Check out the facts to get real answers
"The school board is not just an “interface position.” It forms policy and budgets and approves capital projects for WJCC schools.
Solar is a “no-brainer” that saves homeowners money and gives property owners an option to make money from their land without selling out to another high-end residential sub-division. This will help to maintain JCC’s rural character, and it will help with affordable housing, which is a JCC shortcoming.
Ownby’s knowledge of the fire department situation is based upon... looking at a map of the current fire stations and then consulting with experts. Station 6 is needed to serve Lightfoot and Colonial Heritage as well as backup for Toano, Ford’s Colony and Governor’s Land. Originally scheduled for a 2021 groundbreaking, Station 6 should have been completed by now. JCC has already hired and trained emergency personnel and purchased fire equipment. Now, they need a fire station. Pretty simple.
Grimes says Barbara Null is someone who 'does their homework and knows what they are talking about.' But what is she talking about? Other than touting the tired trope of “cutting taxes,” she is silent on the issues."
Read Jim Baldyga's letter to the editor in the Virginia Gazette...
WAVY TV 10 profile of Lisa Ownby
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race with specific questions. The responses below came directly from the candidate.
Null hides from voters; Lisa talks to everyone
" During her walk through my section of Colonial Heritage, [Barbara Null] dispatched my house with eight seconds on my front porch.... She walked up to my door and stuffed her campaign literature into my door handle, spun around and was off my porch. She didn’t ring the doorbell. My Ring doorbell recorded it.
"Her literature had a sticky note on it that said: “Sorry we missed you.” I wished she had rung the doorbell because I was home and wanted to ask her what part she might have played in the delay of the Lightfoot fire station (aka No. 6), which she should have been aware of as a JCC planning commissioner. Why was it taken off the five-year list?
"But then I saw where she skipped the normal candidate forum and realized that she was just being efficient by spending the least amount of time on the task at hand as possible.
"Lisa Ownby rang my doorbell and we talked about many issues that concern me, and from what I’ve seen, she talks to everyone and attends forums for the public. Lisa has the major issues covered already and certainly will for everything else in the future. "
Read Zan Cartwright's letter to the editor in the Virginia Gazette...
Ownby stresses planning, "smart" growth
Democratic candidates running to represent James City County in state and local government invited voters to ask them questions at an open forum Thursday night. The questions posed to candidates — submitted by the roughly three dozen attendees — covered a wide range of topics, with the candidates responding at length to hot-button issues.
Several candidates identified growth as one of the biggest challenges facing James City County....
[Lisa] Ownby stressed the need for adequate planning and for considering land uses such as solar farms instead of housing developments. “You can’t stop growth, but you can be smart about it,” she said.
Public schools also elicited strong opinions from the candidates. Ownby, Anderson and Walker, all of whom have experience as a parent of public school children, agreed that the decision on what books children should be allowed to read should best be made by individual parents for their children, not dictated by school boards.
Ownby will lead us into the future
"Lisa is smart, knowledgeable, approachable and highly experienced. She was former chair of the WJCC School Board. Her family is rooted in this area....
She understands policymaking and budgets — two very important skills for our board. She is not a political crony. She is a visionary and an independent thinker who will make good decisions on behalf of James City County residents.
The Board of Supervisors needs a young, dynamic, intelligent person to help lead us into the future. Voting has begun. Please cast your vote for Lisa Ownby."
Read Cindy Gibson's letter to the editor in the Virginia Gazette...
Virginia Police Benevolent Society endorses Lisa
"Lisa Ownby has demonstrated to law enforcement that we share common goals of professionalism, improving the working environment and increasing public safety. We look forward to working with Lisa and we urge voters to consider supporting her by voting on November 7."
Lisa is responsible, focused, down to earth, dependable
“I have known Lisa Ownby for a number of years....
She and her husband, a local business owner, have raised four children in the local schools, and Lisa was active in local PTAs. She served on the Williamsburg-James City County School Board...[and] served that board as its chairman.
Lisa knows what’s right and what is meaningful for our area.
We need solid, dependable people on the JCC Board of Supervisors.
That’s Lisa Ownby. See you at the polls."
Read Karen Peifer's letter to the editor in the Virginia Gazette...
