Meet The Candidate: Harry Clark For Manassas City Council

MANASSAS, VA — The Manassas City Council election on Tuesday, Nov. 3 has six candidates vying for three council seats. Three of the candidates on the ballot are incumbents: Democrats Pamela Sebesky and Mark Wolfe and Republican Ian Lovejoy.

One of the newcomers seeking to unseat an incumbent is Harry Clark, a long-time Manassas resident who has been deeply involved in city operations, including serving as chairman of the Manassas City Parks and Recreation Committee and chairman of the Manassas City Planning Commission.

Clark, who served a 22-year career in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1994, also has serves as a volunteer at his church and local swim teams. He currently serves as the Manassas City representative on the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center Advisory Board.

Clark and his wife Debra raised their two daughters in Manassas where they attended Osbourn High School and went on to graduate from the University of Virgina and the College of William and Mary.

Learn more about Clark and why he is running for Manassas City Council in 2020:

Candidate

Harry Clark

Age (as of Election Day)

71

Office Sought

Manassas City Council

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Wife: Debra
Daughters: Christine (30), Michelle (28)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Christine is a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. She is working toward a position as a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department. Michelle is a National Park Ranger at Death Valley, California. This month she will begin a career as a National Park Service Law Enforcement Officer.

Education

• BA Economics, Georgetown University
• Master of Science in Business Administration, Boston University
• Master of Science in Information Systems Management, Strayer University

Occupation

• Retired from business in 2016
• Served a 22-year career in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1994
• Worked as a Defense Contractor from 1994 to 2016. From 1997, worked as a Program Analyst for the Army G2 (Intelligence) analyzing Army Intelligence Programs, Budgets and Budget Execution.

Campaign Website

www.harryclark4manassas.org

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

• 30-year resident of Manassas; deeply involved in City operations and leadership
• Member and chairman of the Manassas City Parks and Recreation Committee, 2002-2007
• Appointed to Manassas City Planning Commission in 2007; chairman since 2011
• Appointed to Manassas Regional Airport Commission in 2008; continues serving as a member
• Appointed to Manassas City Board of Equalization in 2016; chairman since 2018
• Appointed to the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center Advisory Board in 2009. Still serves on that board as well as the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center Finance Committee

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The main economic issue facing our business community and residents is the high level of taxes in Manassas. The City Manager presented a fully balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2021 that proposed a tax rate of $1.44 per $100 of assessed value. The current City Council raised this proposed rate to $1.46 per $100 of assessed value, even in the face of raised property assessments and the ongoing effects on businesses from the pandemic. This is a double hit on our business community and our residents. It also will make it much more difficult to attract new businesses to Manassas.

In these challenging economic times, we need to carefully review the City Manager’s budget to ensure that we are spending taxpayer dollars on necessities, not “nice to have.” We need to get our taxes down to a reasonable rate that fully funds that budget. We must be proactive in supporting our small businesses in applying for Commonwealth and Federal relief from the economic effects of the pandemic.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My experience and leadership over a career in the Army, along with my long-term involvement and leadership in City affairs distinguish me from the other candidates. I am the most qualified candidate on the ballot. I am endorsed by Mayor Hal Parrish. I have a vision for the city, one of a community with a thriving small and locally owned business community, not just in Old Town but also within our other commercial corridors and centers. This thriving small business community would be anchored by large, high tech firms such as Micron, Lockheed Martin and BAE to name a few that we already have.

I have been pushing this vision as Chairman of the Planning Commission and as a member of the Regional Airport Commission. Our Airport is in a very strong financial position, thanks in no small measure to the thriving business community there, both small locally owned and operated businesses and large firms such as Leidos and Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing. A thriving business community would provide two benefits. It will expand the city's tax base, so we will be able to lower taxes for all city residents. It would also provide jobs to city residents.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

The current City leadership seems to have an appetite for high taxes and poorly thought-out projects. As noted above, the current City Council raised the property tax rate above the City Manager’s recommended rate, even in the face of raised property assessments and the ongoing effects on businesses from the pandemic.

