2024 General Election Candidate Profile: Tom Osina For Manassas City Council

MANASSAS, VA — As Manassas residents cast their ballots for president and Congress, the Nov. 5, 2024 general election in the City of Manassas features local races as well. In the Manassas City Council election, six candidates are running for three seats, including Tom Osina.

Ashley Hutson, Mark Wolfe and Osina are the Democratic candidates chosen through the June primary election. Stephen Kent, Robyn Williams and Lynn Forkell Greene are the Republican candidates nominated by the party.

The City of Manassas will have the mayor, three at-large City Council seats and four at-large Manassas City School Board seats up for election in November. Federal elections on the ballot include president, Sen. Tim Kaine's U.S. Senate seat, and the 10th congressional district seat. The next state-level elections will be in 2025.

Early voting for the general election will begin on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 and continue through Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. More information on how to vote is available from the City of Manassas elections office.

Patch asked candidates for mayor, Manassas City Council and Manassas School Board to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Tom Osina's responses:

Name

Tom Osina

Office Sought

Manassas City Councilor

Campaign Website

www.facebook.com/tomformanassas

Age (As of Nov. 5 election)

71

Education

Bachelor of Science degree, University of Virginia

Occupation

Small Business Owner

Family

My Husband, Ed, and I have lived in the Georgetown South neighborhood since 2000. I am the proud father of a son and daughter and 3 grandchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Previous public office positions or appointments

Previously, I served on serveral City committees (one as chair) as well as President of the Georgetown South Community Foundation and Treasurer of the GTS Community Council.

Why are you seeking this office?

I was elected to Manassas City Council in November 2020. Many people have expressed support for the initiatives I have led, votes I have taken and questions I have asked over the last 4 years and wanted to know if I would run again.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

My Republican opponents are disingenuous in their campaign rhetoric. They support hiring more police officers, widening roads and revamp intersections, increase funding to schools and supporting salaries for public safety employees and teachers to keep them proportionate to Prince William County.

Yet at the same time they are advocating for lower taxes and tax cuts. So if they want to spend all this additional money, why are Republican City Council candidates leaving out the details of what will be cut under their tax reductions should they be elected?

On the other hand, voters know exactly where I stand when it comes to municipal finances having voted for 4 city budgets thus far. This measured approach has given us responsible funding plans to build a new Dean Elementary School, a space-efficient City Hall redesign and an expanded Manassas Museum which has become a public meeting and entertainment space.

At the same time, city employees including public safety officers have been retained by yearly competitive salary increases and benefits. I led the effort to add an additional $1.5M for teacher salaries last year which was continued in this year’s budget. This was all done by while lowering the tax rate or keeping it the same (as was done for this year when the average residential tax increase was just $266).

So next time local politicians say "Elect me because I will cut your taxes," ask them what they are going to cut. Ask what is "their" specific plan is to reduce expenditures to pay for all the increases they are proposing. Request details because if you don’t, the people you need in an emergency may not be there and the services you want may not around anymore.

What do you see as the top issues facing your city, and how do you address them in your campaign platform?

My priorities are several:

• Lower the residential tax burden by growth in the commercial sector. The anticipated completion of the first of 4 data centers this year is part of that effort.
• Make certain that the city’s recent land purchases actually provide the desired benefits in public safety, economic stimulus and quality of life.
• Take advantage of the Manassas Shopping Center purchase to integrate attainable housing in our city.
• Increase the quality of public education by providing appropriate economic support to Manassas Public Schools.

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

I take the trust and expectations city residents have placed in me as a member of Manassas City Council personally. While I have not be able to satisfy everyone all the time, I work diligently to meet and listen to everyone who has concerns, criticisms and problems. This has led me to meet in citizens’ homes, to attend HOA meetings, to join gatherings of businesses owners and to represent our interests with regional organizations.

I also recognize that, while I stand on the decisions made before me, I have an important responsibility to make sure that the votes I make while in office continue the vitality, growth and prosperity of Manassas in the future.

That is why my decisions to support purchasing the Old Town Inn site, the previous Marsteller School property and the Manassas Shopping Center, along with plans to bring commercial air service to Manassas Regional Airport, will be impactful beyond the next 4 years I am on City Council if re-elected.

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

Voters are not looking for managers to serve on their elected body. They are looking for leaders. My track record is evidence that I am tending to our residents’ needs now while laying the groundwork for an even better future.

I appreciate your vote when Early Voting starts on September 20, 2024 at the Registrar’s Office, 9025 Center Street, Manassas, VA, by Absentee Ballot or in-person on November 5, 2024. Whoever are your choices for Manassas City Council, thank you for voting.