As I noted recently, 2023 is going to be a VERY eventful year in Virginia politics. Among other things, the entire Virginia General Assembly will be up for grabs — and along with it the proverbial “ballgame” for Youngkin’s right-wing agenda, whether or not women will retain full reproductive autonomy in Virginia, whether, whether or not Virginia will lurch backwards on clean energy and environmental protection (and voting rights, civil rights, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ equality, you name it). As if that’s not enough, there are going to be many Democratic and Republican primaries – for House of Delegates, State Senate, and also for important local offices.
On that last point, many County Board and Chair seats will be up for grabs this year. For instance, see below for an announcement this morning by Democrat Deshundra Jefferson, for Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, against incumbent Chair Ann Wheeler (D), who was first elected in 2019. Jefferson’s main issue appears to be data centers, which she says “belong in industrial areas, not next to homes or schools.” This is a big issue in Prince William County, where the Board of County Supervisors in early November “approved guidelines for a plan to convert 2,100 acres of rural land into a data center complex, triggering the county’s largest land-use change in decades in an area that has seen the rapid growth of residential developments and tech centers.” Look for this to be an issue not just in Board of County Supervisor races, but also quite possibly in State Senate and House of Delegates elections in Prince William County…
Deshundra Jefferson Launches Campaign for Chair of Prince William Board of County Supervisors
Montclair, Va – Democrat Deshundra Jefferson announced today that she is running for Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in 2023.
Deshundra’s priorities include: increasing investments in K-12 education, promoting homeownership, and making Prince William a more affordable place to live. The urgent need for more responsible land use choices will be a central theme for her campaign.
“My parents grew up in Jim Crow Mississippi — held back by racist views of who they were and what they were capable of. They pushed me to dream big, and even though my dreams sometimes seemed elusive, I felt compelled to honor them by always pushing forward.
“One of my biggest dreams was to become a homeowner and to provide my son with the same stable, loving home that I grew up in. Prince William County allowed that to come true. This community has welcomed me and allowed me to thrive. That’s why I feel compelled to serve.
“Prince William County is at a crossroads. Our schools are overcrowded. High taxes are making Prince William County less affordable. Deep-pocketed developers are pushing for unsustainable growth.
“Far too many Prince William residents feel marginalized, particularly following the controversial votes for the Prince William Digital Gateway and the Pathway to 2040. Our voices matter, and we will make that clear at the ballot box.”
About Deshundra Jefferson
Deshundra Jefferson is a senior communications strategist with over 20 years of experience in politics, public affairs, and journalism. She specializes in strategic planning and crisis management.
She was the traveling press secretary for Governor Deval Patrick’s 2020 presidential campaign and a former regional communications director for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 2016.
Deshundra is an eight-year Montclair resident, a former co-chair of the Potomac Magisterial District Democratic Committee, and a 2020 Biden Delegate. She earned her BA in political science from Columbia University and a MA in communication from Johns Hopkins.
Please visit her campaign website at electdeshundra.com to learn more about Deshundra.
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