John Gray Says He Will Address Foreclosure Crisis in Prince William County

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

 John Gray was born May 27, 1951 in Bronx, NY.

Gray lives in Lake Ridge with his wife, Doreen. They have four adult children who graduated from Woodbridge High School and all went on to graduate from Virginia universities. He served in the Marine Corps from 1969-1973 before he was honorable discharged at the rank of sergeant.

He has been a certified public accountant since 1981. Before that, Gray was a staff auditor with Peat, Marwick & Co (Now KPMG) in New York. He has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration—Public and Finance from Hofstra University. He was Cum Laude in 1974 for his associate's degree from Nassau Community College

Gray has been the at-large member on the Board of Social Services since 2004. He is a former board member of the Prince William County Education Foundation and has served on the Prince William Chamber of Commerce board since 1989. Gray serves on or has served on numerous other county boards, including the Library Foundation, Citizen's Budget Committee, County Budget Task Force chairman (1989-2001) and the Conservation Alliance.

All of Gray's accomplishment's are on his official campaign website.

Question 1: What is your No. 1 issue/problem/concern in Prince William County and how will you address this if you are elected?

The #1 issue is the foreclosure crisis in PWC. Over 50 percent of the homes in PWC are under-water and valuations will continue to decline. I will convene an Ad Hoc Task Force made up of the Chamber of Commerce. The Association of Realtors, Bankers, Developers, the Economic Development Alliance and Human Services Agencies to identify the problems and to establish economic programs and incentives to increase home values.  


Question 2: What are your feelings about the BPOL tax?

It’s an outdated tax originally collected to fund the War of 1812. The War is over. The BPOL should be incrementally reduced each year until an equilibrium is reached where the tax collected is worth the Counties effort to collect the tax. Most consumers have no idea what the BPOL tax is but they pay it!  


Question 3: Do you support the HOT lanes? What other transportation fixes do you support?

Doesn’t matter if one does or doesn’t support them anymore as they are “here” to stay. I didn’t support them and the deal made was absolutely terrible for taxpayers. That being said, perennial alternatives include Metro to Woodbridge, Bus Rapid Transit, light rail and continuing to encourage Slug lines, but mostly importantly BRINGING JOBS TO PWC will be the only true fix to transportation.


Question 4: PWC Real Estate taxes increases this past year and the economy looks to be in another downward spiral. What have you identified as wasteful  spending that you plan to cut if elected? If you don't think there is any wasteful spending, then what cuts will you be trying to make this coming budget season?

The BoCS needs to analysis the multitude of Reserve Accounts they maintain where taxpayer funds are hidden from public scrutiny and from where the BofCS is always able to “finds funds” when they need to. We’ve UNNECESSEARILY cut too much into VITAL taxpayer services already but I would cut back on the $400,000 taxpayers give each Supervisor for TRIP Funds and I would rescind the $89,000 each Supervisor will get for the next four years to increase their Magisterial Office staff, I would want to renegotiate the $50 million invested in the failed “Home Help Program”.  


Question 5: What plans do you have to help create better paying jobs in Prince William County?

Bluntly, we need to change the public image of PWC that has been presented for the last five years. The Chairman is the public voice and face of PWC. Presently, the image of PWC is one of a County with a criminal illegal alien problem and that of a County not concerned with citizens who were victims of natural disasters. PWC’s “persona” is one of intolerance and as a third-rate bedroom community to NoVa and the District. It’s a terrible image and it needs to be corrected.