by E. Bruce Davis
Nov. 25, 2021
Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland has been drawn into the controversy over whether the Pageland Lane area near Manassas National Battlefield Park should be developed for data centers.
This is because the Candland family home is located on Pageland Lane and is one of the properties included in a Comprehensive Plan Amendment filed by a neighbor.
Schlossberg calls for Candland’s resignation
Prior to the Nov. 9 Board of County Supervisors annual dinner meeting with state legislators that Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland joined via Zoom, as he was out of town, Elena Schlossberg, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, led a group of t-shirted protesters calling for Candland’s resignation from the BOCS, since he must recuse himself on the Pageland Lane data centers issue.
Schlossberg said, “This is not because we don’t think Pete has done a good job… But now he can no longer serve in that role. I want to make it really clear, Pete is simply collateral damage from a Board and a Chair that [are] refusing to listen to the citizens… We demand that Ann stop this craziness.”
Candland told the Bull Run Observer, “Specifically, I have to recuse myself on votes regarding Pageland Lane.”
The July 20 vote that he opposed expanded “Mary Ann [Ghadban’s] application to include all of Pageland Lane. It looped my property into it.”
Without this provision, Candland could vote on all other Pateland projects other than in his own neighborhood.
Believing he should continue to serve, Candland said, “This is a large issue that we’re dealing with, but I have hundreds of votes that I take every year.”
Some questioned if Candland were to resign, the BOCS would appoint his successor, allowing the majority to appoint someone sharing views he opposes.
Candland assured that when a supervisor resigns, a special election is held, after political parties choose their candidates.