Conservation Board director to run for supervisor

By the time Marty Nohe finished his announcement speech Saturday night at the Elks Lodge on Minnieville Road, every one of the 100 or so people in the audience was able recite his campaign slogan on cue.

Nohe announced that he will try to unseat Prince William County Supervisor Mary K. Hill, R-Coles, in the Nov. 2003 election.

Several times during his speech, Nohe, who currently serves as the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation Board Director, repeated his mantra “What’s good for Prince William families is good for Prince William County.”

The audience was with him, word for word, by the time he half-completed his presentation.

Nohe outlined his plan if elected Coles District supervisor.

He told the gathering that he was committed to attracting growth that will pay for itself, lowering the tax rate, preventing crime through early education, allowing parents school choice and cleaning up Prince William County streams and waterways.

Nohe said Prince William County has eight years to meet clean water standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. If the county fails to meet those standards, Nohe said, the EPA will send regulators to enforce the unfunded mandate.

“The time has come for Republicans to seize control of conservation issues,” said Nohe, who owns the Appliance Connection in Woodbridge.

“I am determined to see Prince William County be the first in Virginia to meet all of the water quality standards that were laid out in the Chesapeake Bay agreement Gov. [James S.] Gilmore signed in 2000,” he said.

Nohe said it would be foolish to stand against growth, because growth is inevitable, but proper infrastructure should be in place before officials allow growth to occur.

“Any new development must be preceded by adequate public facilities,” Nohe said.

“Growth that causes our roads to be more congested, our classrooms to be more crowded and our natural resources to be more degraded is simply unacceptable,” Nohe said.

Nohe said 30 percent of Prince William County’s population is below the age of 18 and most crimes are committed by people between the ages of 18 and 35.

Crime can be reduced if people teach their children early.

“It doesn’t do much good to tell an 18-year-old to avoid gangs, drugs and a violent lifestyle. We must tell them that when they are eight years old and still listening,” he said.

Nohe said he will resign his position as conservation director if he is elected to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and an appointee would likely finish out his term.

“We’re so low the political radar that they would actually just appoint somebody,” Nohe said.