Lisa will focus on schools, fire/EMT, solar, broadband
“My wheelhouse is K-12, and that represents 50 percent of James City County’s annual budget. Good schools keep folks moving to and remaining in our county, and that keeps property values high.... I will work to ensure the board focuses on community needs. Decisions need to be evaluated both in terms of how they impact services and amenities today, and 20 years from today.... I am deeply invested in our county’s future. Our local government should be responsive to our diverse community and our diversified economy."
Read the Virginia Gazette's roundup on Supervisor candidates...
Lisa will get the job done
" Lisa has lived in the area for over 30 years…. While raising children here and putting them through school in James City County, she has also served on the school board all the while helping to run her family business. Lisa served on the school board during the pandemic, and her experience will be invaluable to help navigate the upcoming split between Williamsburg and James City public schools. This will be especially important due to explosive growth and proposed residential growth in the Stonehouse District.
She is endorsed by the Virginia Police Benevolent Association; the York/Williamsburg/Poquoson/James City Professional Fire Fighters, Paramedics and 911 Dispatchers (local firefighters union 2498); and the WJCC Education Association. Lisa Ownby is the right choice for Stonehouse. "
Read Josh Mathias' letter to the editor in the Virginia Gazette...
Lisa puts the best interest of WJCC students first
" Lisa ... helped steer the division through the difficult decision-making of the turbulent years of the pandemic, but she also weathered the disruption and “churn” caused by disgruntled members of the public with poise and grace.
As a mother of four children who all attended WJCC public schools, and as a professional who has devoted her career to serving children with developmental disabilities and their families, Lisa understands that for all students to flourish, schools must take their particular vulnerabilities and needs into account.
Most importantly, her tenure on the school board has equipped her with the knowledge and experience necessary to work productively in partnership with city representatives. "
Read Jennifer Bickham Mendez's letter to the editor in the Virginia Gazette...
Lisa is a true leader, and JCC needs her to make things better
" …When Colonial Heritage was going through the site plan process, … they proffered land for a firehouse. ... Where is that firehouse? It’s … an issue of probably the highest order possible, given that CH is full of occupants 55 and older who certainly would have the highest demand per capita for EMS calls.
Lisa Ownby is truly unique. In my 49 years here in JCC, I’ve never seen a new Board of Supervisors candidate so focused on what should be the No. 1 issue of life, health and safety. She’s a true leader, and JCC needs her to truly make things better. "
Read Zan Cartwright's letter to the editor in the Virginia Gazette...
Yes, we do need a new fire and EMS station
"Station 1 in Toano is often outside of the six-minute response window…. This has only been compounded by recent growth, and more growth is on the horizon…. Our fire stations are home to our emergency medical services as well as fire. A few minutes longer can be the difference between life and death. "
What about high school students if WJCC schools separate?
"Nobody feels like this is a foregone conclusion but some teachers are concerned that the end result could be two mediocre school districts.... There could be some really groundbreaking and flexible alternatives {for high school students] but how would they do the related arts and athletics? "
We need another fire station in Upper County
"The need for an additional station in the upper end of the county is critical … The three-to-five-minutes on scene time is critical both for EMS and fire responses … Homeowners in Upper County are paying more for their homeowner’s insurance because response times are outside of the requisite response times. "
Lisa Ownby is right for Stonehouse District
"Lisa understands the current issues facing the county, having lived here for over 30 years. She was a passionate advocate for education during her five years on the WJCC School Board ... [S]he has exceled across the public, private and nonprofit sectors bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in areas of management, budgeting, policy and public service. "
Why I'm running for Board of Supervisors
"I am passionate about all of JCC but I am moved to serve on the JCC BOS to preserve the small-town feel of JCC’s only remaining rural area. I want to see the sixth firehouse built in upper county to improve response times and protect our families. I am a passionate K-12 advocate and I want to ensure that WJCC schools have the requisite resources to provide a world-class education. And I believe that solar energy is the wave of the future for JCC."
Pre-K is not glorified day care
"As the mother of a student with dyslexia who was served by the WJCC pre-K program, I can affirm the impact it makes on students and families in this community is critically important!"
Paid for by Ownby for JCC Supervisors
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