Hello, my name is Lorena Thorne Bruner and I am running for the office of the Commissioner of the Revenue for Stafford County, Virginia. I originally came to Stafford, Virginia over 20 years ago, married and a military spouse with young children. It was 1996 and Stafford County looked very different than it does now.
There were fewer people living here, along with fewer community issues, and a lot less traffic. Traffic was the least of Stafford concerns. There wasn’t a Stafford County Courthouse or Porter Rappahannock Public Library in Stafford, Virginia. Most of the local landscape consisted of miles and miles of land, trees, and farmland up and down Garrisonville Road and the surrounding Stafford County. Married to an Air Force Officer, we were stationed at the Pentagon and we began attending Ebenezer United Methodist Church as a family. At the time, it only had about 100 members. And our children would begin attending Stafford Public Schools.
After graduating from Stafford County’s School system, our children would go on to college. Among the many colleges, they would attend and graduate from, would be local colleges that would include the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University.
While raising our family in Virginia, I would begin to pursue and complete my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in Virginia. My work experience background would include sales and retail management for local stores both on and off Quantico Marine Base, College Admissions Counselor for a local university and business consultant and expert military divorce advisor and counselor of military benefits and Elementary and Middle school Educator within the Stafford County School System.
After completing undergraduate studies, while raising five children, and working to become an expert in military family law, I developed a passion to help others. I wanted to help military families civilians and minorities. I also began advocating for and representing Women's Rights and the Equality and Voting Rights of Minorities. As a result of researching various government policies associated with these and other issues within our community, I decided to begin my commitment to work to withstand the negative forces that are fighting to change our Democracy and Constitutional Rights. So in addition to working to advocate this change, I pursue studies in a dual degree program, MA in Government and MBA as a graduate student at John Hopkins University’s Kreiger School of Arts and Sciences.
In addition to my studies, and pursuing various careers, I spent some time volunteering in the non-profit community. I have provided service work within the communities of Stafford County, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C. My passions include working to help military families. I have worked for non-profits such as EX-POSE (Ex-Partners of Service Members for Equality), working hard, advocating benefits for divorced military families.
My background in volunteerism also includes serving as a Board Member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for Virginia State which is also a National Non-Profit Organization with headquarters Washington D.C. I worked as VP of Public Policy leading local groups of women to lobbying on issues on Capital Hill and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s capital in Richmond, Virginia. I have also served as member of The League of Women’s Voters, in addition to local community volunteer with Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Stafford, Virginia.
Today I am running for the office of The Commissioner of the Revenue. I was asked to consider running the office by the Democratic Caucus Committee in Spring 2023. I decided that it was time to accept the call on behalf of the community that has taken care of me and my family so well over the last twenty years.
I want to give back to the community the support they have given to me. Over the years, I have developed friendships and have been working, and waiting for the perfect door of opportunity to give back. The opportunity is now. Please help me put your needs and aspirations on the ballot on November 7th 2023. Help me give back to the community that I love so much.
As I reach out to you with volunteers, knocking on doors and requesting donations to my campaign, please help me put in “A VOTE FOR YOU,” my Stafford County family. Give me the honor to serve you.
IN THIS ROLE I WILL:
- Ensure Assessment Process Accessibility to our neighbors at all literacy, language, and disability levels through an updated computer software system.
- Promote Affordable Housing Grants -to promote and preserve home ownership,
- Support Military veterans who have served 20 years or more with continued provisions for exemptions in local property tax.
- Budget -Change the Budget compensation to include the Master Barber and Cosmetology Regulatory Change Information on Stafford County's website with adherence to Virginia law which has been in effect since April 1, 2019.
- Proposed Rental Relief Plan for the Elderly-If you or your spouse is 65 years of age or older or are permanently and totally disabled, have an annually income of $50,000 or less, and net worth of $125,000 or less, you could qualify for a grant that can be proposed for that purpose.
- Advocate for the band of Anti-abortion Unlicensed Fake Clinics unethically residing or being built as businesses near legitimate women's health clinics.
- Advocate to continue to hold all local businesses and college admissions accountable to Affirmative Action despite America's Supreme Court's recent June 29th, 2023 Decision..
- Advocate to support future correction to the June 30, 2023 Supreme Courts Student Debt Decision Relief Plan through the Higher Education Act...providing relief to the working class.