Prince William County Democratic Committee

Sharon Pandak served the people of Prince William County for nearly 25 years -- 15 as County Attorney -- and has extensive experience in a full range of issues that affect the quality of life of the citizens of Prince William County. Representing the Board of Supervisors, emergency services agencies such as police and fire, and many County Boards and Commissions, Sharon developed thorough practical knowledge of the full range of County and regional issues, including transportation, land use, the environment, economic development, human services, public safety, and many other areas of concern to citizens. Sharon worked on issues in the County’s interests at all levels of government, before the General Assembly, and with State and Federal regulatory agencies. She helped develop congressional legislation to assist emergency personnel in responding to emergencies across state lines, and negotiated other inter-jurisdictional agreements. She assisted with the legal work to create and construct the Prince William Parkway, as well as other public projects. She was appointed by Governor Mark Warner to serve on the Local Government Advisory Committee for the Chesapeake Bay, participated in Governor Warner's Natural Resources Leadership Summit, and served on the legal advisory committee for the General Assembly Non-Tidal Wetlands Roundtable Resource Group. She was responsible for the update the Virginia Association of Counties Supervisors Manual, a resource used by County Supervisors all around Virginia, and successfully coordinated with many of Virginia’s local government attorneys to accomplish this update. Sharon now represents local governments, other public entities, and non-profit organizations by providing legal advice and in litigation; much of this work is land use related. She continues to assist statewide groups with training for public officials. Her seminars for groups such as the Natural Resources Leadership Institute train citizens interested in improving land use, and she has presented numerous other seminars on economic development and local government generally. She also served as an instructor for the University of Virginia, Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership. Ms. Pandak serves on the boards of directors of the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, the Prince William Symphony Orchestra, the Prince William County Historic Preservation Foundation, and the Didlake Foundation working to enrich the lives of people with disabilities. She is on the Partnership & Development Committee of the proposed Community Performing Arts Center, Prince William Campus of George Mason University. Read more... Sharon is past President of the Prince William County Bar Association and past President of the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc., past President of Legal Services of Northern Virginia, and a former member of the Virginia Commission on Women and Minorities in the Legal System Board of Directors. Sharon worked with the Democratic Party local attorney groups on the 2004 and 2005 General Elections. Sharon received the 2003 Prince William County Bar Association Arthur Sinclair Professionalism Award; William and Mary Law School 2003 Citizen-Lawyer Award; and the 2003 Local Government Attorneys of Virginia Award for Distinguished Service. Sharon obtained her law degree and Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary, where she was student government president. Sharon and her husband live in Lake Ridge.