April 13, 2022
Our 205th year | Vol. 205, No. 15 | www.Fauquier.com | $1.50
SPORTS: Liberty softball wins on clutch homer, plus soccer, boys lacrosse, baseball coverage. PAGES 17, 18, 21
10th District GOP to hold ‘firehouse primary’ with 11 candidates, ranked-choice voting By Daniel Berti
Fauquier Times Staff Writer
A crowded field of 11 Republican candidates has emerged in the nominating race for the 10th Congressional District. The candidates, a slate comprised of local elected officials, military veterans and business owners and executives, will compete in a party-run “firehouse primary” with ranked choice voting on Saturday, May 21. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D), the incumbent, who is seeking her third term in office.
Geary Higgins, the 10th Congressional District Republican Committee chair, said the party expects a voter turnout of between 20,000 and 30,000 people the day of the primary. “We’ve got some really good candidates. We’re going to have a great nominee at the end of this,” Higgins said. Willie Deutsch, Prince William County Republican Committee Vice Chair, told Fauquier Times the local party committees are “ready for a big turnout.” See GOP, page 4
Proposed Warrenton budget addresses long-neglected utility infrastructure By Coy Ferrell
Fauquier Times Staff Writer
The Warrenton Town Council is considering major increases to water and sewer maintenance investments, part of a proposed budget that would have overall town government spending increase from $26.5 million to $32.4 million this year when capital expenditures are included. It would
mark the first significant increase in the town budget since most major spending items were put on hold at the beginning of the pandemic. For non-infrastructure expenditures, the proposed budget would keep the 5-cent tax rate on real estate, lower than most comparable Virginia towns. The meals tax — the
Candidates forum
Host: 10th Congressional District Republican Committee When: Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. Where: The Middleburg Farm at Fox Chase Farm, 23320 Foxchase Farm Lane, Middleburg
10th Congressional District meet and greet
Host: Fauquier Chamber Economic Development and Legislative Affairs Committee When: Thursday, April 28, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Where: The Warrenton Community Center, 430 East Shirley Ave., Warrenton
Fauquier students see themselves in American Idol contestant Mike Parker By H. Wheeler
Special to the Fauquier Times
See TOWN, page 9
With state budget in limbo, supervisors again delay county budget process By Coy Ferrell
Fauquier Times Staff Writer
After delaying adoption of a county budget once already, Fauquier County supervisors have again pushed back their budget development process as the Virginia General Assembly continues to iron out its spending plan. Supervisors will now hold a budget work session Thursday. “Without an adopted state budget, Fauquier is left with a number of unanswered questions regarding various revenue controlled by the state,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Chris Granger (Center District) said Monday. “Hopefully, the GA gets down to business and adopts a budget this week.” See COUNTY, page 8
Mike Parker from Warrenton is in the final 24 on American Idol.
Mike Parker, of Warrenton, was the first “outside” visitor to come speak at Grace Miller and H.M. Pearson elementary schools since pandemic restrictions were put in place two years ago. The 27-year-old excelled as a student with impressive football stats and full-ride scholarship offers. Now, he is in the top 24 in the current American Idol singing competition on ABC. (The top 20 will be revealed April 17.) During his visit to the schools March 30, Parker treated the children to a few songs and some inspiration. See PARKER, page 8
The story of Fauquier County’s poorhouses. See page 2. 9.44x2
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