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Joseph Bartos

King William County Board - District 1

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About the Office

The County Legislature or Executive Board is the governing body of the county and exercises broad policy-making authority. The Board is charged with implementing policy and overseeing the county budget process and allocation.

Term Length

4 years

Election Date

Nov 4, 2025

About Me

Party

Nonpartisan

Occupation

Firefighter

Fun Fact

I am a member of the local Kiwanis, Kiwanis of the Tri-River. I like working in my yard and working out.

Past Experience

{"skills":"Leadership & Governance \t•\tTown Council Experience – Hands-on knowledge of municipal governance, budgeting, and public accountability. \t•\tFire Chief (2012–2021) – Led the West Point Volunteer Fire Department, managing people, budgets, and critical decision-making. \t•\tBoard-Level Decision-Making – Skilled in balancing community priorities, legal requirements, and financial constraints. Public Safety & Emergency Management \t•\t25 Years with Henrico County Division of Fire – Deep understanding of public safety operations, emergency response, and community risk reduction. \t•\tFire Captain – Experience leading crews under pressure, setting policy, and ensuring safety standards are met. \t•\tEmergency Planning & Risk Assessment – Expertise in preparedness, hazard mitigation, and coordinating resources across agencies. Fiscal Responsibility & Resource Management \t•\tBudget Oversight – Experience managing departmental and organizational budgets, ensuring accountability and efficiency. \t•\tGrant & Resource Management – Familiarity with maximizing limited resources to meet community needs. \t•\tFocus on Fair and Equitable Services – Committed to ensuring District 1 receives balanced investment in services and infrastructure. Community Engagement & Representation \t•\tLifelong Resident of West Point – Strong understanding of local needs, history, and culture. \t•\tTransparent & Accessible Leadership Style – Commitment to open communication and accountability. \t•\tCollaborative Problem-Solving – Skilled at working with citizens, businesses, and regional partners to find solutions. Education & Professional Development \t•\tBachelor’s Degree in Emergency Services Management (University of Richmond) – Academic background in leadership, administration, and organizational management. \t•\tContinuous Training & Professional Standards – Career in fire service built on ongoing learning and certification.","achievements":"Brought issues to the board of supervisors related to public safety that led to better service to the entire county. I created a plan of succession for when I stepped down as fire chief that led to the creation of a town fire chief position. I dealt with difficult and unpopular issues as a member of town council and provided reasonable solutions to those issues ","responsibility":"Fire Chief West Point Volunteer Fire Department 2012-2021"}

My Top Issues

Properly fund emergency services

Ensuring equal service delivery and funding throughout the county. Ensure that the citizens safety is met by the services provided in the county.

Implementing sound financial management practices to maintain balanced budgets

For to many years, King William has had high turnover in key positions that has led to poor planning and poor implementation of critical projects for King William County. This in turn has cost the taxpayers is lost or mismanaged funds. I want to see the right people hire for critical or key positions that are supported by the board of supervisors. While I think it is important to maintain accountability, I also believe it is important to support these employees. In turn, we will become a better run and more fiscally responsible county.

Enhancing transparency and accountability

Ensure that the decisions that I make are in the best interest of the community in which I serve and that I can honestly and openly answer for those decisions.

Who I'm Running Against

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