Meet Steve Walker

Meet Steve Walker

Who: East Fairfax Supervisor running for re-election

Age: 54

Residence: East Street, been in Culpeper more than 20 years, grew up in upstate New York

Occupation: Business owner of Fountain Hall Bed and Breakfast

Background: Graduated from Florida International University with a degree in hotel administration, worked in food and beverage and hotel administration and electrical contracting

Family: Married to Kathi, daughters Leah, 17, and Elizabeth, 12

Committees: Public Safety, chairman of Rules, representative on the Virginia Association of Counties and the Piedmont Network Workforce Board

By Liz Mitchell

STAFF WRITER

Steve Walker is running for re-election on the same vision he's had for this community for the past 14 years.

But his main driver in seeking another term is to resolve the water and sewer debate between the town and county.

"I think I have some valuable experience that I can continue to utilize," he said. "I want to see this water and sewer issue move forward, in my opinion, for the benefit of the town citizens I represent."

Walker has served the East Fairfax District on the Board of Supervisors for two terms and is hoping to get re-elected for a third go around. Before that, he served on Town Council for six years, which he says gives him a unique perspective on the board.

Plus, he's lived on East Street for more than 20 years, operating Fountain Hall Bed and Breakfast with his wife Kathi.

Walker says it's important for the town and county to form a joint water and sewer authority to plan the county's future growth together. Currently, the county has formed its own authority.

"At this point, we have an opportunity to create a joint authority focused around both governing units," Walker said. "How we set up the joint authority will give levels of protection and understanding to town citizens versus the town joining the county authority."

Walker would like to see both bodies appoint three members to the authority and then jointly select a chairman.

Water and sewer service is not the only reason Walker wants another crack at being supervisor. Growth is another key issue he'd like to address if re-elected.

"I continue to work on creating legislative venues where we have better tools to help create sustainable growth," he said adding that he serves as the county's representative on the Coalition for Communities with High Growth. "Trying to provide planning tools that will allow reasonable growth and not so many peaks."

The second part of the equation is planning growth in the right areas, he said.

"Whether you live in the town or not, it's important to maintain as much viable agricultural land as possible," he said. "The key is to preserve prime agricultural land but it's also the land easiest to be developed. That's why water and sewer is so critical to the future development of Culpeper County."

New housing developments should be directed to areas outside prime agricultural land, Walker said, noting that the authority would set the service areas.

In his experience, Walker said, the most challenging aspect of being a board member is continuing to have constructive dialogue with Town Council and the School Board.

The most difficult aspect is having to set a tax rate primarily used for the schools but not having much of an impact in how the School Board uses the money, he said.

"We are the funding source," he said. "If we have questions, we are questioned as to why we are asking. It's a no-win situation."

Walker said it is hard to have a positive impact, especially when citizens are being taxed beyond their means to provide the schools with additional revenue.

If re-elected Walker would like to bridge the gap between the School Board, county and town.

"I like serving on the board because I have a big vision for Culpeper - it's a great place to live," he said. "Educate locally, work locally and participate in the quality of our community. We need to preserve agricultural land to the best of our ability and provide a quality of life that comes from having open space while maintaining strong economic vitality."

Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or