This is the third story in a multi-parties series profiling Haymarket Town Council candidates. In the run-up to publication this week, a prior draft of this story also focused on the candidacy of Ellie Cole before she withdrew from the race Friday. It is still available for viewing online.

When it comes to policy, incumbent Haymarket Town Council member Susan Edwards and former member Jay Tobias are two peas in completely different pods.

From what to do with the town center property to spending and annexation, they offer different, and often times opposite, opinions on what they think is in the best interest of the town. Yet, they each share the same goal come May 4: earn a spot on the council for the 2010-2012 cycle.

Seven candidates are running for the six-member body. Only the mayor is running unopposed.

Tobias

When it comes to figuring out fiscal policy, Tobias claims he has the skill set to do it while others "may not.

"I know how to read a budget, I know how to control a budget," he said during a phone interview. "The town (council) seems to be lacking that."

Tobias, who served from 2004-2006, listed a litany of expenses including the addition of town staff members, like the manager and part-time planner, as "some positions that may not have been particularly necessary" as the town functioned before they joined the staff.

"In this time of economic downturn," Tobias asked, "what right does this town council have to increase their spending, hire new positions at the expense of the current employees?"

He disputes the notion that the town has not had to furlough or cut its staff, noting one part-time position that's had its hours slashed without being eliminated. He's also called into question how much of a financial boon Haymarket Day has been given that it's run over budget despite the sponsorship money coming back in and annual recognition it brings to the town.

"An abandoned town center property is not a reason for (visitors) to come back," he said.

Regarding developer Gerry Kennedy's $2.3 million plan to buy the town center property and turn it into a series of small businesses, Tobias advocates the town cutting its losses.

"First and foremost, the town needs to give up on the Kennedy deal. The Kennedy deal is a pipe dream, it's gone, it hasn't happened," said Tobias.

He supported the Kennedy deal when running for office in 2008, telling the Times that the project was "a very important piece to the development of the Town Center, as well as the financial stability of the town moving forward." His current stance would put him in the same position as veteran council member Bob Weir, the only member of council to ever vote against the plan.

During the last year, town officials have acknowledged that the sale has not happened as they hoped but have not received a comparable offer to replace the now-expired bid.

What Tobias recommended for the town to gain some money is selling the Harrover property where the police station is located and "perhaps develop that as real estate for residential" use.

"It's not the town's responsibility to develop it," he said. "Sell it to a developer and let them worry about developing it."

Tobias proposed bringing the police department to the Town Center property, and make the town hall "a complete municipal government center where everyone has space."

He supports annexing some nearby properties while mentioning the council balked at his support of it two terms ago.

"Now all of the sudden, it's the best thing since sliced bread," he said.

Tobias chalks up his re-election loss and subsequent finish at the bottom of the 2008 ballot to his former feud with the Haymarket chief of police, James Roop over ethics. According to Tobias, things are different now, the chief is not campaigning against him and as a council member, he is ready to restart his relationship with the police department.

Edwards

Edwards received the most votes during the 2008 election. She joined David Leake as freshmen elected to the council that year and has worked as the council's events planner and claimed a spot on the Architecture Review Board.

When asked for her campaign platform, Edwards said she wants to "plan more town events like making Haymarket Day bigger and Earth Day and we're going to try to get 4th of July fireworks." She also supports expanding the summer concert series and said the town could afford an events expansion by courting more private sponsors.

Edwards faced controversy over events planning in the winter when the council spent more money than specifically allocated by budget line items for the town's Christmas/holiday party. The council retroactively voted to move funds to cover expenses, including banner fees.

According to Edwards, it was not that big of a deal, especially given that Street Scape money could help finance it.

"We have spoken to the accountant, that's what we're working with the budget this year, to make sure that things are taken out of the proper line item for the budget, charged to the proper line items," said Edwards. She added strict adherence to procedures sometimes "clogs up our government and doesn't allow us to do the things we need," which is why she supports the designation of a budget "gatekeeper."

Edwards consistently supported Kennedy during the last two years and said it's still the top offer the council's seen to date.

"Well I think that right now, if he comes with the money, I think that's the best situation for the town because if we turn around and put it on the market now, the price is going to be much different," she said.

Edwards explained that Kennedy's offer is in "conjunction with the vision that we have for this town," especially in regards to restoring four historic buildings. "We might not get as lucky as next time."

Regarding finances, she said Haymarket "is probably in better shape than any of the jurisdictions around us."

She supports the additions of staff like the town manager and part-time planner. She's favored bringing a trolley to town and took to task critics -- specifically citing Weir -- suggesting such money is better spent on staff salaries but then arguing against her proposal to increase their pay on a schedule, citing timing.

"You can't just say when they ask you how you feel (that we) should give our employees better pay but when it comes time to discuss it and vote, you vote against it," she said.

Unlike others, Edwards does not favor immediate annexation of property, such as the Home Depot site, because she said the town would need to pay for a 24-hour police patrol.

Edwards favors leaving the meals tax rate untouched and wants the Harrover property to hold more open-air concerts while still being public land, similar to Harris Pavilion in Old Town Manassas.

As for her most important goals during the next two years, Edwards said, "I want to see the walking town completed and I would like to see us have a (better) general working relationship with Prince William County."