning ordinance recently passed by the planning commission? 

Arnburg: I will support only those revised zoning ordinances passed by the planning commission that align with and protect the property rights of our residents, as these rights are fundamental to ensuring that individuals and families can enjoy and utilize their property as they see fit. 

Properly crafted zoning laws should enhance the quality of life for all residents by promoting orderly development, preserving community character, and preventing conflicts between different land uses. When zoning ordinances respect and uphold property rights, they contribute to a more balanced and harmonious community, where property owners feel secure in their investments and confident that their rights are protected against arbitrary or unfair regulations. Ensuring that zoning laws align with property rights fosters trust between the community and the planning commission, supports long-term stability and growth, and maintains the integrity and vitality of our neighborhoods. The current zoning ordinance successfully achieves these goals and safeguards our town from development that is inconsistent with its character. I ask for your vote, and I encourage you to vote for my running mates—Chris Bertaut for Mayor, and Ben Nett, Brian Green, and Susan Khalil for Town Council.

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Kevin B. Wright

Kevin B. Wright is a 3rd generation resident of Loudoun County and called Purcellville home for over 50 years. He lives in the Hoopes Subdivision with his wife Trish, also a lifelong resident of the county, as is their son.  Wright is a retired Loudoun County firefighter with over 34 years of service.

Blue Ridge Leader: Name three reasons why you want to be elected to serve the citizens of Purcellville.

Kevin Wright: To start discussing the impact that the growth occurring throughout Western Loudoun is having on the town. The focus of prior discussions has been centered around controlling the growth inside the town. The reality is growth outside of town has just as much impact as any in-town growth.    

Purcellville has always been and continues to be the economic hub for Western Loudoun.  As such, Purcellville will continue to be the place everyone comes for their groceries, car repairs, dine, socialize, and where their doctors are located and their kids go to school. The population of Western Loudoun continues to grow, and Purcellville needs to develop plans to address the increased traffic and the need for additional space where small businesses can open and provide goods and services.  

Work to have the County give the Town a ‘seat at the table’ when they are making decisions regarding Western Loudoun.  Many decisions made by the County have an impact on Purcellville.  Providing all the towns of Western Loudoun a voice in those discussions would provide the opportunity to address and minimize potential impacts prior to decisions being made.  

Work towards improving the image of the town. Over the past several years, several actions taken by the council have tarnished the image of the town.  This negative image is slowly fading, but there is still work to be done. 

BRL: Do you support the annexation of the Valley Commerce Center and other annexations?

Wright: As with any item or annexation request that I am asked to consider, I will make decisions based on facts, community input and what is in the best interest for the town today and in the future. 

I am waiting for additional information on the requested annexation of the Valley Commerce Center property.  I need to know what the positive and negative impacts this potential annexation and requested zoning would have on the town. Once I have the facts, I can then make an educated and informed decision.

BRL: Is it necessary to raise the utility rates high double digits for the foreseeable future?  

Wright: The town has a substantial debt we are obligated to pay off. Unfortunately, past decisions on refinancing and the funding sources used for payments towards that debt did not provide the outcome that may have been desired. This has left few if any options other than to increase utility rates.  

The council needs to continue looking for other sources of revenue that could assist in paying down this debt. Each option needs to be fully evaluated to ensure it will not adversely impact the town’s credit rating or its financial well-being. 

BRL: Do you support working out a deal with the developers of the Vineyard Square project on 21st Street?

Wright: I support the council, its committees and town staff working and communicating with all property owners who are looking to develop or revitalize their property. Communicating and working together provides the best path towards ensuring it will be in the best interest of the town. 

BRL: Do you support the revised zoning ordinance recently passed by the planning commission?

Wright: There are parts of the proposed zoning ordinance that I could “support.” However, there are sections that need more consideration, and their potential impacts evaluated in greater detail. I also need to hear from residents prior to determining if the proposed revised zoning ordinance should or should not be supported in its entirety. 

Elections are November 5th