2023 Candidate Profile: Jim Gehlsen For Brentsville Supervisor

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Every seat on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors is up for election on Nov. 7. Jim Gehlsen of Nokesville is on the ballot and hopes to represent the Brentsville District on the board.

Gehlsen, a Democrat, is running against Republican Tom Gordy. The Brentsville District is currently represented by Jeanine Lawson, who is running to be the chair of the board of supervisors.

Patch asked each of the candidates in the local races to fill out the following questionnaire.

Name

Jim Gehlsen

Town of Residence

Nokesville

Family names, ages, and other details you'd like to share?

Wife, Jean and 5 grown children aged 28 to 38

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education Level

B.S. from Clemson University

Occupation, including employer and years of experience

Self-employed all my life. Masonry Contractor for 33 years, farmer for 40 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Director of PW Soil and Water District for 11 years served mostly as Chairman

Campaign website

www.evergreenacres.biz

Why are you seeking elective office?

I've been asked by several people that know me and know I get things done.

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

Data Center mess. The current Board has approved data centers (DCs) next to schools and neighborhoods. The computer tax decreases 90% over the first five years and 20% of DCs are paying no computer tax at all. I would like a very substantial buffer between the DCs and residential and schools. I have a solid proposal for revamping the computer tax so all DCs pay tax and it does not decrease. I would also propose an impact fee for $20 million per building, minimum, to offset the cost to our residents to get the electrical infrastructure in place currently at about $15 billion.

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

The pandemic was a national response (or not) with little input from BOCS. The real issue is the mismanagement of the Data Centers.

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

I have been a resident and business owner in Brentsville District for 43 years. I have a lot of experience in running a business, keeping an eye on detail and making sure things get done. A big part of my success in business is my ability to think outside the box. I also built a farm brewery on my farm, which appears to be the most energy efficient brewery in VA. One does not do that by following the pack.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I will be a voice for the people. Currently I'm hearing from many across the County that the BOCS is not listening. An example is the Devlin Technology Park. In spite of many objections, the Brentsville Planning Commissioner voted to approve the project.

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

I have done a lot of volunteer work in the County. I've been a volunteer stream monitor for the PW S&W District for 6 years monitoring Cedar Run, Broad Run and Kettle Run. Long story-short, I discovered a lot of sewage effluent going into Lake Jackson. Last year I sent a letter as Chairman of the PW S&W District to all the BOCS outlining the problem and suggesting a solution. It appears that none of the Supervisors read my letter, but staff did and applied to EPA for a clean-up grant. The County was awarded a $750,000 grant this year with permission to come back to the well for more funds to clean up Lake Jackson. This has been going on for over 50 years and it has been more convenient for others in authority to look the other way. I do not shy away from difficult or unpopular tasks. I will continue to guide staff on this when elected.

Another example is when I was Area II Chairman for VASWCD at a quarterly meeting in Richmond. I was one of 12 voting member of the Board and the Board had a motion on the floor that was discriminatory. I made a motion to remove the discrimination from the motion, but my motion did not get a second from any of the other 11 members. My motion died on the floor and discrimination moved forward. This did not set well with me at all so again, a long story-short, I wrote the anti-discrimination policy for the VASWCD, which was ratified by all 47 Districts in VA and became policy at the annual meeting that December. One of the stipulations I put in the policy was that if any one present at a meeting had concern about discrimination, they could raise objection, not just the 12 voting members.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Advice from An Old Farmer:
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered… not yelled.
Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life… Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Don ‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around..
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
Most times, it just gets down to common sense.

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

During my nearly 11 years as Director of PW Soil & Water Conservation District, I was never late or absent for a Board of Directors meeting and I started meetings on time. I'm present to get the job done.