Jim Donati: The major challenge facing our distict is the economy. Everything revolves around the health of business and industry. A major challenge and my top priority is funding for a third high school in the Varina district. Unfunded state and federal manadates including healthcare and proposed EPA storm water regulations will be a major funding challenge. A third challenge contines to be balancing growth to retain farmland and our rural character while respecting the rights of property owners.
Jim Donati: I have always and will contine to support our businesss community by working with the administration and other members of the Board to assure that we have a climate that allows large and small businesses to be successful.
I will recommend a county-wide bond referendum that includes funding for the new high school as soon as financially responsible. The construction of the new school will be the first project funded.
It is and has always been the policy of the Board of Supervisors that budget planning allows for decreaed state and federal revenues and the potential of new unfunded mandates. Recognizing the potential for decreased revenues, I am mindful that Henrico must maintain our residential to business tax base ratio of 68% to 32%. The Henrico Economic Authority (EDA) works closely with the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP) and the Virginia Ecoomic Development
Partnership (VEDP) to market Henrico and the region throughtout the U.S. and globally. As a member of the GRP, I will continue my active involvement. Our students and incumbent workforce must have the skill sets for the jobs of today and tomorrow. I am committed to expanding career and technical education opportunties at both the secondary education and post graduation levels.
The 2026 Land Use Plan indentifies special strategy areas and overlay districts in Varina. While not yet scheduled, there will be public hearings and workshops with individual citizens and assocaitions invited. This will not be a quick process but a process that is well developed to address the views and wishes of all of our citizens.
Jim Donati: I have been in elected public service for the past 20 years. I have a proven record of working with and listening to all of our citizens. We work together to resolve issues and to bring a consensus that is supported by the majority of those involved. As promised, I have held monthly Varina Town Meetings on the 3rd Monday for the past 20 years. This allows an open format for citizens to address issues and to make suggestions. I am commited to being accessible by meeting with individuals, community organizations, and businesses. I have also been a small business owner for the past 37 years. I understand the importance of making a payroll and the needs of businesses in our community. Over the years, I have established relationships and the trust of of the community.
Jim Donati: I am strongly committed to retaining Henrico's real estate tax rate of $.87/$100. Counties and states must balance their budgets unlike the federal government. I am mature enough to understand that there are times when new streams of revenue must be identified to meet the services required by our citizens and unfunded state and federal mandates.
Jim Donati: The Board of Supervisors implements new programs. I will recommend that a study and implementation of an efficient and expanded regional transportation system be adopted. As past chairman of the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission,I understanding the need for expanded transit service to many in our workforce.
I will also continue to advocate that career and technical education opportunities be expanded in our schools. One of the first questions asked by potential new industries is "...is your workforce prepared to meet our needs?"
Reese Haller: The top three challenges for the Varina District of Henrico County are: The economy (decreased state/federal funds, unfunded mandates); Education (school facilities and resources); Controlled growth (keeping rural Varina rural and promoting growth in our in-fill and gateway corridors).
Reese Haller: 1) I will work with the rest of the Board, and the County Administrative staff to lobbby of state and federal representatives to maintain or increase our "share" of budgeted expenditures. Addressing this issue may also require a look at new revenue streams, grants, and public/private partnerships to maintain services without raising taxes. 2) There is a desperate need for a new high school in the Varina District and I will agressively pursue the necessary funding to make it a reality. Upgrades to infrastructure and technology for existing facilities will also be a priority. 3) The 2026 land use plan is a good guide for growth in the County and should continue to be referened when considering development. I will work with our Economic Development Authority to attract new, community oriented businesses into the gateway areas and "in-fill" corridors. This type of controlled growth will add jobs, provide necessary services, and address the vacant and unsightly areas of our business community.
Reese Haller: I am honest, committed to, and compassionate about the Varina District and Henrico County. While I have no political experience, I was a Police Officer for 26 years, and dealt with the issues of the citizens on a daily basis. In virtually every organization that I have been a member of, I have sought and been elected/selected to, leadership positions. I am a life long resident of the district and a father of middle school children, giving me a vested interest in the issues,
Reese Haller: I am not in favor of raising taxes, but am a realist. If alternate revenue streams are not identified and available, it may be necessary to look at that possibility, in order to continue to provide the level of services expected by our citizens.
Reese Haller: I woiuld like to improve the residents input in the government process. One way to do that is to move the existing "town hall" meetings from one specific night/location per month, to varied. Changing the day of the week. time of day, and location can provide better access to citizens from all sections of our very diverse district. Additionally, I would like to establish an office in the district, where citizens could stop in to discuss issues, without having to go to the west end. Most of all, I would ensure that the residents of the Varina District have confidence that their concerns are being heard and acted upon.
Tyrone Nelson: ) The top three challenges in Varina are
1) Building new facilities like schools and libraries so they are modern, and state of the art like they already have in Western Henrico.
2) Creating and retaining good, well-paying jobs
3) Cleaning up and limiting the smelly dump and preserving the character of our community. We don't want to degenerate into nothing but overdeveloped suburban sprawl.
Tyrone Nelson: I will address these challenges by fighting, every day, for Varina. Too often it seems we are last in line for the good things and first in line for the bad things. I will only support a new bond referendum that will get funding for the new Varina high school and puts that project up front. I will make sure the new library gets built, and that the overgrown dump gets under control and stops risking our health and well-being.
Tyrone Nelson: My family and I live in Varina and my school aged children attend public school here. I have been and continue to be an active member of this community. I am a member of the PTA, a Board member of Little League. Mr. Donati also appointed me to the Henrico Board of Social Services and to the The Shops at White Oak Village Community Development Authority. As the pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, I have worked in the larger community and been an activist to improve our entire region. I was named one of Style Weekly's Top Forty Under Forty in 2009 for my community activism and a recent graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond.
Tyrone Nelson: In these troubling economic times, I don't believe we should raise taxes on families who struggle to make ends meet. We need to prioritize our spending to ensure we take care of critical needs like public education and public safety. We need to invest in a new high school and new libraries so that Varina can excel and offer opportunities like those in Western Henrico.
Tyrone Nelson: I will implement a strategy and program of putting Varina first. I will advocate tirelessly for our needs here in Varina. While there is certainly an important role for collegiality and civility in any governing body, I will be on the Board of Supervisors to fight for Varina and to ensure we get our fair share.
Campaign Address:
Friends of Jim Donati 23150
P.O. Box 637
Sandston, VA
Campaign phone:
(804) 795-5757
Campaign Email:
bevdonati@aol.net
Phone (direct):
(804) 514-9735
Incumbent?:
yes
Age:
66
Career:
Small business owner
Campaign Address:
Haller for Supervisor
P.O. Box 973
Sandston, VA 23150
Campaign phone:
(804) 356-2525
Campaign Email:
info@varinasvoice.com
Phone (direct):
(804) 356-2525
Incumbent?:
No
Age:
57
Career:
March 2005 - Present: Full Time father of twin girls
February 1979 - March 2005: Henrico County Police
August 1976 - January 1979: Manager, Ellis Auto Service
August 1972 - August 1976: Active Duty - United States Marine Corps
Campaign Address:
Friends of Tyrone Nelson
P.O Box 38752
Richmond, VA. 23231
Campaign phone:
(804) 690-5376
Campaign Email:
tyrone@tyronenelson.com
Phone (direct):
(804) 690-5376
Incumbent?:
No
Age:
38
Career:
Pastor, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church
Biographical Information
