Home | Vote For Fritz

Why Am I Running for Public Office?

My initial concerns were personal. I submitted applications for several leadership positions in the area, including DBI, the Chamber of Commerce, the County Administrator (multiple times), and others, including Interim Clerk of the Court. I was passed over for each of these positions and did not receive an interview or even the courtesy of a response that someone else had been selected. I found out who was selected by reading the Courier-Record. I believed my qualifications, knowledge, and experience exceeded those selected. It became obvious that “Good Ole Boy Politics” were—and still are—alive and well in Nottoway County. I believe that the basic “Good Ole Boy” system in any community is essential to helping and supporting one another—but not to playing favorites in politics. By the way, each of these positions, except the Interim Clerk, has been filled multiple times and continues to be at the center of controversy.

Further, I have served as an election officer for years, and during the early voting process, voters are fairly vocal about their feelings about Nottoway County. They express concerns about similar issues and the direction of the County. Also, during the qualification process, I had the opportunity to meet and obtain signatures from over a hundred residents who expressed their own frustrations with Nottoway County.

This position is an elected position and a "Vote for Fritz" victory helps to restore the integrity of elected officials, rather than appointments by a flawed system.

Residents Concerns and Issues

“Good Ole Boy” Politics- Residents expect more transparency in the selection process and an end to favoritism. Poor decisions have directly affected their lives.
Taxation- Taxes continue to rise and have become a significant burden. Seniors are in need of tax relief.
Government Management- Many residents feel they lack a voice in local government and that County management does not consider the residents' needs.
Loss of Businesses- The decline of local businesses has cost the community jobs and essential tax revenue.
New Business- Economic growth is at a standstill because new business opportunities are not being actively pursued.
Owned Facilities- County-owned buildings and facilities are either poorly utilized or left completely vacant.

Elder Assistance- Seniors are concerned about having very few options or none at all for assistance from local government or State Government.

Activities for Children- There is a distinct lack of safe and engaging activities available for local children..

My Suggestions to move Nottoway Forward

Taxes keep going up and have become a burden. Elders need tax relief.

Residents expect more transparency in the selection process and no favoritism. Poor decisions have affected their lives.

My background is business. I have been President of (3) companies and responsible for the livelihood of over 500 team members. I have years of hands-on experience. Government, and that includes Nottoway County, should be operated and managed as a Business for profit and not responding to the matters of the day which reminds of an often quoted proverb:

“It’s hard, when you’re so busy and up to your armpits fighting alligators. to remember that you came to drain the swamp”

Manage Nottoway as a business- Business must operate to make profit. Profit is necessary to pay salaries and taxes, purchase and maintain equipment, as well as. all of the associated expenses- and without profit to pay all of the costs of operating- jobs are lost to the community, tax income payments are lost to governments, and all of the consequential fallout. that negatively impacts so many areas.

Actively pursue new businesses- Every new business would add jobs, create another source of taxes (rather than tax increases to residents) and positively make Nottoway more forward moving.

Teen Activities- Work closely with churches and schools to develop after school activities and teen centers for weekend social events such as dances and intramural sporting events.

Adult and Elder Activities- Develope and utilize additional community centers for clubs, meetings, and multi-purpose events.

Adult and Elder Assistance- Have local government and state government work closer with senior residents and to be proactive to create an awareness that Nottoway County and the State of Virginia provides many services which may be able to help them. Create a forum where seniors feel the county is responsive to their needs and concerns.

Underutilized facilities- Many residents expressed comments about facilities located in Nottoway County are underutilized or not utilized. As an example Being an election officer, I heard a large number of early voters mention that Burkeville Elementary School could serve the community

for many activities and uses. Lots of explanations, however there needs to be closer communication with the residents of Nottoway County and the local government

About Me

Hello, my name is Francis Philip Lages, 3rd- but I have always been called "Fritz". I would like to tell you about myself and what some of my qualifications, knowledge and experiences and why you should vote for me.

Education- Attended University of Maryland on a soccer and baseball dorm scholarship. I as a pre-dental major, member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and ROTC Cadet Leadership Lab. Transferred to University of Baltimore and graduated with BS with major in Business and minor in International Finance. Some post-graduate classes at George Washington University.

Work History- Started my career with Koppers Co./ Metal Products Division in Baltimore as an Assistant Project Engineer and was promoted over 20 years to Project Engineer (Member Grade in American Society of Mechanical Engineers) to Marketing and Sales for Piston Ring and Seals, then Sales Manager, Midwest Region, then to Marketing and Sales Manager for Koppers Co./ Environmental Elements Division/ Sound Control and Air Filtration Products.

I was offered the position of President of Applied Science and Technologies, Inc. which I accepted. I added a new product group - Industrial Water Blasting, Inc which was a distributor for related equipment and products. Primary customers were US Military, Power Generation Plants, Contractors, Industrial Manufacturers, and many others. I personally conducted safety and technical training for the Nuclear and Power Industry and the US Navy.

The opportunity to purchase one of customers became available and working closely with Price- Waterhouse and Mercantile Bank and Trust, I gained invaluable financial experience by structuring a Leveraged Buy Out (LBO) of a much larger company- Vacuum Services, Inc., who maintained blanket purchase orders with the coal burning power plants in the middle Atlantic region, including such companies as Virginia Power, BG&E, PP&L, Duke Power, and others. As President of VSI Technologies, I was responsible for the total business operations and expanded facilities into (5) different States with over 500 pieces of industrial equipment and employed approximately 500 team members.

I sold the business operations of VSI Technologies and maintained ownership of Industrial Water Blasting, Inc.

Knowledge and Experience- While with Koppers and Environmental Elements I have traveled to just about every facility in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that utilized Gas Turbine engines to provide power to operate generators to provide electrical power or to provide power to drive pumps and compressors for the oil and gas industry. One of those trips was to visit oil platforms on Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. As a product group manager, I was responsible for the overall management and P/L of the operations.

I have provided safety and technical training to organizations like the US Navy, Bartlett Nuclear Plant, Hope Creek Nuclear, Congoleum Corp and many others. I was a DOD Contractor for the US Military. and have trained personnel on the USS Eisenhower and Kennedy Nuclear Aircraft Carriers.

As President of several corporations, not only was general operational management, but fiscal management and responsibilities are extremely important- profit is absolutely necessary for every aspect of operating a business, but many team members rely on paychecks for their own expenses and livelihoods. I have had the experience of working with and being educated by large accounting firms. I understand the concept of making a profit and implementing necessary adjustments.

Personal Information

#- I am still married and very much in love with my high school sweetheart. She is an incredible person.

#- We have a son and daughter and (4) beautiful grand-daughters.

#- My health is excellent, never had surgery or spent a night in the hospital; did not have Covid, do not take any prescription drugs and remain physically active and mentally active and alert.

Vote for Fritz
for
Clerk of the
Circuit Court

Helping you to transform Nottoway County into a more vibrant, progressive community for the betterment of every resident and their families

Why Am I Running for Public Office?

Residents’ Concerns & Issues