McWilliams declares board candidacy

To the editor,
My name is Andrew McWilliams, but many of the people in my district know me as Andy. Recently, I read, with great interest, two articles in the Orange County Review. One letter was begging Mark Johnson to run for the board of supervisors from District 1, and the other said he was already running and attacked his record. I found both letters to be informative. I also was surprised by both letters. Many months ago, Mr. Johnson made a very public announcement that he did not want to run again and made it very clear that he would not run. I have to believe Mr. Johnson is an honest man, and I feel his wishes should be respected. He has served the county for 12 years as a supervisor and as he explained so well, it is time for someone else to step forward and serve the district and the county. I was especially impressed by the letter asking Mr. Johnson to run; this was obviously from a person who cares a great deal about Orange County and wants to make sure District 1 is represented.
I have known since my training in public administration in college that I have an obligation to devote a portion of my life to serving my fellow citizens. I did not plan to step forward quite so soon, but so far, no one has stepped forward in our district, as one of the letters brought to my attention. I love my district and my county too much to let that situation stand. A year ago I had a choice that would have been hard for some people; I could take a job I was offered in Orange County or work elsewhere for quite a bit more money. For me, the choice was not hard. I love my county and it is here that I plan to serve as long as the county wants me.
I had great teachers as I attended Gordon-Barbour Elementary, Prospect Heights Middle and Orange County High School. I had excellent teachers and adequate facilities to give me all the training I would need to go on to graduate from college summa cum laude. Please do not take that as being boastful, take it for what it is: a tribute to all those Orange County teachers and staff who provided me with the skills to be ready to meet the challenges of college.
Now, faced with a second choice concerning my county, I have begun the process of collecting signatures to be on the ballot for supervisor in District 1.
I was very fortunate to grow up in Orange County with the support of two loving and caring parents, a wonderful sister and a grandfather people wish for. Surrounded by my immediate family and a loving and caring extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins, I was indeed very fortunate. I was also very fortunate that I was able to grow up in Orange County. I must say I am biased toward Orange County. No matter where I traveled, went to school or lived, I never found anywhere that was as beautiful as our county or came close to having a group of citizens as great as the people in Orange County. We may occasionally have a few citizens that go astray, but as a community, I would say there is no better community of people in the world as we have right here in Orange County.
My goal is to make Orange County as wonderful for those children who will follow. As a small child, I traveled around with my grandfather frequently and often with my parents to make purchases at the many stores in the town of Orange or Gordonsville. I remember on Friday evenings the crowds on our little streets as people bustled from the five and dimes to Leggett's or the grocery store to spend their hard earned money from the Silk Mill or one of our other fine industries in Orange. Then we would enjoy a beautiful ride back through Somerset or Barboursville, set against the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. I always watched with keen interest as we passed by the various farms often bustling with activity as they worked their crops with the beef and dairy animals often grazing on lush pastures. It all seems too good to be true.
But, much of that agriculture still exists in my district and I want to work to preserve that. Sadly, many of the businesses and industries in and about our towns that provided the taxes that helped sustain our schools, public safety, and yes, even our farms, by offsetting the taxes they might have to pay are gone. I will dedicate myself to preserving the rural character of our county, while working to bring back clean industry where our citizens can be employed, and to restore that once bustling business we had in Orange and Gordonsville.
Andrew McWilliams