by John Reid

Serving the residents of Prince William County is natural for Idris O’ Connor. Whether it is through his coalition work, or being involved in local politics, he is often seen out and about helping the community. Now, he sets his sights on serving the Coles District.

Recently, the Democratic candidate spoke with the PW Perspective on his campaign. He has been endorsed by such dignitaries as Congressman Gerry Connolly, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, and Manassas Park Mayor Jeanette Rishell. He talked about what that meant to him.

“It speaks to the testament of the work I’ve been doing in the county for years,” he said. “they’ve put their trust and confidence in my ability to lead. I’ve served as a coalition leader the past several years, working to end homelessness here in the county, and trying to get resources to provide safe spaces where they can have a warm meal.”

For O’Connor, it is a focus of his work in resolving the county’s most pressing issues. “In addition to what I’ve done with my advocacy work, trying to provide affordable housing to working on the betterment of our community, the people see me action, so that support is important to me.”

This also is not his first go-around in local politics, as he ran for delegate in 2021. Although he came up short in his bid to represent the 31st House District, there were important lessons that he learned along the way. “I learned to not give up,” he said. “I campaigned during the pandemic, so it was really challenging to meet people on a one-on-one basis. But people now come up to me and say, ‘You ran for office, right?’ and to see people remember that is a reminder to always keep going.”

Taking on the challenges of the Coles District’s diverse landscape is something he is prepared for. “When it comes to development in the rural areas, you have to strike a balance,” he said. “We have to work with the rural homeowners, you have to meet them where they are.”

One of his goals is to ensure resources are accessible for both the rural and urban residents. “Some would love to have a grocery store close to home, and we need to discover ways to grow the county. However, it must be done with respect to maintaining the rural areas. My district is a combination of both rural and suburban communities, so whether it’s Yorkshire, Dale City, or parts of Manassas, we want to make sure that we work with residents about development.”

So, how can that be done?

“I’ll do it by listening and having conversations” he said. “What it takes is listening, and hearing what they have to say. I’ve always made it a point to reach out and bring people together by having someone who wants to create a consensus, that is what I will offer as the future Coles District Supervisor.”

“It’s about helping those to make ends meet. It takes listening with a compassionate heart.”

Another vision he has for the district is to provide a pathway for attainable living, as costs have risen the past few years. He says one of the ways it can be done is getting an affordable housing ordinance pass. “This way, you have it in the books,” he said. “We must have the Housing Authority provide a variety of options, including a housing trust fund.”

He continues. “It’s about making sure residents can have a down payment on a home, the Housing Authority can also help with rolling costs for developers. Whether it’s town homes or duplexes, no matter the housing option is, that it would help reduce the costs so rent will be more affordable. The ordinance will help with guaranteeing with new developments with a certain percentage being affordable.”

In addition, he believes that by increasing the police presence, it can have an impact on reducing crime. “We have to look at making sure there is enough personnel” he said. “Currently, the PWCPD is short staffed. I can work with the rest of the board to allocate funding for the Commonwealth Attorney’s office to prosecute crimes.”

“On the other side of the spectrum is to get funding for early intervention programs. We also need to help at-risk youth, whether it’s through mentorship programs or afterschool programs. I remember being in a program like this when I was in New York, and it did a lot for me.”

He believes that programs should be designed with a focus on helping youth by providing resources for mental health.

“We also need funding for mental health services and community safety initiatives,” he said. “It’s a proactive way to address crime.”

As the Crisis Receiving Center near Potomac Mills is close to completion, O’Connor envisions one being built in the Coles District in the future.

“I would like to see a Crisis Receiving Center that focuses on mental health and substance abuse issues on the western end of the county as well,” he said. “Also, we can provide the funding for more mental health professionals. We should bring back the 5-year staffing plan so to assist more residents.”

He credits his faith as a guiding force, and talks about how overcoming difficult situations has resulted in his reasons for giving back. “Seeing my family struggle, to taking care of my grandmother, I’ve seen my family go through some tough times,” he said.

“I got through it by trusting God wholeheartedly, no matter how it looks in the moment. Having a community to lean on, those experiences have taught me to give back and show my faith through service.”

Early voting begins on September 22, with the general election taking place on November 7. He will be opposed by incumbent Yesli Vega.