Illegal Immigration Overshadows Other Issues in Race for Board

Ramirez, a retired occupational safety and health specialist with the Navy, said he is running because the Hispanic community needs representation on the board.

"The minority community needs an advocate," Ramirez said.

His wife, Denita, represents Woodbridge on the Prince William County School Board. With two children in public high school, Luis Ramirez said he wants to ensure the schools' budget is fully funded. He, too, wants more business development on Route 1.

Stirrup being challenged by Democrat Corey R. Riley. Stirrup, first elected in 2003, is running for a second term. He continues to bill himself as a slow-growth, anti-tax Republican. Complaints about "over-crowded residential houses, late-night loitering, gang activity and undocumented day laborers" led him to write the anti-illegal immigrant resolution, he said.

Riley, who is the executive director of the Greater Prince William Community Health Center, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

He has said the lack of attention paid to education, human services, traffic, growth and public safety led to a "crisis state" in the county. On illegal immigration, Riley has said, supervisors attempted to score "cheap political points," rather than deal with the issues surrounding undocumented residents in a "responsible and practical way," according to his campaign Web site.

Supervisor Michael C. May (R-Occoquan) is being challenged by John S. Gray. May has represented the district since January, when he won a special election to replace Stewart, who vacated the seat to run for chairman.

May, a lawyer, was a Planning Commission member before being elected to the board. His tenure has been focused on controlling growth. He has pressed for fewer residential units, more office space and more high-end retail development. He also is working to implement an impact fee on developers, which would allow the county to charge fees to new developments to mitigate the transportation impacts they help create.

Gray, who has lived in the county for 20 years, said May's inexperience is evident.

"Mike doesn't have the institutional knowledge of where we've been or where we are going," said Gray, a certified public accountant who said he would bring fiscal expertise to the board.

With the county facing an expected $10 million shortfall, Gray said, he would make cuts, adding that there is "no way to avoid a tax increase." Gray unsuccessfully challenged Stewart in a caucus for the Republican nomination for chairman last year. Now he is running as an independent.

Stewart faces a rematch against Democrat Sharon E. Pandak for the chairman's seat. He defeated her last year in a special election to replace Sean T. Connaughton (R), who resigned to head the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Supervisors W.S. "Wally" Covington III (R-Brentsville), Martin E. Nohe (R-Coles), Maureen S. Caddigan (R-Dumfries) and John D. Jenkins (D-Neabsco) are unopposed.