I received an Associate Degree in Electrical Electronics Technology in 1970 from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from VCU in 1975. I have been licensed to sell commodities, stocks, real estate, and life and health insurance and have been trained in the Six Sigma business management strategy. For the last ten years I have worked as a data analyst.

As a supervisor, my analytical skills would be helpful in giving a more thorough analysis when evaluating the complex decisions submitted to the board.

Right now, the citizens in our county are facing a 7.8% unemployment rate, higher than any other neighboring county. For the fifth time in the last seven years, the school system has failed to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). And while the county has failed to educate our children and to create an environment where they will have a job in the future, the county is leaving over $88 million of debt in their hands.

We need to create a business friendly atmosphere to bring in new jobs. These new jobs will provide revenue that will allow us to hire and retain dedicated teachers without raising taxes. This new revenue will also allow us to pay down our existing debt and leave a better future for children.

Caroline County faces many challenges in the coming years. Right now, the citizens in our county are facing a 7.8% unemployment rate, higher than any other neighboring counties. For the fifth time in the last seven years, the school system has failed to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), a series of benchmarks established by the Commonwealth. And while the county has failed to educate our children and to create an environment where they will have a job in the future, the county is leaving over $88 million of debt in their hands.

To fix these problems, the county must do several things:

Create a business friendly environment that will bring more jobs, lowering unemployment, and bringing in more money to the county while keeping tax rates low.

With these additional revenues, the county will be able to allocate more money to teachers’ salaries to bring in and retain dedicated teachers for our schools. At the same time, we must ensure that the school system uses its money in the best possible manner and not on extravagances and a bloated administration.

In addition to better funding for our schools, this additional tax revenue will allow us to pay down our overwhelming debt and not leave our children saddled with the choices the county has made in the past.

In the coming weeks, I plan on releasing more thorough proposals to address these issues, as well as on other topics such as public safety and historical preservation. I hope you will take the time to read these proposals and decide for yourself the direction that Caroline County and the Port Royal District should take going forward.

Thank you,
Reinhardt Watson