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A special election for the vacant Gainesville District supervisor seat has been set for Nov. 4, the Prince William County Office of Elections confirmed on Wednesday.
The announcement comes in the wake of Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir鈥檚 July 20 death. The special election for the Republican-leaning district will take place on the same day as the November general election.
Primaries do not precede special elections, the office said. The political parties themselves will determine their respective candidates.
Circuit Court Chief Judge Angela Horan issued a writ of election Wednesday morning, which the Office of Elections received around 11 a.m. The county鈥檚 Electoral Board was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting July 31 at 4:30 p.m. to set candidate filing deadlines for the special election. The meeting, in the office鈥檚 main conference room at 9250 Lee Ave. in Manassas, will be open to the public.
Kulick announcement
Kathryn Kulick, a Republican and vice chair of the HOA Roundtable of Northern Virginia, appears poised to run as Weir鈥檚 potential replacement. 鈥淎s one of Bob鈥檚 appointees in fulfilling his commitment to protect the Gainesville District, I saw firsthand his vision for future policies impacting our community,鈥� Kulick, a resident member of the county鈥檚 Data Center Ordinance Advisory Group, said in a Saturday news release. 鈥淭o that end, I would ask everyone to stand by for a major announcement following the Board of County Supervisors recognition of Bob鈥檚 contributions鈥︹��
As of Wednesday afternoon, she had not made any official announcement.
But perhaps with early echoes of a campaign slogan, the release was signed, 鈥淜athy Kulick, An Experienced Voice for Gainesville.鈥�
The HOA Roundtable of Northern Virginia advocates for residential quality of life and property value.
During its July 29 meeting, the now seven-member Board of County Supervisors voted unanimously 鈥� following a closed session 鈥� to 鈥渁uthorize the county attorney to notify the Circuit Court of the vacancy created by the untimely death of Gainesville District Supervisor Robert 鈥楤ob鈥� Weir 鈥� and to petition the Circuit Court for a writ of special election,鈥� according to a motion read from by Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega.
County Attorney Michelle Robl then delivered the certification to the Office of Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline C. Smith, whereupon Horan issued the writ of election.
During public comment time at the board鈥檚 July 29 meeting, Kulick paid her respects to Weir while ambiguously foreshadowing her pending plans.
鈥淭o Bob鈥檚 devoted staff and appointees who now must carry on and step into the breach,鈥� Kulick said. 鈥淪teady as it goes 鈥� steady as it goes.鈥�
Kulick has been a leading voice on the Data Center Ordinance Advisory Group, advocating聽聽for its ultimate, resident-centric聽, which it underwent in December.
At a Nov. 14 news conference, Kulick lamented the perceived exclusion of resident interests.
鈥淭he residents are having the rug pulled out from under them,鈥� Kulick said. 鈥淭o actually serve the public interest, the Data Center Ordinance Advisory Group must be reorganized and placed under new leadership that will exercise it as a true advisory group and not simply an audience.鈥�
Kulick鈥檚 request was subsequently taken into account and implemented under the guidance of Wade Hugh, deputy county executive, who announced in December that, 鈥渆ffective immediately,鈥� data center industry members 鈥� various lobbyists, land attorneys and NOVEC and Dominion Energy representatives 鈥� would no longer be the primary consultants for group initiatives.
In the release, Kulick praised Weir鈥檚 commitment and service to the Gainesville community, with tributes聽聽last week for the late supervisor.
鈥淭he loss of our friend and fierce advocate Supervisor Bob Weir stunned and saddened everyone in the Gainesville District, and many throughout Prince William County,鈥� Kulick said. 鈥淓veryone admired Bob鈥檚 willingness and relentless fight for his constituents. His passing creates a huge challenge on issues that impact the quality of life in our community, and Bob himself would want to restore our voice on the Board as soon as possible.鈥�
鈥溾�ove from Bob鈥檚 constituents goes to his family who sacrificed so much to allow him to serve our community,鈥� Kulick added.
