Deployment of Brentsville School Board Member and unresolved temporary replacement

Delegates and Senators of the Prince William County delegation to the Virginia General Assembly and members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors will host a press conference on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m., at the Kelly Leadership Center on the forthcoming Navy reservist deployment of Brentsville District School Board member Gil Trenum and the unresolved nature of a temporary replacement for him.

On June 15, 2016, Trenum announced his deployment orders to serve overseas as part of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Trenum requested that the PWC School Board designate one of his three desired temporary replacement candidates to serve in his place during the deployment.

However, the School Board has not acted on this matter, although Mr. Trenum leaves this month for his deployment. Further inaction will result in no designee to represent Mr. Trenum in his absence and could require him to fulfill his School Board duties via electronic means from his deployed location for one year.

The Code of Virginia and past legal precedent specify procedures for periods of deployment by elected officials who serve in the Reserve and National Guard components of the U.S. military.

The Virginia Division of Legislative Services, the body of attorneys that write legislation for the Virginia General Assembly and advises Delegates and Senators on the intricacies of legislative matters, advised Trenum in July that he could hold his seat and decide whether or not he wanted a temporary replacement during his deployment. 

Trenum served as a United States Navy officer on active duty for 12 years and has continued to serve as a Navy Reserve officer in the rank of Commander for 14 years. In all, this is his 26th year of service to our military. The General Assembly Members speaking at this press conference represent more than 100 years of collective service in the United States military.

WHAT:
WHO: Delegates Tim Hugo, Jackson Miller, Rich Anderson, Mark Dudenhefer, Bob Marshall, Scott Lingamfelter; Senator Dick Black; and Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson

WHEN: Thursday, August 4, 10:00 am

WHERE: Outside Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center, 14715 Bristow Rd, Manassas, VA 20112