Politics & Government

Army Vet Chris Royse Seeks Woodbridge District Seat

Chris Royse, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Frank Principi for the Woodbridge District seat on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

Editor's Note: This Q&A has been re-featured for readers as the election is Nov. 8. 

Christopher Allen “Chris” Royse has resided in Woodbridge, VA for the past 13 years with his wife Kathy and children Connor, Cameron and Karoline and in December, Chris and Kathy will celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary. Connor, Cameron and Karoline attend Prince William Public school, one in elementary, one in Middle, and one in high school. The family belongs to the congregation of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Woodbridge. Upon graduation from High School, Chris enlisted in the Army and served as an Airborne Infantryman in the 9th Infantry and 82nd Airborne Divisions. He then became a Green Beret and served in the 3rd and 19th Special Forces Groups. After the Army, Chris and Kathy returned to Ohio where Chris earned a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Humanities at Wright State University.

Chris, Kathy, Connor and Cameron moved to Woodbridge in 1998 after Chris accepted a job with the FBI where he supported budgeting for the FBI Laboratory Division. Later, Chris joined industry and began supporting the DoD’s Nunn-Lugar Program where he provided expert advice on securing, rendering safe, dismantling and eliminating Former Soviet Biological Weapons capabilities throughout the region. He also managed Collaborative Biological Research projects between Former Soviet and Western Scientists. During that time Chris earned a Master of Science in Bioscience Management from George Mason University. Chris has supported the response and recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the recent earthquake in Haiti, and is the former Chairman of the Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Bio-Med-Tech Committee and the Bio IT Coalition. He currently serves on the George Mason University Biosafety Committee and is the At Large Representative on the PWC Schools Safe Schools Advisory Council. Chris formerly served as the At Large representative to the PWC Economic Development Task Force and Conventions and Visitors Bureau.

Chris Royse's Official Campaign Website

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Question 1: What is the top issue you plan to address if elected?

Jobs. As Woodbridge Supervisor, I will work to create a business environment that supports existing businesses and entices new business to locate into our area. By creating favorable conditions for creating jobs, we will build our tax base, improve our quality of life by cutting down on commuting traffic, and encourage the kind of smart growth that will support the creations of parks, trails, and other amenities. Leadership is they key. With strong leadership, based upon what we can do now, we can bring the next generation of well-paying jobs to Woodbridge. We cannot simply continue to wait for a “New” Woodbridge; one that may or may not appear depending on circumstances. We need a better Woodbridge, now. We need leadership that is as realistic as it is committed. As the next Supervisor from Woodbridge, I will continue to work to bring jobs, like our initiative to bring AFRICOM to Woodbridge, and make sure that county staff, state government, and the federal government are all aware of our need, and our unique position to meet this goal. Jobs---no other single economic development goal will benefit as many of the citizens of Woodbridge as a real commitment to bring good jobs to Woodbridge

Question 2: The BPOL tax has been widely discussed, and even abolished, in some localities, but Prince William County still uses it to generate money. Does the BPOL tax need to be changed or abolished in Prince William County? Why or why not?

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In these challenging economic times, we must consider all possibilities when looking to improve the county’s economy. While most of Prince William County has seen an increase in jobs, and a healthy 6% increase in incomes, Woodbridge has actually gone backwards, falling behind the rest of the county 6%. In essence, while most of the county is seeing solid growth during a very challenging time for our national economy, Woodbridge is not only falling behind, but is in danger of being left out of the county’s success. Clearly, we need to consider the BOPL in Woodbridge and evaluate if it the revenue it produces is worth its cost in economic development. I support having as many tools as possible to create economic development in Woodbridge, and as the next Supervisor from Woodbridge, I will champion either changes or even the abolishment of the BOPL if it will benefit rebuilding Woodbridge’s economy after a number of years of neglect.

Question 3: What plans do you have in the next four years to continue the revitalization efforts of the Rt. 1 corridor?

With a number of projects underway on Route 1, as the next Supervisor from Woodbridge, I will continue to support all projects that improve the corridor. Moreover, I believe that with leadership and cooperation among businesses, county staff, and other stakeholders, we can improve the Route 1 corridor, and make it more representative of our great community. It is one of the main entrances to the county, and it should be a main street we can all be proud of, but right now, it is anything but that. I will work to clean up the Route 1 corridor, to draw new businesses, support existing businesses, and make changes now, rather than waiting for some promised new solution. The key, once again is leadership. As Woodbridge Supervisor, I will ensure that our needs are known, and that real action it taken.

