Snellings seeking Hartwood District seat on board

Gary Snellings

By Tracy Bell
Published: March 24, 2009

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STAFFORD — Former Stafford County Supervisor Gary Snellings has announced that he’ll seek the Republican nomination for the Hartwood District seat on the board of supervisors.

Snellings was a supervisor on the board, representing Hartwood from 2002 to 2005.

Should he be elected come November, Snellings plans to address a few concerns.

“I will be able to hit the ground running on January 1, 2010, and quickly help restore citizens’ confidence in their local government,” said Snellings in a released statement.

Snellings noted that for the first time that he can recall, teachers in Stafford make less than their counterparts in Spotsylvania. The county is on the verge of losing its AA Bond Rating, he said, which will be costly to taxpayers through thousands of dollars in higher interest rates.

“During the past 15 months, the current majority on the board has lost touch with the business community,” he added. “We have gone from a business-friendly community to being very unfriendly to the backbone of our economy, the small business men and women of Stafford.”

Also of concern, said Snellings, is losing volunteer fire and rescue workers over the past several years, which will result in higher taxes.

“Volunteers have always been a vital part of our community,” said Snellings. “They have sacrificed a great deal to serve Stafford and deserve better treatment than they have received over the past three years.”

M.S. “Joe” Brito, who retains the Hartwood District seat that Snellings seeks, began his term in January 2006. The term will conclude at the end of December, this year.