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'I want to bring back trust' | Prince William Co. elects first black supervisor

Victor Angry was also the first black man to hold the position of Command Sergeant Major of the entire Army National Guard.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Victory Angry is used to making jokes about his name.

"I was born Angry," he said. "Pretty sure I'm going to die Angry. I made my wife Angry." 

He's also comfortable with being the first, again. He was the first black man to hold the position of Command Sergeant Major of the entire Army National Guard. 

Now he's the first black supervisor in Prince William County.

"I know that's important but again I don't see it as that because I'm excited to be a part of a transformation," Angry said.

The previously all-white board's chairman is Republican Corey Stewart. He announced he won't run again after he losing his Senate campaign against Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va). Stewart lost by 32 percent in his own county.

"We're in a new place now so we have an opportunity to — you hear those birds chirping? We got to bring this back," Angry said. "That's what I want to be a part of, bringing trust back between our Hispanic communities, our African-American community, our minorities communities."

Prince William County is a minority-majority community — white people are in the minority, yet they've always won every seat on the board. After longtime board member, Democrat John Jenkins, suddenly died, Jenkins' widow asked Angry to run for the spot. 

Angry has been a volunteer firefighter for the county and met Jenkins while in that role. Ernestine Jenkins was by Angry's side at his swearing in ceremony Thursday morning. 

David Pala is the Prince William County executive director. He believes Angry deserves the position.

"It has been my goal and our goal to make sure that the elected officials in Prince William County are reflective of the people who live here," Pala said. "And finally we have started to do that at the local level. While this is a tremendous moment, better late than never. 2019 is too late to be doing this, but I couldn't be happier for Vic Angry, who really deserves it and has fought for this community."

Victor Angry will have to run again next year when the Board of Supervisors are up for reelection. 

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