As Virginia statehouse campaign season heats up, numerous advocacy groups held a Prince William County Candidate Forum at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Saturday. The forum focus on the increase in poverty, budget cuts and revenue, immigration, criminal justice, housing, education and other issues that will be preeminent in the 2012 General Assembly session. The forum is sponsored by Virginia Organizing and Social Action Linking Together (SALT) along with Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO), Virginia Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) and Prince William Education Association (PWEA).

Video from Woodbridge Patch http://woodbridge-va.patch.com/ By Garret Johnson. A total of fourteen candidates from nine Prince William County House and Senate races were invited. In attendence: House District 51 Richard Anderson (R-51, House District 13 Robert (Bob) Marshall (R), Carl Genther (D), House District 52 Luke Torian (D), Cleveland Anderson (R), House District 2 Garces Esteban (D-2), Senate District 39 George Barker (D), Senate District 29 Chuck Colgan (D), Senate District 36 Toddy Puller (D),Jeff Frederick (R. The program was kicked off with remarks from community leader, Reverend Gerry Creedon of Holy Family Catholic Church who addressed the challenges faced by Prince William County’s working poor.