CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Running in one of the few contested local races in the area, Samuel Miller district Board of Supervisors candidates Fred Missel and Scott Smith agreed to answer a series of questions from Cville Right Now, to help voters make an informed choice when they go to the polls on Tuesday.

Cville Right Now sent the candidates the same questions via email, and asked for them to email their responses.

 

CRN: Affordable Housing: What plans do you have to address the affordable housing shortage in the county? Do you support an affordable housing trust fund and, if so, how would you fund that? How can you balance that with the need to limit environmental impact?

Fred Missel: Albemarle’s housing crisis is already large and growing. It won’t be solved with a single policy, but requires sustained county investment and collaboration with the development community. I fully support the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It gives the county flexibility to partner with nonprofits and private developers to fill financing gaps that will be essential to make projects possible.

Funding can come from a combination of dedicated local revenue, proffers, state and federal grants. At the same time, we must focus housing where infrastructure already exists, especially near schools, jobs, and transit. This will reduce car dependence and help keep traffic volumes in check. We also must not turn our back on the existing affordable housing in our rural areas and must ensure they are sustained and safe. Bringing affordability and protecting our rural areas isn’t a trade-off; it’s about aligning location and design to achieve both.

Scott Smith: Affordable housing is a significant need in Albemarle County, but it is also a complex issue. As a starting point, we need to look internally at the processes that can be streamlined to reduce costs and identify opportunities to leverage vacant commercial buildings through rezoning for mixed-use development that includes both residential and commercial uses.

From a red tape standpoint, about 23% of the cost of a new home is tied to regulations, according to a recent national survey. Having personally gone through the county’s building permit process, I have seen firsthand that there are major opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Streamlining that process and using technology more effectively would help both residents looking for housing and small businesses struggling with overregulation.

Regarding an affordable housing trust fund, my opponent has suggested a $10–20 million county contribution. That represents dedicating the property taxes from approximately 2,100 to 4,200 average-sized homes to such a fund. My opponent, as one of the main developers for the University of Virginia, is used to working with billions of dollars in endowment funding. Albemarle County’s budget is nowhere near that scale.

In terms of priorities, we have several pressing needs that must come first: addressing our mental health crisis, improving student performance, investing in infrastructure to support growth, and expanding police and first responder staffing. From a prioritization standpoint, I would rank these higher than adding more housing and vehicles to an already congested traffic system.

To give one example, only 67% of Albemarle’s 3rd graders can read at grade level. For Black students that number is 37%, and for Hispanic students it is 39%. A student who cannot read at grade level by 3rd grade is 4 times more likely to drop out of high school. This is a five-alarm fire that requires urgent attention. We currently spend about $20,000 per student yet have poor results. York County, which has similar demographics, spends $15,000 per student and achieves far better performance. We should study their best practices and apply them here.

The school budget is the largest item in the county budget. From a business perspective, we should be identifying what works elsewhere and adapting it so that our students can thrive. I attended public schools from kindergarten through graduate school in engineering, and that education became the foundation of my career in high tech.

 

CRN: Federal budget cuts are straining local governments. Are there ways to balance the budget while reducing reliance on real estate taxes?

SS: Today, Albemarle County receives only about 13% of its tax revenue from commercial businesses. That means property owners shoulder most of the burden. One way to reduce that pressure is to expand the small business base in the county. I have spoken with many small business owners who describe the challenges of navigating the building permit process and the barriers they face trying to operate in Albemarle. My background is in streamlining systems, and I know there are real opportunities to make our processes more efficient. Small businesses make up the majority of Albemarle’s business community. By simplifying the permitting process, cutting red tape, and using technology to improve customer service, we can help small businesses grow. Expanding the small business base strengthens the tax structure, attracts jobs, and creates a healthier economy. That growth would reduce the county’s dependence on real estate taxes and allow us to maintain services without burdening property owners.

FM: Absolutely. Significant federal reductions are forcing counties to shoulder more costs for schools, public safety, and social services. Albemarle has leaned heavily on real estate taxes, but that’s not sustainable long-term. We must diversify income/revenue through strategic economic development, which we see occurring at levels never achieved before in Albemarle. We must partner with the state and others to attract clean industries and boost small businesses that add jobs and expand the tax base in our development areas. We also need to evaluate county departmental operations for efficiency and look for strategic partnerships with the private sector and others to share services and resources. Fiscal discipline and collaboration can keep budgets strong without raising property taxes.

 

CRN: Albemarle County has seen overcrowding in schools and is considering building a fourth high school, among other options. How would you address the population growth among K-12 students?

FM: Our school system reflects the community’s success and growth, but the pressure on facilities is significant and impactful to families. The county is exploring a fourth high school, which I support as a concept, but we must also invest in capital modernization and capacity in existing schools. Offering specialized programs and flexible learning spaces is an essential effort that should expand. Coordination between land-use planning and school capacity is necessary, so we’re not approving housing in areas without room for new students. My approach is proactive planning, data-driven forecasting, and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality, uncrowded classroom environment. In short, partnerships and collaboration between the School Board and Board of Supervisors is critical and I have had helpful discussions with outgoing School Board Member Graham Paige and incoming partner Bob Beard. I am proud to be endorsed by Mr. Paige and look forward to working with Bob on this issue.

