Multiple outrageous reactions have come from Supervisor Candland and from Chair Ann Wheeler on the efforts of citizens to hold their elected leaders accountable for their betrayal of the public trust.
We have said all along: the recall petitions of both Pete Candland AND Ann Wheeler are based on a multitude of violations of conflict of interest: from benefitting financially, to attempts to railroad through the process the proliferation of data centers in our rural areas outside of the data center opportunity zone. These are their documented activities – in spite of public outcry from citizens across the county, as well as from dozens of local, regional, state, and national conservation organizations.
Contrary to what Chair Wheeler claims in a reactive fund-raising message sent to select Democrats this week: The citizens’ two recalls ARE NOT about supporting, or not supporting, a progressive policy agenda. These recalls ARE about citizens challenging the blatant appearance of politicians using their positions of power in government to personally profit at the expense of citizens.
In response to one of Supervisor Candland’s recent actions, blocking select citizens’ entries on his County government Facebook page, a lawsuit has now been filed in Federal court against Peter K. Candland:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Alexandria Division PATRICK HARDERS, Plaintiff, v. PETER K. CANDLAND Defendant.
Case No. 1:22CV798
COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the Plaintiff, Patrick Harders (“Plaintiff” or “Harders”), by counsel, and moves this honorable Court for judgment against Peter K. Candland (“Defendant” or “Candland”).
In support of his Complaint, Plaintiff states as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1. This Complaint asserts claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
2. This Complaint details violations of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America by Defendant.
3. This Complaint details violations of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America by Defendant.
4. Specifically, this Complaint outlines policies and acts by the Defendant, a state actor, tending toward, as well as identifiably, violating Mr. Harders’s Constitutional right to free speech. 2 | Harders
5. Candland is an elected, paid supervisor for Prince William County, Virginia who has repeatedly censored dissenting views on his public Facebook page entitled “Supervisor Pete Candland”.
First – Supervisor Candland silenced our voices by signing on to sell out to Data Centers, disqualifying him from voting on land use issues that will impact the Gainesville district residents – on more than just the Digital Gateway. Now – we have the reaction of Supervisor Candland responding to his recall, by blocking constituents from expressing their opinions.
Once again, Supervisor Candland is working to silence us by removing our ability to comment – this time on his own government platform. Where is the voice of the people, where is our voice? Blocked – Lost.
Even worse, is the response of Chair Ann Wheeler. Under her rule, there is now an edict: ANYONE who signs the recall petition, to remove Ann Wheeler due to her 300% increase in data center stock AFTER she was elected, along with other conflicts of interest, will be purged from the Prince William County Democratic Party.
Yes – you read that correctly.
Her reaction to credible concerns – in response to you voting your conscience – is that the ‘McCarthy era witch hunt’ has been reborn.
Regarding the two recalls: we reassure you the community, loud and clear, that all recall petition signatures are being turned over to the Board Members of this Coalition; NO ONE ELSE has access to the submitted paperwork; AND they are being held in a secure location.
At the point that sufficient signatures are collected, they will be turned over to the Prince William County Circuit Court to be reviewed by a judge.
We will not allow anyone to bully or intimidate citizens who wish to use our Democratic process to return transparency to our local government.
“…Now, the Prince William County Democratic Committee is preparing to remove Wright and anyone else who, like him, supports a recall of At-large County Supervisor Ann Wheeler, a Democrat and the top locally-elected county official. On Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans joined together at the county government center in Woodbridge to call for Wheeler’s ouster, accusing her of using her position of power for insider trading while snapping up stock in data center firms looking to do business in the county.”
“…On Wednesday, Wright learned a steering committee in the county’s Democratic Party voted for his removal 11-2. Subsequently, the committee voted 12-1 to remove any party member who denounced Wheeler, who has led the Board of County Supervisors since 2020. Wright was not present at the meeting and said the news was relayed to him by a friend who sits on the committee.”
“…The sycophants currently running the [Prince William County] Democrats are dividing our party and destroying the Democratic brand in this county. I’m happy to be free of it,” Wright wrote in an email to James.” (Read entire article)
Do not be distracted by attempts at ‘name-calling’ of citizens who demand morality and integrity to be returned to our local government. Concerned citizens have rallied to both recalls – from EVERY political ideology: liberal, conservative, and independent. We are even receiving recall petition signatures sent from all over the country, from PWC voters who are away on vacation!
We are united in exposing that our local government should have a sign reading “FOR SALE” – up on the McCoart Building.