by Rose Murphy, Bull Run Observer

1 July 2011, p. 18

“Bob Pugh charges that because [the] Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved almost every proposed residential rezoning, the over-development has outpaced job creation, resulting in higher taxes, traffic congestion, over-crowded schools ‘and a mass exodus of commuters heading out of the comunity every morning for good jobs somewhere else.’

“Pugh is running on the Republican ticket in the Aug. 23 primary election to represent Coles District on Prince William Board of County Supervisors, a job held by fellow Republican Marty Nohe, who is seeking re-election. The general election is Nov. 8.

“Pugh, a small business entrepreneur, says his platform is ‘focused on economic development and balanced growth.’

He alleges the county ‘has developed for too long as the residential bedroom of Northern Virginia, while most of the high-wage professional, skilled and technical jobs go elsewhere.’ He adds the county ‘lags behind the state in average wages and the average level of education and experience required for the jobs it does create.’

“Pugh charges Nohe has ‘one of the worst records on balanced growth of anyone who has ever served on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.’ He adds his opponent gets most of his campaign money from developers, and more financial support from Fairfax County than his home county.

“According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Mr. Nohe has received over 75 percent of his campaign funding from contributors in Fairfax County so far in 2011,’ Pugh claimed in a June 16 press release.

“Should he win the November election, Pugh reports he plans to ‘scrutinize all proposed developments carefully for their impacts on taxes, the economy and the community, oppose road projects that only open new areas to development and vigorously support the Rural Crescent.’ He adds he will back schools, roads, parks and open space to improve life for county residents.

“On transporation, Pugh notes he helped win a round June 7 against a planned developer road, the widening of Purcell Road. He points out he contacted neighbors to the project, and they were against it. It was pulled from the June 7 agenda.

“The candidate is president of Insight Wealth Management, Inc., Gainesville, a financial planning and investment firm he started with his family in 2005. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and has graduate degrees in economics and finance from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Greensboro and from Johns Hopkins University, where he taught graduate courses for nine years in finance and investment. He received a bachelor’s degree, with honors, in economics and political science from UNC at Greensboro in 1979.

“From 1999 to 2003, Pugh was a senior financial analyst with Prince William County government. He was an eight-year member of John Stirrup’s budget committee and a leader in the fight to stop the proposed Brentswood development in 2006. Stirrup is Gainesville representative on the Board of Supervisors.

“Pugh is co-founder of Prince William Citizens for Balanced Growth. He and wife, Elaine, live in Bennett precinct with son, David, 16, and twin four-year-old daughters, Anna and Jenny. The candidate grew up in North Carolina, and has lived at his present Prince William County home since 1996.”

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Press release from “Bob Pugh for Coles Supervisor Campaign” dated 16 Jun 2011 adds the following:

“Bob Pugh Certified as Candidate for Coles District Supervisor

“Prince William County (June 16, 2011) – Financial expert and small-business entrepreneur Bob Pugh is challenging Supervisor Marty Nohe for the Republican nomination for Coles District Supervisor in the August 23 primary. Pugh’s election platform is focused on economic development and balanced growth.

” ‘Prince William County’s economy has developed for far too long as the residential bedroom of Northern Virginia while most of the high-wage professional, skilled, and technical jobs go elsewhere,’ Pugh said. He added, ‘Prince William County lags behind the State in average wages and the average level of education and experience required for the jobs it does create. As a result of Board approval of virtually every proposed residential rezoning, residential overdevelopment has far outpaced creation of 21st century jobs in the community. This decades-long Board practice has resulted in higher taxes from unabated tax revenue-negative residential development, a failure to avoid traffic congestion and overcrowding in the schools, and a mass exodus of commuters heading out of the County every morning for good jobs somewhere else.’

“According to Pugh, ‘Incumbent Supervisor Marty Nohe has one of the worst records on balanced growth of anyone who has ever served on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Nohe receives most of his campaign contributions from developer interests, and has more financial support from interests in Fairfax County than from Prince William County. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Mr. Nohe has received over 75% of his campaign funding from contributors in Fairfax County so far in 2011.’

“As Supervisor, Pugh will scrutinize all proposed developments carefully for their impacts on taxes, the economy and the community, oppose road projects that only open new areas to development, and vigorously support the Rural Crescent. He will support schools, roads, parks and open space to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Prince William County.

“About Bob Pugh

“Pugh’s background includes decades of work as an economist, financial analyst and educator. He worked as an analyst for the Prince William County Government, the Central Intelligence Agency and in the private sector. He is currently President of Insight Wealth Management, Inc. in Gainesville, VA, an independent financial planning and investment management firm he founded with his family in 2005. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner™ professional designations, and has graduate degrees in economics and finance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and from the Johns Hopkins University, where he taught graduate-level courses in finance and investments for nine years.”