SS: I want to begin by highlighting our academic performance concerns. Only 67% of Albemarle’s 3rd graders read at grade level. For Black students that figure is 37%, and for Hispanic students it is 39%. Other school divisions with similar demographics have much stronger results. Fixing this must be our first priority. This is a pivotal moment for residents as they hire their next Board of Supervisors representative. The question is whether voters want the status quo with my opponent or a business leader like me who is trained to solve complex problems. The Samuel Miller District will be hiring its next Supervisor on November 4. Residents deserve someone who will ask the difficult questions and fight to improve education for our children. I attended a school board meeting two weeks ago to hear the discussion about growth and the three options being considered, along with their costs. The school board needs to decide on a direction. After that, the Board of Supervisors can evaluate funding options. The Board of Supervisors is the funding body for our schools, and collaboration between the two boards will be essential. Many residents of Samuel Miller have told me they want their children to stay in their current schools. Families often choose their homes based on school districts. That connection should be respected as we consider how to address growth and overcrowding.

 

CRN: AstraZeneca will bring jobs and tax revenue to the county. Is there enough housing and support services available to support that influx of workers?

FM: AstraZeneca’s expansion will bring high-quality jobs, add significantly to our tax base, and differentiate this area and the county’s role in the biotech and research economy. That said, new jobs also mean new housing and public service needs. Albemarle must work in tandem with private partners to expand workforce housing near employment centers. That includes planning for childcare, transportation, and community amenities that make the area livable. If we plan ahead, this growth can be a model of how economic development and our housing policy work can support each other. Additional housing near Rivanna Futures, where AstraZeneca will be located, will help reduce traffic and will leverage existing infrastructure efficiently.

SS: The AstraZeneca plants approved in the Rivanna Futures area will bring jobs and increase tax revenue, which is positive. I hope that county leaders considered these impacts carefully with data models before approval, because the effects will extend across multiple counties. I am running to bring a business perspective and common sense to the Board of Supervisors. A recent article noted that these plants will consume about 300,000 gallons of water per day. Once in office, I want to ensure that we assess the total environmental impact of major industrial projects, including their effect on water, energy, and infrastructure. Right now, many county decisions are made in silos. Environmental, traffic, school, and law enforcement impacts are considered separately, when they should be analyzed together. We need to understand the cumulative effects of growth, not just isolated ones. We also need to consider related developments such as data centers, which have similar resource impacts. My opponent has publicly talked about expanding the “by-right” process for data centers. If the county approved several large centers without full environmental analysis, we could face major consequences. We must first understand our baseline water availability and evaluate total resource use across all major projects before approving more industrial development.

 

CRN: Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail is being renovated. We see a high rate of repeat offenders ending back in the facility after release. How would you address that issue?

SS: I want to begin by again emphasizing our reading proficiency crisis. Only 67% of 3rd graders in Albemarle County can read at grade level. Those who cannot are 4 times more likely to drop out of school. That connection between education and incarceration is real. If we fix education early, we can prevent many of the problems that lead people into the criminal justice system later in life. Regarding repeat offenders, my wife and I have personally supported a program that has shown great success in reducing recidivism. I have spoken with several of the program’s graduates over time, and their stories are inspiring. They are now working, contributing, and rebuilding their lives. This program should serve as a model for what works. We must be willing to think differently, learn from proven programs, and invest in strategies that help people reenter society successfully. Prevention and rehabilitation together will reduce the strain on our jails and build a safer community.

FM: In college, I worked as a social worker, placing people who were on parole into job settings where they were held accountable and which allowed them to rebuild their lives. That experience has shaped how I view the justice system. Investing in people re-entering society is not only more humane, it’s more cost-effective and reduces long-term strain on the criminal justice system. Renovating the jail is only part of the solution. Reducing repeat offenses requires focusing on what happens before and after release. This includes access to mental health treatment, substance-use recovery, job training, and stable housing. Many people reoffend because they lack the support networks that help them reintegrate into the community. I support expanding partnerships between the county, nonprofits, and regional agencies to provide re-entry programs and coordinated services while also giving police officers the resources to do their job.

 

CRN: Data centers have been discussed as a source of revenue for the county, but they obviously strain electrical capacity and have an environmental impact. Do you believe data centers would be good for the county?

FM: Data centers could generate tax revenue, but they also raise serious questions about infrastructure capacity, energy use, and environmental sustainability. Earlier this year I supported an interim ordinance that allowed data centers below 40k square feet by-right. These projects would come with strong staff review and oversight. I did not support data centers larger than this and have made that clear to existing Board of Supervisors members and staff. The discussion of larger data centers was removed from the county’s Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors agendas recently. Regardless, it will be essential that any location proposed, even at the smaller size of 40K square feet, would be located within serviced industrial zones with strong environmental safeguards in addition to other control factors. I am in alignment with the Piedmont Environmental Council and others on this issue. Albemarle’s economic growth should reinforce our climate and sustainability goals, not work against them. It’s about being selective and proactive, not reactive or driven by short-term gains.

