Corey Stewart Calls PWC's Soaring Murder Rate "An Anomaly"

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Highlighting achievements while also acknowledging "difficult decisions" that some of his constituents didn't necessarily agree with, Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors Corey Stewart delivered his "State of the County" address Tuesday.

Stewart, who also is running for Virginia's Republican gubernatorial nomination, indirectly criticized some of the financial policies of Gov. Terry McAuliffe, saying they don't line up with what the county believes is a more prudent approach in "ensuring the County keeps its triple AAA bond rating."

He also addressed the county's 22 murders in 2016 — the most since 1975 — but called it "an anomaly," and contrasted that by saying the county's overall crime rate is at a 24-year low.

Stewart went on to point out that, in a recent survey, a majority of residents in the county overwhelmingly believe the quality of life meets or exceed their expectations, and that they're in similar agreement on public safety services.

Stewart was Virginia's chairman of Donald Trump's campaign for president before being fired in October over a campaign "stunt" outside RNC headquarters. Trump went on to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race for presidency.

Here's a complete text of Stewart's address.

Photo by Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons