Prince William Times 10_23_2019

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BRENTSVILLE LINEMAN SCORES VITAL TD: Read about Matthew Basala’s heroics on Page 9.

October 23, 2019 | Vol. 18, No. 43 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

How partisan support impacts nonpartisan school board races By Jill Palermo

Times Staff Writer

In Virginia, school board positions are officially nonpartisan, meaning none of the 16 candidates running for Prince William School Board this year have a party affiliations next to their names on the ballot. But 13 of the 16 local candidates are running with party endorsements, and that can make a big difference when it

Dr. Barbur Lateef

Alyson Satterwhite

comes to campaign donations, volunteer support and, to some extent, the issues on which candidates say they’ll focus if elected on Nov. 5.

Democrats took the majority of the Prince William County School Board for the first time in 2015. This year, they are hoping to maintain or boost their 5 to 3 split by running candidates in all eight races for the first time in recent memory. Republicans, meanwhile, will have to win all five of the races in which they have candidates to win back a majority on the board. Given the county’s voting record

since 2016, when Democrat Hillary Clinton took Prince William with 57% of the vote, and the Democratic school board candidates’ more than two-to-one fundraising advantage, that could be an uphill climb. School board candidates endorsed by Democrats raised about $212,000 this year – more than twice as much overall than the $79,000 raised by See SCHOOL BOARD, page 4

Will Dumfries voters bet on horse racing? Gaming referendum on the ballot Nov. 5 By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

The Town of Dumfries is one of two Virginia localities that could be the future home of a “Rosie’s Gaming Emporium,” a pari-mutuel betting parlor, depending on the outcome of a voter referendum Nov. 5. If the ballot question passes, the eastern Prince William County town of about 5,200 residents could be home to a Rosie’s-brand gaming facility with 150 “historical horserace” betting machines – essentially, electronic slot machines. The Virginia General Assembly approved off-track facilities with historical horse-race betting machines after authorizing a deal to reopen the Colonial Downs track in New Kent County in 2018. The Colonial Downs Group has since opened four pari-mutuel betting satellite facilities in Virginia, the first in New Kent, followed by facilities in Vinton, Richmond and Hampton. So far, Colonial Downs is the only entity licensed to operate pari-mutuel betting facilities in Virginia. The Town of Dumfries, with its proximity to Interstate 95 and U.S. 1,

TIMES STAFF PHOTO/DANIEL BERTI

Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Richmond. Colonial Downs says it plans to open a Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Dumfries like this one in Richmond - if the referendum passes Nov. 5. offers a convenient location for the first Rosie’s in Northern Virginia. It also offers a smaller pool of voters to persuade than most localities in the region. Dumfries has 2,700 registered voters, less than 1 percent the 284,678 registered voters in Prince William County. At a sparsely attended Oct. 17 meet-and-greet hosted by the ColoINSIDE Classifieds...........................................20 Halloween...........................................12 Lifestyle..............................................16 Obituaries...........................................19

86 WARRENTON, VA

Meet Qasim

DAD, HUSBAND, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR VA SENATE 28

nial Downs Group at Padrino’s Pizza in Dumfries, a few residents came out to learn more about the prospective off-track betting parlor. Jeremiah Burns, a Dumfries resident and owner of Jeremiah’s Kansas City Style Bar B Q in Quantico, said he supports the idea. Burns said the gaming facility would draw people

from the surrounding area to Dumfries and generate more tax revenue. “I think it’s a great idea. I think we should move on this as soon as we can,” Burns said. “How could you not be excited about the revenue coming into the town?” See GAMING, page 2

Opinion.................................................7 Public Safety.........................................6 Puzzle Page..........................................8 Real Estate..........................................18 Sports...................................................9

Protect healthcare as a human right

Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and ensure fairness for marginalized communities

Fight for working families, a living wage, and strong unions

Work to increase teacher pay

VOTE FOR QASIM RASHID ON NOV 5TH www.rashidforva.com

PAID FOR BY RASHID FOR VA

Invest in our roads, infrastructure, and broadband internet

Reform criminal justice by emphasizing rehabilitation


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