Candidate Profile: Mike Turner For Ashburn Supervisor

ASHBURN, VA — Mike Turner currently represents Ashburn on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. He is running for reelection in November.

Turner, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Tumay Harding.

Patch sent the following questionnaire to Turner and Harding to help voters make more informed decisions on Election Day.

Name

Mike Turner

Age (as of Election Day)?

71

Town of Residence?

Lansdowne

Position sought:

Ashburn District Supervisor

Party affiliation

Democrat

Family?

Single.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education Level

MBA, Chapman University

Occupation, including employer and years of experience

Ashburn District Supervisor full time.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Ashburn District Supervisor

Campaign website

www.MikeTurnerForAshburn.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I've been in public service since I was 17. This is the best job I've ever had, and I think I'm good at it. I truly enjoy serving my constituents and dealing with the complex issues facing Loudoun County during an extraordinary period of growth and change. We have to get this right, and I want to continue the work we've done over the past four years.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Exponential data center growth in residential areas.

Our Comprehensive Plan, which should have been updated every five years since 2001, wasn’t updated until 2019, and we’re just finishing a matching zoning update. Consequently, data centers have been able to build “by right” on formerly zoned parcels without Board approval or oversight.

My district has lost almost 2,000 new homes to “by right” data centers in the last year. Additionally, their massive energy needs will force Dominion Energy to build overhead transmission lines throughout eastern Loudoun. We must regain Board managerial approval over data center growth. By the end of this year, I will introduce several motions to align the plan with the zoning ordinance, specify where data centers can and cannot be built and regulate their appearance and noise standards.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to recent issues (i.e. the pandemic)? What if anything would you have done differently?

Based on the number of COVID deaths and hospitalizations, Loudoun County had the most effective pandemic response in Virginia. Given the extraordinary nature of the event, I'm extremely proud of our coordinated response, county staff's consummate professionalism, and our citizens' cooperation and commitment to everyone in our community. Our business grant program was especially effective in keeping a wide range of Loudoun businesses operating. I would have liked to have seen our schools open sooner, but that was beyond the purview of the Board of Supervisors.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent has no prior elected, public service experience and is primarily focused on education issues over which the Board of Supervisors has no authority. I have a demonstrated track record of success dealing with the extraordinarily complex issues Loudoun County must deal with every day. I'm the Transportation and Land Use Committee Chair, a Board leadership position, the Fiscal Impact Committee Chair, and I sit on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We must increase the amount of sustainable housing in Loudoun County. We've made great progress with the Unmet Housing Need Strategic Plan which we passed this term, but as the data shows, we need to do more. We need more "affordable by design" homes with smaller square footage, we need to increase accessibility through innovative closing cost/down payment and rental assistance programs.

The buildout around our new Metro stops is critical and must complement our ongoing efforts to create a more walkable and multi-model community.

Given the enormous fossil fuel energy usage of our data center sector, we must accelerate our efforts working with that sector and Dominion Energy to move aggressively to carbon net-zero energy.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My 24-year Air Force career as a fighter pilot and air rescue helicopter pilot trained me to analyze complex problems quickly and develop sustainable, practical solutions within highly complex and changing environments. I've found over the past four years those skills are precisely aligned with the demands of managing the challenges presented to the elected leaders of the fastest growing county in Virginia.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The U.S. Air Force core values: Integrity first. Service before self. Excellence in all we do.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a full-time Supervisor, one of only four on the Board. I probably work 60-80 hours a week on issues affecting the quality of life my constituents. This is the most rewarding work I've ever done.