SS: I have a background in high tech, so this is an area I understand well. We already have data centers in Albemarle County, but new proposals must be handled with care. I am very concerned about their environmental impact. We only get one chance to manage our natural resources properly. Before approving more data centers, we need detailed analyses of their cumulative impacts, especially when it comes to water and power consumption. I do not support expanding the current “by-right” permitting process for these projects. If you want to open an auto repair shop in Albemarle County, you must go through a special permit process. A data center, which consumes vastly more energy and water, should require even greater scrutiny. These facilities have enormous environmental consequences, and each new project must be considered in the context of our total water and resource availability.

 

CRN: This is one of the few contested races in the area this Election Day. What are the key differences between your positions and your opponent’s?

SS: My career in high tech was spent in one of the most innovative industries in the world. I will bring a fresh set of eyes, innovative thinking, and a problem-solving mindset to the challenges we face here in Albemarle County.

Let’s start with budgets. Public education is the largest line item in the county budget, and at a deep personal level, I understand the value of education. Much of my extended family is involved in teaching, and the foundation of my career in technology and business began with the education I received through public schools. I know the transformative power that education can have.

I am very clear on the need to improve student performance, particularly among minority students who face greater academic challenges. There are multiple successful models across the state that we could learn from and apply here. We can absolutely do better.

Now let’s talk about growth and land use. The county continues to approve high[1]density housing projects where the infrastructure does not exist to support them. A perfect example is the large-scale development on Old Ivy Road, where there is already heavy congestion. These projects are being approved again and again without proper consideration of the impact on traffic, water use, and public safety. Residents along Rockfish Gap Turnpike and Route 250, my neighbors, are the ones paying the price, sitting in traffic day after day because of poor planning and weak accountability.

My opponent often brags that he’s been here nearly his entire life and has been “deeply involved” in county affairs. My question is simple: if he’s been part of this system for decades, why haven’t these problems been fixed? Why is traffic worse, schools underperforming, and decision-making still siloed? I may have only lived here for 6 years, but I bring decades of leadership experience, business discipline, and a record of solving complex problems. Sometimes it takes someone new, someone not tied to the same circles, to see what’s broken and actually fix it.

Another key difference is independence. I have no conflicts of interest that would ever compromise my duty to serve the residents of Albemarle County. My opponent holds dual roles that directly overlap; leading major development projects for a large local institution while also shaping land use policy for the county as chair of its planning body. That overlap gives him an inside view of both the university’s long-term development plans, often looking 10 to 15 years ahead, and the county’s own land use decisions. It’s easy to see how that insider advantage could serve the institution he works for far more than the taxpayers he’s supposed to represent.

This creates an enormous potential conflict of interest, especially when decisions about land use and infrastructure are being made by someone who has a direct professional stake in those same areas. Under Virginia Code §2.2-505, the County Attorney can request a formal opinion from the Attorney General to determine whether such a conflict exists. I’ve urged that this request be made so voters can have clarity and confidence in the integrity of their local government.

This is a simple question that deserves a direct answer. Will he ask for a formal legal ruling or not? There is no middle ground. The people of Albemarle deserve to know who their elected leaders truly serve. We can continue down the path of the same old results, where entrenched insiders make decisions that benefit special interests, or we can bring in someone with a business background who applies logic, accountability, and innovation to local government. I have no ties to any special interest. My focus is entirely on results: on improving schools, supporting responsible growth, protecting taxpayers, and making county government more efficient and transparent.

This race offers a clear choice: more of the status quo or a new kind of leadership that values integrity, accountability, and fresh thinking and no conflict of interest that causes their voices to be unheard. I believe the residents of Albemarle County are ready for the latter.

FM: It’s simple: experience. Experience in land use as a landscape architect and urban planner for 3 | Page over 30 years, experience in government with 15 years of public service on the ARB and the Planning Commission, and almost 40 years raising a family and building my career here in Albemarle County. I’ve spent decades balancing growth and conservation through my public service and have built strong collaborative relationships over the past decades. Meanwhile, my opponent, having just moved to the area, has no such land use or public services experience. Unfortunately, my opponent has weaponized my employment with the University of Virginia Foundation, which I have no doubt he’ll bring up as a difference. Feel free to check my record. I do not apologize for my work at the Foundation (a separate entity from UVA), and am grateful to it for all the relationships it has allowed me to build and the essential knowledge it has given me. But, I’d like to be very clear: whenever there’s a hint of a conflict, I have recused myself — but that need is few and far between. I count two times out of my 15 years and over 300 public hearings where I had to recuse myself. I will always be at the table for Samuel Miller District constituents, providing a wealth of experience to decision-making that is simply unmatched.