A good example of a poorly thought out project that City Council seems to be driving forward is the Grant Avenue Streetscape Project. I attended a recent town hall meeting that covered this, and it was very apparent that the people in Georgetown South don’t like — and they were not very well informed of the project or asked their opinion. Spending $4 million to reduce a major traffic artery from 4 lanes to 2 does not seem to be a wise use of City resources or smart transportation planning. Finally, higher tax rates are also driving out the city’s most poor and vulnerable residents. I am also worried about increased taxes driving businesses out of the city. I’m retired. I plan to stay in the city. It’s a vibrant and diverse community, and I want it to stay that way.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

As I have noted, I want to provide strong support to our locally owned small business community. I also want to assist them in working more closely with the school system to provide our students with Internships and Mentorships. There is a vocational/technical program in the school system, but many businesses don't know how to take advantage of it. I will also work with our larger, high tech firms to provide the same opportunities to our students.

On transportation, I support widening of Route 28 and completion of the Godwin Extension, two projects that the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted to support. Admittedly, both of these are County projects, but I will work with the BOS to support them. I also will work with the VRE and OmniRide to improve their service and schedules.

Finally, my service on the Manassas Parks and Recreation Committee and the Planning Commission, along with my longstanding support of Stonewall Park Swim Team has given me an appreciation of our great parks and recreation infrastructure. I will support maintenance and improvement of our parks and sports fields as well as completion and maintenance of our bike trails and lanes throughout the city.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have lived in Manassas for almost 30 years (settled here in December 1990) and I have been deeply involved in City operations since 2002. I have been a member of the Manassas City Planning Commission since 2007 and its Chairman since 2011. During that time, we drafted two major updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, as well as updates to the City Zoning Ordinance and the Capital Improvement Program. The Manassas 2040 Comprehensive Plan recently received the APA Virginia Commonwealth Plan of the Year Award. I know how the City works and how to get things done. I am also a conciliator. During my 22-year Army career I worked with a hugely diverse set of people who included foreign officers and civilians. I am very experienced in bringing diverse viewpoints together to achieve a common goal.

Why should voters trust you?

I am very transparent. On my website the principles for which I stand and the policies I will support are up front on the home page. I was disappointed that there have been no candidate forums showcasing the City Council candidates. In response, I have conducted two Facebook Live sessions, in August and September, where I used a question and answer format to lay out my policies and answered questions from participants provided to us in Chat or text messages. These sessions are posted on my Facebook Page, Harry Clark for Manassas. I plan to hold another Facebook Live session on Oct. 22.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Maintaining a vibrant, diverse small business community with affordable taxes allowing persons of all income levels and backgrounds to have a home in Manassas.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

The money that the City collects and uses to fund its operations and contingency funds belongs to the taxpayers. We absolutely must ensure that we collect not a penny more than what is needed to maintain the fiscal well being of the City, and that we spend only what is needed. The current economic environment resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic is not a time to be spending on “nice to have.” We also must ensure that we listen to the input from our citizens.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

“Defunding,” “reimagining,” or “dismantling” the police department is one of the worst ideas ever to be put forward. It would do incredible harm to the most vulnerable among us — the elderly, the poor and those struggling to build better lives for themselves. Manassas has the benefit of a superb police department, one of only 2% in the nation certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Our police department must be fully funded, with enough funding to ensure the police officers are very well trained and at least as important to ensure the police supervisors are trained to identify and retrain or remove those who are temperamentally unsuited to perform this very difficult job. I am a strong supporter of the police and am endorsed by Sheriff Glen Hill.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father told me to always be honest. I have found that always to be the best course of action.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My wife and I have been married for 35 years. We are both retired U.S. Army veterans. I am an active volunteer in a variety of local community organizations. I attend services at Bethel Lutheran Church, where I volunteer as an usher and help support church computer operations and networks. I have served on the Board of the Stonewall Park Recreational Summer Swim Team since 1998. In addition, I was an active supporter of the Osbourn High School Swim Team, serving as the team computer specialist from 2003 to 2019. Since 2009, I have served as a Manassas City representative on the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center Advisory Board. Our two daughters attended Manassas City public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. After graduating from Osbourn High School, both attended Virginia public universities; the elder graduated from the University of Virginia, while the younger graduated from the College of William and Mary.

Are you running for office in the City of Manassas? Contact Mark Hand at mark.hand@patch.com if you have not received your candidate questionnaire.

RELATED: Drop Box Available For Absentee Ballots In Manassas