Immigration Fight Has a New Target

Stewart has defenders on the board, especially Supervisor John T. Stirrup Jr. (R-Gainesville), who helped push the immigration policy. But even Republicans who sometimes align with Stewart, including W.S. Covington III (R-Brentsville), said: "We are more divided politically than ever before. The board is trying to find out what its identity is."

Covington said Stewart is still figuring out how to lead. The chairman does not always talk to each supervisor before board meetings to reach consensus. Instead, Covington said, the supervisors often walk into a meeting not knowing what their stance will be on county issues.

"He should figure out where the compromises need to be made to get specific legislation through," Covington said.

That's legitimate criticism, Stewart said. "I should do more of that. But reaching out doesn't mean agreeing with them. That's never going to happen. I'm not going to agree for the purposes of collegiality."

The board and Stewart are also split over the $6.4 million cost of the immigration policy, which covers installing video cameras in police cars to protect the county from allegations of racial profiling.

Stewart said he does not think the county should pay for the cameras in a tight budget year, and he hopes a federal grant will fund them. He also does not support a fully staffed police department, as Deane has recommended.

Some supervisors said Stewart's unwillingness to fully finance a program he advocated is duplicitous.

"That's the hypocrisy of the whole thing," Jenkins said. "If you go to the dance, you have to pay the fiddler."

Stewart, an international trade lawyer at Foley & Lardner in downtown Washington, was first elected chairman in 2006. He replaced Sean T. Connaughton (R), who was retiring. County leaders have credited Connaughton with guiding Prince William through an unprecedented period of growth that brought thousands of new residents, houses, students and employers. The county has developed a niche by attracting research laboratories, among them branches of the FBI and George Mason University.

Connaughton declined to comment.

None of the supervisors said they regret their vote on the immigration policy. But they said that with Stewart at the helm, the county has been preoccupied with the initiative.

Prince William residents "have lost confidence," Jenkins said. "It's critically important we restore that."

Donna Widawski of Haymarket, who frequently attends board meetings, said Stewart has shown "great leadership" on a difficult issue. "He didn't need [the issue] to win reelection. He's widely popular," she said. "He has a strong network of support."

Amy Lagos of Woodbridge said Stewart is influenced by a small segment of the community: Stewart "wanted national notoriety. Running people out of the county is not [the way] Prince William should be advertising itself. I hope that's not the way we identify the county."