CHEER UP: Liberty earned a competition cheer region bid as the Class 4 Northwestern District runner-up. Page 12 Your guide to the 2018 International Gold Cup October 24, 2018
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Wittman, Williams clash on health care, tariffs in first debate By Karen Chaffraix and Jill Palermo Times Staff Writers
By his campaign’s own count, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman has voted more than 50 times to repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act. But during his first debate with his Democratic challenger Vangie Williams Monday night, Wittman said he now supports retaining the ACA’s most significant achievements: mandating coverage for pre-existing conditions, allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ policies Rob Wittman until age 26 and forbidding lifetime caps on medical coverage. Williams, meanwhile, insisted health care is a
“human right” and said she supports “Medicare- ahead of the Nov. 6 election. It’s no different for for-all-plus-plus,” a public health-insurance option Wittman, 59, , a Republican and five-term incumthat includes dental and vision. Williams said it was bent, and Williams, 50, a government contractor and her own family’s struggle to pay for her daughter’s Democratic newcomer who’s launched a long-shot health care that prompted her run campaign to be the first woman of color to represent for Congress and said Republi- Virginia in the U.S. Congress. cans “have done nothing” to imThe 1st District, which includes parts of Fauquiprove the issue despite holding er and Prince William counties, has been solidly the majority since 2011. Republican in recent decades. The seat hasn’t been Wittman countered by saying won by a Democrat since 1974. In 2016, President he opposes more government Donald Trump won the district with 53 percent of intrusion in health care. “People the vote. trust themselves and their docDuring the Oct. 22 debate at Mary Washington tors for health-care decisions, University, the two candidates also clashed on deand they don’t want a govern- fense spending as well as the Trump administraVangie Williams ment takeover,” he said. tion’s tariff policies and subsequent $12 billion The nation’s health-care law bailout for U.S. farmers. — and what should be done about it — is among the issues that most divide Republicans and Democrats See DEBATE, page 2
Planning commission OKs more data centers for Vint Hill Fauquier supervisors will have the final say By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/KAREN CHAFFRAIX
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE — Lane striping was expected to be done by the end of this week on Warrenton’s first
roundabout, putting the finishing touch on a project completed weeks ahead of schedule. The mini-roundabout, or traffic circle, is at the intersection of Falmouth Street and East Shirley Avenue. The estimated $420,000 project was half funded by the town and half by the state through VDOT — the Virginia Department of Transportation. INSIDE Business.............................................11 Classified............................................42 Communities......................................35 Faith...................................................39
Health & Wellness...............................19 Libraries.............................................38 Lifestyle..............................................31 Opinion.................................................7
Obituaries...........................................40 Puzzles...............................................10 Real Estate..........................................34 Sports.................................................13
A move to allow more data centers to be constructed north of Vint Hill Parkway at Vint Hill has the backing of the Fauquier County Planning Commission. The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors will have the final say on the request filed by Vint Hill Village LLC and Vint Hill Land 1 LLC. The applicant is EFO Capital Management Inc. In the face of opposition, a previous proposal to construct additional housing on undeveloped land at Vint Hill was withdrawn. Vint Hill, formerly an Army base, is now home to a housing community, several small businesses, an FAA facility and an OVH data center. It’s also the future home of an assisted living and rehabilitation center for military veterans.
See DATA, page 3
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FROM PAGE 1
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | October 24, 2018
Wittman, Williams clash on health care, tariffs in first debate DEBATE from page 1 The two seemed to find common ground on immigration and climate change and both had strong words about the murder of Virginia resident and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi earlier this month. Wittman called the Saudis’ claim that Khashoggi’s death was accidental “untenable, unrealistic and not truthful,” and said the U.S. Congress “cannot look the other way when it comes to this heinous human rights violation” and must hold the Saudis “accountable.” In response, Williams said she “couldn’t say anything more than
ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Published every Wednesday by Piedmont Media LLC How to reach us ADDRESS: 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 PHONE: 540-347-4222 FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays, 24-hour answering service Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, 540-347-4222 cnelson@fauquier.com NEWSROOM Editor in Chief Christopher Six, 540-212-6331 csix@fauquier.com Managing Editor Jill Palermo, 540-351-0431 jpalermo@fauquier.com Web/Copy Editor Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 aheincer@fauquier.com
that,” adding that the Saudis have “fractured our faith in humanity.” Neither candidate mentioned the $1 billion arms deal the Saudi kingdom has negotiated with U.S. defense firms and whether it should be abandoned because of the murder, as some critics suggest. The 90-minute forum, moderated by UMW Professor Stephen Farnsworth with help from two Fredericksburg-area journalists, was mostly congenial. Williams wore a red jacket, her signature sartorial choice on the campaign trail, while Wittman wore a dark suit and a Trump-esque solid red tie. At times during the discussion,
Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540.351.1635 asherman@fauquier.com Associate Editor John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com Staff Writers Karen Chaffraix kchaffraix@fauquier.com James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 jivancic@fauquier.com Jonathan Hunley, jhunley@fauquier.com Sports Editor Peter Brewington, 540-351-1169 pbrewington@fauquier.com Sports Staff Writer Jeff Malmgren, 540-874-2250 jmalmgren@fauquier.com ADVERTISING Ad Manager Kathy Mills Godfrey 540-351-1162 kgodfrey@fauquier.com Classified Sales Consultant Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jcobert@fauquier.com
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Williams sought to put Wittman on defense by noting that some of the district’s long-term issues, including traffic congestion and uneven access to broadband internet, remain everyday annoyances for its 750,000 residents despite Wittman’s 11 years in Congress. She also called Wittman a “hidden figure” in reference to his refusal since Trump’s election to hold a public town hall. Wittman shot back by saying he frequently meets with groups in smaller settings and interacts with constituents regularly. He also offered lengthy explanations of various bills he has championed to address access to broadband internet and other issues, including the opioid addiction crisis.
