By E. Bruce Davis
July 22, 2022
Pete Candland, Gainesville District Supervisor since 2011, responded to the Bull Run Observer regarding the call for his recall made during public comment time at the June 28 meeting of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
The recall effort is based on his actions since he and his wife, Robyn, signed, “Both a Comprehensive Plan Amendment Initiation Form and Special Power of Attorney and Interest Disclosure,” for their Pageland Lane property in the PW Data Center Digital Gateway on Oct. 25, 2021. He then recused himself from votes impacting this project.
Candland said, “At this point, this is nothing more than a small group of individuals, I think about 14, at the BOCS meeting, that has put together a list of inaccurate concerns they have with my performance as supervisor. What they are alleging is not true.”
He added, “It’s important to note, that I reached out to [Amy Ashworth, Commonwealth Attorney for Prince William County], to ask for her opinion and advice.”
“Throughout this entire process, I’ve been acting according to the state statute to the best of my knowledge. She was very gracious in providing her advice to me. Since I received her advice, I’ve followed it to the letter.”
He said he continuously seeks legal advice.
If the recall petition has the necessary 1,796 signatures of Gainesville District residents, it would be presented to a judge of the Circuit Court of Prince Willam County, who would determine if Candland would be recalled.
“I’m confident that even if it did get to that point, a judge will determine that I have not been in violation of the state statute,” Candland said.
“They have made serious accusations that are completely false, and if it does get to that point, I look forward to a judge clearing my name. They really have said some just inaccurate and awful things, accusations, that are completely false. The statute is written to say that [someone} has to knowingly be breaking the law, knowingly breaking the statute.”
While some have speculated on why Candland and Robyn recently sold Cookies & Cream, their Haymarket ice cream business, Candland assured it was unrelated to data center issues.
Robyn, a former teacher, was offered a position in the fall at Covenant Christian Academy, where their daughter will attend. Candland said Robyn would not have the time needed to run the family shop.
Candland added, “It all came together in a wonderful moment when they had reached out to her about working there, and somebody offered us to buy Cookies & Cream. So, everything just seemed to line up for us really nicely.”
Candland said he was previously unaware of assertions made during public comment time on June 28, that Ann Wheeler, chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, had purchased stock in data center development and related companies.
“While Chair Wheeler and I don’t always agree on everything, I have not seen anything that I believe has risen to the level of Chair Wheeler ever breaking any sort of law or statute,” he said.
“They are trying to make accusations and drag my name and Chair Wheeler’s name through the mud. It’s really disappointing.”
During public comment time, a reference was made to Robyn’s February 2022 social media post to friends, in which Candland said she referred to this huge activity coming in their lives that would be a rollercoaster ride.
“To bring my wife into this discussion is just despicable. She is not a supervisor,” she said.
Resulting from their home address being publicized by recall advocates and some local newspapers (not the Bull Run Observer), Candland cited resulting threats to his family, people walking around their property, an individual staring at their son as he mowed their lawn, and others driving up to their home in the middle of the night.
“This is a small group of people trying to intimidate me and my family. I have called the police multiple times,” Candland said.
“We’ve gone from the realm of debating a topic to the realm of personal attacks on both myself and Chair Wheeler. It really has gotten very disappointing.”
“I’ve sent out multiple emails on this every step of the way, describing my thinking and what I’ve done. I’ve sent it out to my constituents and posted it on social media. I’ve been very transparent during these votes, or lack of votes. I do believe that I have done everything I’m supposed to do to follow the state’s statute and taking advice from the County Attorney and the Commonwealth Attorney.”