Brian Landrum | August 15, 2025
Government, good or bad, is something that we feel. We feel it when we pull out of our driveways and sit in traffic. We feel it when our kids go to overcrowded schools. We feel it when we open our tax bills and wonder what exactly we’re paying for. And we feel it when we look around our neighborhoods and realize the places we love are being slowly chipped away.
That’s not how it’s supposed to be. Government shouldn’t be something we put up with. It should be something that works for us – something that respects our values, respects our way of life, and respects the promises made to the families who built our communities.
Good government puts residents first.
People didn’t move here where I live to settle in a concrete jungle. They moved to Haymarket because they fell in love with the beauty of Prince William County — the winding roads, the open fields, the small-town character, the quiet neighborhoods.
When you buy a home, and especially when you grow up in one, it’s not just your property — it very intentionally becomes your way of life. A school district. A commute. A community feel. It’s a commitment. And government should treat it like one.
When new homes go up, they should look and feel like they belong. That means keeping high-density projects away from low-density areas, preserving community character, and making sure new developments match or complement the lifestyles of those that already exist.
Too often, our Boards of Supervisors acts as though they can rip up that contract any time they want. Rezoning neighborhoods behind closed doors. Dumping dense development next to rural roads. Ignoring the residents in favor of the developers who fund their campaigns. Enough is enough.
Residents deserve local government that honors the commitment families made when they chose to make their home. That treats their investment – and their trust – with respect. That means listening. That means accountability. And it means remembering that every decision they make has real consequences for real people.
Good government isn’t complicated. It’s honest. It’s responsive. And it puts residents first. If we can get back to that – if we can make local government work for the people who elect it – we’ll protect what makes our communities special, and we’ll build a future that works for everyone. That starts with putting residents first.
Brian Landrum is a lifelong Virginian, husband, father, and attorney, currently running for Gainesville District Supervisor in Prince William County. Learn more at LandrumForSupervisor.com.
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