Leesburg Virginia, March 4– Hamilton resident, Caleb Kershner, Esq., today announced his candidacy for the Catoctin District on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.

“Loudoun has offered me and my family a unique way of life, one that I’m committed to preserving and improving for all Loudoun families to enhance their quality of life,” said Kershner “Having grown up in 4-H and on a working farm, I know the importance of preserving open space and our beautiful countryside for future generations.”

“I am running to advance policies that make commuting and living in Loudoun safe and affordable for young families like mine. I am committed to keeping taxes and the costs of living low and giving Loudouners efficient, customer service oriented local government.

“Residents deserve choices that fit their lifestyle: smartly planned and convenient communities in the east, and countryside living with modern convenience in the west.

Kershner continued, “I am running because I have the legal experience and financial background to be a thoughtful and unwavering advocate for Catoctin families’ by protecting taxpayer dollars, ensuring sufficient and high-quality services for both the growing east and the rural west, and championing fair application of our laws and regulations towards all Loudoun residents and businesses. In doing so I will achieve solutions that make commuting and living affordable, preserve our open space and rural economy, create more good-paying jobs, and increase pathways to student success.”

Kershner’s policy priorities include:

Safe Roads and Reduced Commutes: “Nothing is more important than bringing our families back together safely and sooner every day. I will bring increased urgency to improving major routes like Rt. 15.  “I will promote a combination of local, state and federal funding with accelerated completion timetables for these crucial projects. This will not only ease congestion but will also bring more customers to our thriving agribusiness in the west.”

Champion for Small Schools, Smaller Classes: “As supervisor, I will fight to keep our small schools open—especially those in Lucketts, Lincoln and Hamilton. “I believe smaller class sizes and more individualized student attention leads to greater success for all Loudoun students. Closing these schools would force our students into larger schools with more than hour long bus rides.”

Breaking Barriers to Broadband Access: “Lack of broadband and cell service negatively affects our families’ safety, impacts our competitiveness and jobs, and hamstrings access to 21st century education tools for public, home and private school education.  There has been much talk and little progress to finding any real solutions to broadband in Catoctin. If elected, my focus will be finding ways to reduce barriers and increase incentives for private infrastructure investment.”

Kershner is endorsed by numerous local leaders and Catoctin residents including:

Catoctin Supervisor Geary Higgins:  “Caleb has my strongest endorsement to serve as the next Catoctin District Supervisor.  His experience growing up on a farm, background in business finance, and career as an attorney for both the county and private sector give him an impressive range of knowledge that will serve the district well.  He has the passion and ability to govern in a way that will preserve the way of life in Western Loudoun we love and enjoy. He will bring balanced and practical solutions to Loudoun’s transportation and land use pressures and will work hard to preserve and grow our rural economy.”

Loudoun County Commissioner of Revenue Bob Wertz: “Caleb will bring a fresh and balanced approach to the complex land development and financial decisions the Board faces, and I am very pleased to support his candidacy to represent the Catoctin District”

Lovettsville Town Council Member Michael Dunlap: “Loudoun needs knowledgeable and passionate defenders of our small businesses and small towns like Lovettsville.  I am delighted to offer my full support for Caleb and look forward to working with him as our next representative on the Loudoun Board of Supervisors.

Caleb Kershner, Esq is an equity partner with the law firm Simms Showers, LLP in Leesburg Virginia. His firm represents clients in a variety of areas including non-profit, business, employment, personal injury, estate planning, criminal and family law. One of the firm’s most public cases was on behalf of Leesburg’s Cornerstone Chapel, where the firm won a unanimous decision at the Virginia Supreme Court in June 2012 allowing the church to build on its present location in Leesburg, VA.

Caleb has a long history of representing law enforcement officers in Loudoun and Northern Virginia, including a Virginia Supreme Court victory which awarded dozens of deputies working at the Loudoun adult detention center back overtime pay (gap pay) which they were denied for years.

Caleb serves as an officer on the Board of Directors for the Loudoun County Fair and Associates—a nonprofit organization which hosts the Loudoun County Fair and is dedicated to promoting youth and agricultural advancement in the county. He has been a member of the Lovettsville-Waterford Ruritans.

Prior to joining his law firm, Caleb worked with Jim Plowman as an Assistant Prosecutor for the Loudoun County Commonwealths Attorney Office and before that as Director of Federal Relations at Home School Legal Defense Association.

A graduate of George Mason University, he received a Business Degree in Finance with honors. He received his Juris Doctorate from George Mason University, now known as Antonin Scalia Law School

Kershner was born in Rockport, Maine in 1975 and grew up in Frederick Maryland, where he learned patience through the hard work of farm life; milking cows and shearing sheep, before moving to Loudoun in 1995.  He attends Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, is an avid outdoorsman,  and lives in Hamilton, Virginia with his wife, Whitney Emblidge Kershner, and 4 boys—Colton, Tristan, Brayden, and Weston.

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