“Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.” – Sun Tzu

While the sudden resignation of Gainesville District Supervisor Pete Candland may appear to create a potential issue for the county going into the new year, longtime Virginia resident Kerensa Green Sumers sees it as an opportunity to serve her community. Recently, the Democratic nominee for the special election to replace Candland spoke with the PW Perspective about her vision for the district.

“I don’t think that Gainesville is as conservative as people believe,” says Sumers, who’s seeking to become the first Democrat to hold the seat since Robert Cole back in 1992. “I think that what the people of Gainesville are concerned about are the same things I’m concerned with, which is the destruction of nice green spaces that should be turned into parks. This county cannot continue to not invest in itself.”

Being an entrepreneur herself, she believes that the county should focus on promoting more local and start-up businesses. “We can’t expect for big business to pick up the slack, because they’re not going to. It’s not sustainable.”

One of the advantages that Sumers brings into the race is the fresh perspective of a younger generation. “I’m a millennial, and we are the majority in this county and in this district. We are not into the big chain restaurants, and no one really likes them [laughs.] It’s why they lost so much money during the pandemic. People are more likely to support a local restaurant that cares about the community more than a big business that does not treat their employees well.”

“It’s why people will go to Jirani’s in Old Town over Starbucks, because it is a business that supports other local businesses and causes. Those are the things you get when you go to local outlets.”

Sumers has a wealth of knowledge in mental health services. She has worked as a Support Coordinator for mental health and intellectual disabilities. As supervisor, she will make focusing on the mental health of the county’s youth a priority.

“The need for mental health services for children and teenagers should be in the forefront of any candidate. COVID-19 was and is a trauma for everyone, but especially our youth,” said Sumers. “If we don’t create outreach and support systems for them, we will have an even greater loss of life and potential as they look for something to help them cope and escape.”

She advocates for more resources to help with trauma support and its root causes, which in effect could lessen the number of drugs used, particularly in underserved communities.

“Doctors are less willing to prescribe painkillers to BIPOC patients, that’s the truth. People just don’t do drugs for fun; no one is spiking their veins with heroin for fun. They’re trying to get away from a trauma or bury difficult feelings. Sometimes, they may feel it’s better to get high than to deal with the pain.”

“The people I’ve served with intellectual disabilities are more likely to become victims of sexual assault, abuse, and exploitation in general,” she continued. “We see it regularly, where you have individuals who are just trying to escape. It is the root of all drug use. We need to address what are people trying to heal from. We need more resources in the county.”

“Therapy is expensive, it can be upwards to $125 a session,” she said. “How many families can afford to do that?”

Her plans are to secure funding to obtain more peer and group counseling that removes the need for families to be on Medicaid in order to address the issues.

Sumers has an intimate relationship with the Commonwealth, due to her family being here since the 1700’s. Another major issue she looks to focus on as supervisor is the infrastructure of transportation, particularly with Routes 28 & 29. “Route 29 is congesting and in serious need of updating,” she said. “But instead of looking to expand the Metro and public transportation to reduce the number of cares on the road, they focus too much on keeping people out.”

Affordable housing is another vision that Sumers has for Gainesville. However, not all share her sentiments. Since announcing her candidacy, there has been a myriad of offensive comments made on social media.

Despite it all, she has learned a lot about the community since running. “It’s been amazing to meet so many wonderful people, and taking the time to listen to their concerns, so I know how to best address them.”

She is looking to have a recreation center similar to the Chinn Center in Lake Ridge and a public pool, among other outreach activities. For Sumers, she is a believer in words leading to actions.

“We need inclusivity and embracing a newness. It comes to respecting our past, but also be ready to embrace the future. Gainesville is at a point where we can provide the type of support systems that allows us to grow in a healthy way. I don’t fear change, I welcome it, but I want change that is positive, and includes the people, because I’m here to serve them.”

The Special Election for Gainesville Supervisor is scheduled to be held on Feb. 21, 2023. As of press time, Alyson Satterwhite, former Gainesville representative on the Prince William School Board, civil engineer Ray Mizener, and Haymarket Council member Bob Weir have announced their intent to become the Republican nominee. You can read more about Kerensa Sumers’ campaign in our sister publication, the Bristow Beat.