In a state full of old battlegrounds, we are currently in a modern-day battle for control. Since the presidential election, a lot of people have realized just how important every position from our local county seats to our House to our US Congress really is. Jenefer Hughes is running for Chesterfield County Commissioner of Revenue, and our grassroots group — LWCC, Liberal Women of Chesterfield County & Beyond — fully support her efforts.
Jenefer has become increasingly involved in local issues that affect our everyday lives, from School Board and Board of Supervisor decisions on supplemental retirement plans for our teachers to adding new bus routes that would make transportation possible from our weakest financial areas to our strongest, thereby enabling citizens to find more profitable jobs. Jenefer is carving out a voice that is representative of all of Chesterfield County residents.
Please help Jenefer win Commissioner of Revenue and contribute to the fight to turn all of Virginia blue.
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Recently, I spent some time with Jenefer and asked her about her life growing up and her plans for the future.
Wright: Who was your favorite superhero when you were a kid?
Jenefer Hughes: There wasn't a lot of TV when I was growing up, so I didn't know what a superhero was until my teens! I used to read a lot and my favorite books were Enid Blyton's Famous Five mysteries. The Famous Five were two boys and two girls and their Old English Sheepdog, Timmy, and they went on adventures and solved dastardly crimes. They were my superheroes. I always wanted to be George, aka Georgina, who always wanted to be one of the boys.
Wright: Who is your favorite superhero now?
Jenefer Hughes: My father-in-law, Dr. Walter Hughes, WWII B24 pilot and the most loving, decent human being I've ever met. After retiring, after a career as a world renowned veterinarian and scientist, he wrote a book about his wartime experiences and regularly shares his stories with the public, to remind everyone of the sacrifices made in war. He is a real life superhero.
Wright: What career path have you followed?
Jenefer Hughes: I started out with a degree in Textile Design and worked in retail. However, I was always fascinated by numbers and I became a Chartered Accountant to work in finance, then became a Program Manager. Currently, I’m the Accounting Director at McKesson Medical Surgical. I manage a team that handles over 5 billion dollars worth of transactions per year.
Wright: What is your favorite season in VA and why?
Jenefer Hughes: Spring - I love seeing the trees and gardens come alive again after winter. I love when the days lengthen and the weather warms up. It's a cliché, but, for me, spring represents the light growing out of darkness. It represents Hope, Freedom and Love.
Wright: What is your favorite aspect about your community and the people that live there?
Jenefer Hughes: I had the opportunity to move anywhere on the East Coast between DC and Charlotte in 2009 and I chose Chesterfield County, because I wanted a safe and affordable home with great schools to raise my kids. It's been everything I wanted and more. My kids are happy and healthy, with good friends and they are getting a great public education. I've met good friends too, through school and soccer, who have been there for me through some big life changes. And there's been plenty of job opportunities, so I can maintain our lifestyle and give back to the community.
Wright: What aspect about your community could be improved?
Jenefer Hughes: I believe we need fair representation to meet the needs of all citizens our community. That means getting involved at the county and state level to hold our elected officials accountable and to elect candidates, who are serious about their responsibility to represent all citizens. We also need to establish fair, non-partisan redistricting to prevent gerrymandering in favor of any party, so we can get back to consensus politics to build a fair and prosperous community that benefits everyone.
Wright: Who taught you "wrong from right"?
Jenefer Hughes: My mother was the most important person in my life growing up. My parents were very young when they married and my Dad wasn't around much, which left my Mom to raise us pretty much by herself. My Mom loved my sister and me, and was always there for us, even when she herself felt lonely and unhappy. She was a woman of her time and gave up her job when she married, but she made sure we got the best education available to become independent career women. She married the love of her life, my adorable stepfather, when I was eleven years old and they have been married for nearly 45 years.
Wright: What is your favorite TV show?
Jenefer Hughes: Star Trek Voyager. I loved Captain Kathryn Janeway, who was both a tough and competent career woman and a strong and empathetic leader. Plus the stories were pretty entertaining - who doesn't love battling the Borg? By the way, my daughter's middle name is Kathryn - she rolls her eyes every time I say that.
Wright: What is your favorite food and memory associated with it?
Jenefer Hughes: Definitely Spaghetti Bolognese. My Mom used to make it when I was little and it was always my favorite meal. Later, she taught me how to cook it myself and now I'm teaching my son, who loves cooking too! It's easy, it tastes good and it brings back such great memories from my childhood.
Wright: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Jenefer Hughes: I am raising two smart, funny, talented, kind, self-reliant and independent kids (yes, I'm biased) as a single working mother and providing us with a comfortable lifestyle. I am so proud of them both!
Wright: What do you wish to accomplish once you win the Commissioner of Revenue for Chesterfield County position?
Jenefer Hughes: I'd like to use my extensive business background to accomplish the following:
Modernize the Office of the Commissioner of Revenue to make it more customer service oriented and accountable to all citizens in the County
Bring a different viewpoint to drive better decision making, which will result in better outcomes for the County
Create transparency about the County's tax policies and how they affect individual citizens and the services the County provides
Collaborate with the Board of Supervisors to determine revenue strategy to support the County's current and future service delivery to its citizens
Support candidates ready to run for County offices in 2019