Question 4: Do you support the HOT lanes? Do you think there was a better solution?

HOT lanes will not solve all of our transportation problems. I am concerned that they will only benefit a small group of commuters. We need to look at all of our transportation options: building capacity on VRE, more bus service, better roads and interchanges, and bringing jobs to Woodbridge, all of these will help us take cars off the roads during rush hour. As Woodbridge Supervisor I will be a leader in looking for common sense solutions that we can afford, and that will make a real difference now, rather than at some indeterminate time in the future.

Question 5: Do you plan to support the protection of the Rural Crescent or do you think some changes need to be made to promote economic development?

The Rural Crescent is but one tool that we can use to make smart, informed decisions about land use in the county. But, in Woodbridge, the Rural Crescent is only useful if it assists us in highlighting the need to redevelop areas within the Rural Crescent. As Woodbridge Supervisor, I will consider each case based upon what is in our Comprehensive Plan, and what will benefit Woodbridge. Maintaining open space is a laudable goal, but we have a need for parks, and recreation, and other amenities here in Woodbridge as well. Economic development will make creating such community resources possible, and as such, must be a major part of our land planning considerations.

Question 6: Has the county's proffer system been successful or do you think changes need to be made in how government officials make developers pay for their developments?

The county’s proffer system ensures that developers support the infrastructure needed by a growing community. In the past, there have been abuses, but by and large, the current Board of Supervisors has made a number of changes in the process, and it has created a transparent and well functioning system. The proffers for each project need to be considered in relation to where they are located, and what is needed in those areas. As the next Supervisor From Woodbridge, I will carefully consider each proffer statement to ensure that the needs of the citizens of Woodbridge are met, while maintaining an environment of positive economic development.

Question 7: What do you see as being the next step in the "New Woodbridge" vision?

Jobs. I have been actively working to position Woodbridge to be the next destination for the Department of Defense's Africa Combatant Command (AFRICOM). By bringing AFRICOM to Woodbridge our community will receive an instant economic boost from the jobs that will be brought here by the move through government hiring and contractor support not to mention the bump the car dealers, dry cleaners and restaurants will receive, among other businesses, instantly. We also need to provide for a more safe and secure community. I will work immediately with our local law enforcement to report to the voters on stepped-up efforts, especially along Rte. 1, to aggressively enforce our laws and codes against loitering, jaywalking, littering and better "don't block the box enforcement." I ran on this "broken windows" approach in 2007 with great support among the voters. We don't need a "vision," we need a better Woodbridge now, and that's what the voters want. I want a Woodbridge where we create jobs, clean up our roads and neighborhoods, work with the county staff, state, and federal government for real solutions to our transportation problems, and where we create a climate that supports our businesses and citizens with quality services: a place where your phone calls are answered and you have the opportunity to interact with your Supervisor in a regular and personal manner.

Question 8: As a result of the flooding that has displaced dozens of people with no hope of rebuilding where they lived, do you plan to address low-income housing in Woodbridge?

Homelessness in the county is up 40% in the past year. As the next Supervisor from Woodbridge, I will work with and encourage the county staff to bring as many of our federal tax dollars as possible, such as grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, no matter how small the grant may be, back to Woodbridge. This type of approach will help us better address the affordable housing needs of the citizens of Woodbridge and will assist in creating resilient communities. Affordable housing is important, but has little to do with the recent disaster in Woodbridge and the resulting displaced persons situation. Within a short time Woodbridge was subjected to an earthquake, a hurricane, a credible terrorist threat to the National Capital Region and the horrible flood that displaced so many of our residents. I plan on leading us in building a resilient community. We recently marked the 10th anniversary of 9-11, and after that infamous day, it became a goal of both Presidents Bush's and Obama's administrations to create resilient communities. This is the idea behind my motto "Homeland Security Begins in the Hometown." Resilient communities can only be built through strong local leadership. Resilient communities require strong local leaders that understand what must be done in order to prepare, respond, recover and reconstruct after disasters. My 26 years of leadership experience includes working in all phases of disaster management, for example, preventing the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, responding to Hurricane Katrina and the reconstruction of Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. I have the business, government and National Guard experience to assist with leading Woodbridge towards resiliency. It begins with strong economic development and working with all stakeholders-- developers, residents, government, County Staff--placing the necessary infrastructure to support our existing and new businesses, specifically ensuring that the right mix of sustainable housing exists for all levels of employees, and continually making oneself personally available for stakeholder engagement.


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