Defense spending
On the recently approved $717 billion defense bill, Wittman defended the measure as “wise” and necessary to restore military readiness, which he said “has atrophied” in recent years. Williams, however, questioned whether too much of the money is diverted to corporations that supply arms and equipment while military personnel are underpaid. Williams also pointed out that Wittman has received more than $700,000 in campaign donations from defense contractors. “We have active-duty men and women in this district on food stamps.
We have veterans [living] below the poverty line. We also have active-duty men and women [living] below the poverty line,” Williams said. “The scary thing is, we don’t have a problem with our military. We have a problem with our congressman being beholden to corporate interests.”
Tariffs and $12 billion bailout
On the Trump administration’s moves to address trade imbalances with tariffs, Wittman acknowledged “deep reservations.” Still, he said the country must not forget China’s transgressions, including intellectual property theft and “the things they are doing to manipulate currency.” Wittman also credited President Trump for new trade deals with Mexico, Canada and Europe. “I’ve been adamant to say, listen, I have a different vision about [tariffs],” Wittman said. “But the president has taken that option and he believes it will be effective. I think time will be the ultimate judge of that.” Williams called the $12 billion farm bill “a quick fix to a problem we didn’t have before” and said Wittman didn’t do enough to stand up to the Trump administration against tariffs. “When the chips were down, Rob Wittman didn’t fight for the farmers in this district,” she said. “We deserve better.” Contact: news@fauquier.com
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NEWS/FROM PAGE 1
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | October 24, 2018
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Warrenton Town Council moves to hire consultant to review town manager By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
The Warrenton Town Council is advertising to hire an outside consultant to help with its review of the performance of Town Manager Brannon Godfrey. Godfrey received a one-year contract extension in January that gave him a $5,000 boost in salary to $155,000. At the time he was hired in 2015, Godfrey was serving as deputy town manager and interim town manager in Portsmouth, Virginia. He previously served as town manager in Culpeper and Winchester. Godfrey’s contract was extended in
January over two “no” votes, which came from then-Vice Mayor Sunny Reynolds, who lost her bid for re-election in May, and Councilman Brett Hamby (Ward 3). At the time, neither responded to emailed requests for comment. Godfrey’s contract runs through June 2019. A performance evaluation was part of the contract extension but had not been pursued until now. It’s not clear how much the review will cost. The town is seeking proposals from consultants able to conduct a “360-degree” performance review, which will include interviews with Godfrey’s subordinates. Town staff members inter-
viewed won’t be named in the final report. “The council would like feedback from the town manager’s peers and subordinates to provide meaningful performance discussions, and for consideration when developing performance measures and goals for the following evaluation period,” the advertisement states. Qualified consultants who have experience working with public agencies are to submit proposals by 4 p.m. Oct. 30. Council will consider the proposals on Nov. 8 and is expected to award a contract on Nov. 13. It wants a final report on Dec. 31.
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Planning commission OKs more data centers for Vint Hill, supervisors will have final say DATA from page 1 “Water and sewer have now been extended and fiber has been laid,” to support the data center or a government use, as proposed by the landowners, said Holly Meade, assistant director of the Fauquier County’s Community Development Department. The rezoning application included a revised proffer statement promising to screen the data center site from public view. More information about architectural features of the new construction will be coming, she said. Residential development isn’t part of the application to revise the approved concept development plan,
she said. Melanie Whitesides of Vint Hill said she is concerned that a planned school site had been eliminated from the original Vint Hill plan. “Vint Hill is a perfect location” for a school, she said. Charles Floyd, who represents the applicant and landowners, explained the Vint Hill school site was “swapped” some years ago for one on Riley Road where Auburn Middle School is located. Floyd said there will likely be two electrical substations supplying power through underground transmission lines. The supervisors must also approve a special-exception permit for the substations, and a separate application will be filed for that, Floyd explained.
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An 8.6-acre site for the substations is under contract for sale to NOVEC. “There is no other land at Vint Hill [suitable] for data centers,” Floyd said. “We don’t feel it’s appropriate to put them next to residential. It’s more appropriate in an industrial area. “Marketing the property is very difficult,” he continued. The county desires commercial development “but would not like to widen Vint Hill Road,” which is two lanes in that area. “At the end of the day, if there are refinements needed we are committed to making them,” Floyd said. “If we’re not going in the right direction I don’t know what direction to go in.”
Planning Commission Chairperson Adrienne Garreau, who represents Scott District, which includes Vint Hill, said Fauquier County benefits from the lower cost of land compared to its neighbors to the north and east, Loudoun and Prince William counties. Data centers “are not going to bring in thousands of employees. Our challenge are the roads and the desire to keep the rural feel,” Garreau said. She introduced a motion to recommend the board of supervisors approve of the concept development plan change and proffers. It was approved 5-0. Reach James Ivancic at jivancic@ fauquier.com
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