2023 Candidate Profile: Yesli Vega For Coles Supervisor

MANASSAS, VA — Yesli Vega is running for reelection in the Prince William Board of County Supervisors' Coles district.

Vega, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Idris A. Jibowu-O'Connor.

Patch sent the following questionnaire to Vega and Jibowu-O'Connor to help voters make informed choices this Election Day.

Name

Yesli Vega

Age

38

Town of Residence?

Manassas, Virginia

Position sought:

Coles District Supervisor

Party affiliation

Republican (though local races are nonpartisan)

Family? Names, ages and any other pertinent details you wish to share

Married to Rene, a U.S. Army Veteran, for eighteen years. Two children, Neysi and Arian, who attend Prince William County Schools.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

An Uncle that is a school teacher. I remain an Auxiliary Sheriff Deputy in Prince William County in addition serving on the Board of Supervisors.

Education Level

Bachelors in Criminal Justice from American Military University; Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy

Occupation, including employer and years of experience

Prince William County Supervisor; Prince William County Sheriff Deputy; City of Manassas Park Police Officer; City of Alexandria Police Officer.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Prince William County Supervisor, Coles District

Campaign website

www.yeslivega.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

My entire adult career has been about service to Northern Virginia communities. As a law enforcement officer and now as Coles District supervisor.

The last four years have been hard on Prince William County residents. I’m hopeful that with a new Chair and new board majority that county government will begin to listen to and represent those they serve. I’ve fought over the last four years to increase our number of officers in response to the violent crime epidemic that’s come to the county. Additionally, I’ve stood for citizen-first land use policies and against the trifecta of tax increases levied upon our residents in the midst of COVID and record inflation (real estate, personal property, and meals). Unfortunately, I’ve been in the minority during those fights, but haven’t stopped advocating on behalf of the citizens of Prince William. Again, with a new Chair and board majority I’m confident we’ll be able to return to a government that listens to the wishes of our citizens, and I’m excited to be a part of that and represent the Coles District for another term.

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

There are many. The violent crime wave, the trifecta of tax increases and our residents cost-of-living, and instituting land use policies that abide by the wishes of our residents are the three biggest. But if I had to choose one, we have to get the violent crime wave under control. Since 2019, we’ve seen a 70% increase in violent crime in Prince William County. Last year, homicides doubled, and we’re currently on pace to have the deadliest year in county history. Public safety is paramount to the quality of life our residents in Prince William County and the Coles District deserve.

The first rule to anything is ‘do no harm’. As a longtime law enforcement officer, you’ll never hear me attacking our brothers and sisters in uniform that put their lives on the line for us every day. Some of my colleagues unfortunately did and officers left our department in droves as a result. If the folks that don’t know whether they’re going to make it home each night to their families don’t know that their elected officials have their backs, then they’re just not going to do the job – which we’ve seen. Second, I began sounding the alarm early on our 300+ officer deficit that our own comprehensive plan says it needed to keep our county safe. I have advocated every year for the hiring of more police officers and will continue to do so as a deterrent to reverse the crime wave and keep our community safe. Our current officer shortage has made community policing a thing of the past. Our force now is entirely reactive to the latest call for service or emergency instead of being proactive and building relationships in the community. Third, we have to hold the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office accountable. As violent crime in the county has increased by 70%, Ms. Ashworth’s office has prosecuted 70% FEWER felonies. This is simply insane. The Board control the budget and the purse strings. We must use this leverage to make sure felonies and violent crimes are being prosecuted and dangerous criminals aren’t allowed to freely roam our streets.

As a collective, not great. When PWCS, against the advice of the CDC, decided children should learn in front of a ’12 screen for way longer than was necessary, our board majority did nothing to stop them. As a result, our students may never recover from the learning loss that occurred during that time. The majority on our board had the opportunity to step in with the power of the purse and say enough was enough. But they didn’t.

Our county also endured the economic calamity created by COVID and then inflation caused by excessive spending at the federal level. Instead of providing relief to our residents during this time, the board majority instead increased the average property tax payments by $2,200 per family, instituted the 4% Meals Tax at all county restaurants and on prepared food, and increased personal property tax bills on vehicles this year. I did not think those were prudent or particularly compassionate decisions at the time, subsequently voted against them, and would do the same again today.

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

In 2020, my opponent led and spoke at protests calling for the defunding of police. I always have and always will stand with law enforcement to keep our residents safe. If you look at the initiatives and additional spending programs he supports, extra funding by way of even higher taxes will be necessary. I believe our residents have been socked enough with tax increases and deserve a respite.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

- Increased funding for public safety
- Citizen-first land use decisions
- A lower cost of living for our residents by way of real estate, personal property, and relief from the Meals Tax and increasing the tax on data centers
- Fiscal responsibility to help us prioritize the basics – public safety, roads/transportation, and education
- Government accountability and efficiency
- More oversight of school division spending (57% of the county budget)

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

As a law enforcement officer, I would have to respond to and try to help defuse dangerous situations in the middle of the night. It’s a very challenging job that definitely tests your resolve. Serving the public is in my blood and whatever challenges I face in public office, no matter the severity, aren’t likely to rise to the level of life and death I’ve had in previous positions.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Nothing matters more than family.

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

It may be an outdated notion, but I still believe the role of government is to serve the people, and to serve the will of the people. When I first ran for this position four years ago I pledged to put the residents of the Coles District first. First over developers and special interests. First in fighting for safe neighborhoods and placing victims over criminals. First with their pocketbooks and cost-of-living. I’ve tried every day to fulfill that promise and I hope the citizens of the Coles District will allow me the opportunity to continue to serve them and their families for another term on the Board.