Jonathon P. Myers
Published: March 21, 2008

The 2005 board of supervisors election was hotly contested. Paul Milde was a newcomer who faced stiff opposition and dirty campaign tactics from an incumbent opponent. Mr. Milde visited the homes of nearly all residents in the Aquia District, mine included. Without a doubt, Mr. Milde has proven that he is a man who keeps his promises and was indeed the best choice.

Mr. Milde represents what many of us respect: a man who faced challenges in life but pulled himself up by his bootstraps and achieved success. Where others spent year after year proposing that “somebody should do something” to protect the Crow’s Nest environmental area, Mr. Milde quickly choreographed a deal that resulted in the purchase of thousands of acres by the county.

Astoundingly, political foes who based years of campaigning on environmental issues yet failed to gain one inch of progress toward the goal, chose to criticize the deal as “not enough.” Similarly, Mr. Milde championed the rezoning of the Aquia Towne Center so that it could more closely resemble the village atmosphere that we have spent years clamoring for. Whereas previously this dilapidated strip-mall would have been replaced with yet another automobile-centric and traffic-inducing retail center, he listened to our concerns and ensured that we didn’t repeat the errors of the past.

I didn’t know Paul Milde very well in 2005, but I know him now and I’m proud of the work he has done as my local government representative.

Jonathon P. Myers
Stafford