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Our election endorsements
Runaway growth, slow growth, no growth. How about smart growth, something both developers and preservationists can embrace?
Wait and see.
FBI probe?
Wait and see.
We feel changes are coming on Loudoun's Board of Supervisors. On Nov. 6, we believe three Republican seats -- Sugarland Run, Sterling and Potomac -- will go to the Democrats. But another three Republicans will survive the purge.
This board will put a premium on easing development in Loudoun County, being more deliberate than the presiding supervisors.
One closely-watched race will be for county Sheriff. We're going with the proven quantity.
Following are this newspaper's endorsements in key contested races throughout Loudoun:
Board of Supervisors
Chairman For the third time, we like Scott York (I) for the chairmanship. He does his homework, boasts keen governmental knowledge and wants to put back in motion those initiatives squelched by the current board. York deserves a chance to restore “decorum” on the board. This is not a good time to throw away 16 years of local political experience (eight years as chairman, four years as Sterling supervisor and four years on the Planning Commission). Challenger Michael Firetti (R) is enthusiastic, but lacks experience.
Leesburg Jim Clem (R) gets our nod, but Kelly Burk (D) has run an impressive campaign. Clem says what he thinks, which sometimes alienates folks, but as former Leesburg mayor, he holds a vast knowledge of town issues and is serious about tending to the business of constituents. Clem thinks that for Leesburg to get a performing arts center, the town, county and private sectors must join forces. Burk feels it must be the sole initiative of the private sector, supported by the county and town. We commend Burk -- a current Leesburg town council member -- for wanting to reconnect the line of communication between the town and county; however, we feel Clem brings more background and knowledge to the board.
Blue Ridge Our choice is Jim Burton (I), who, critics say, is often out of touch. But we like Burton because he's not afraid to make unpopular decisions, understands the budget and the pressures on it, and still manages to support the schools and public services that his constituents expect. Mark Albright (R) has a proud record of volunteer service in Round Hill, but doesn't possess the local board knowledge of his opponent.
Broad Run Lori Waters (R) is the most no-nonsense, even-tempered supervisor on the current board. She gets our vote. Waters has provided the impetus for several key road improvements, too numerous to mention, during her term. Phyllis Randall (D) is a formidable challenger, but Jack Ryan (I) has struggled to set himself apart from the pack.
Catoctin Sally Kurtz (D) -- the lone Democrat on the current BOS -- wins our vote for re-election. She supports slower growth in the west and works tirelessly for her constituents. Challenger Geary Higgins has disappeared from the public view for four years, except for appearances at the Republican committee meetings, and now wants to be seen as a player.
Dulles We believe Stephen Snow (R) is a better choice because of his vision of this district and how he plans to pay for it. He has been a champion for youth issues in the county, and for things like Gum Spring Library, Dulles South facility, Broadlands Rec Center and the Inova Health Center in U.S. 50 corridor. His harsh words from the dais, especially to those in support of slower growth, are growing tiresome, but he holds a record of producing for his constituents. Challenger Stevens Miller (D) has done a lot for the community -- Broadlands HOA, member of the county's Economic Development Commission, etc. -- but has run an “I'm not Snow” campaign. We'd like to hear more substance.
Potomac We endorse Andrea McGimsey (D), who has a track record of community service and knows local growth issues. Her experience working in the tech industry and running her own business, and her determination to give eastern Loudoun citizens a voice during the CPAM battle, show her passion to make good decisions for the people of Loudoun. Incumbent Bruce Tulloch (R) has fought hard for the Potomac District, but as vice chair has led a Republican majority mired in controversy. Independent Ken Mikeman has seemed unprepared at debates, and lacks commitment to Loudoun's rural economy.
Sterling We are holding Eugene Delgaudio (R) accountable for his antics, giving our support to business-owner Jeanne West (D), who can use her business sense to entice more commercial tax dollars into Loudoun. She also is committed to revitalizing Sterling Park. Delgaudio has verbally berated this community, while taking the single-issue stance of combating illegal immigration.
Sugarland Run ?We choose Susan Klimek Buckley (D) over Mick Staton (R). Of all the challengers, we think she possesses the tools and vision to achieve much in the next four years. Her experience as a litigator in Fairfax's County Attorney's office will come in handy in any board squabbles. Staton's approach to budget work is naïve at best (set the tax rate before you determine the needs).
Sheriff's Race
Steve Simpson (I) ?Integrity and experience spell the difference in this countywide race. He has experience in managing an ever-soaring Sheriff's Office budget so Loudoun law enforcement can get the most out of what it's given. Like Clem, Simpson is adamant that public safety never should be shortchanged financially. Despite all the campaign mudslinging, Greg Ahlemann (R) lacks the managerial experience for this job. Mike George (D), has some forward thinking ideas, but could they work in Loudoun?
State Races
27th Senate ?Interesting race here, but we prefer Karen Schultz (D). Her background and success in education far outweigh that of her opponents. Also, she's better suited to get things done in a bi-partisan fashion. Schultz wants to encourage comprehensive smart growth, which would help with overcrowding in schools, traffic jams and the environment. This moderate is better suited for the job than conservative Jill Holtzman Vogel (R) and fellow moderate Donald Marro (I).
33rd Senate ?Mark Herring (D) is our choice here. He's done good things involving transportation improvements for his district and boasts solid county experience, having served on the Board of Supervisors from 2000-04. Remember, he's had half the experience of most Senators, having won in a special election in January 2006. We feel challenger Patricia Phillips (R) doesn't have the local roots that Herring does, thus the latter is better suited for the job.
33rd House Incumbent Joe May (R) has plans for transportation and growth issues in western Loudoun, while Democratic challenger Marty Martinez is a wait-and-see candidate. May has made strides to bury ugly power lines, making a trip to Europe to talk with engineers, in addition to being a longtime workhorse who gets things done for his constituents. Martinez, a current member of Leesburg Town Council, lacks experience at this time for the General Assembly.
32nd House David Poisson (D) swept out ultra-conservative Dick Black last time, and sees the need to coordinate growth and transportation more closely than in the past. We like Poisson's idea about opening some state universities year round to make higher education available to more people. Challenger Lynn Chapman (R) offers good ideas, but Poisson has paid attention to local issues, which resonates with voters.
13th House Bruce Roemmelt (D) is more in touch with constituents' priorities. His foe, Republican incumbent Robert Marshall, consistently votes against transportation solutions for Northern Virginia and has become bogged down in abortion legislation that goes nowhere.
86th House Tom Rust (R) in the past has put his political life on the line to try to get a substantial transportation bill through the General Assembly, but that's not the lone reason he deserves another two years in office. It is not a perfect bill, but it is the first significant money for transportation in Northern Virginia in decades.
Another key Rust achievement was getting the authority for localities to
increase penalties for zoning violations. This will be a key tool in the ongoing battle against residential overcrowding.
Democratic challenger Jay
Donahue was a great planning commissioner in Herndon, but doesn't bring a lot of ideas to the table.
67th District -- Northern Virginia won't achieve much in Richmond until we begin electing people who value the public good over
partisan bickering. Chuck Caputo (D) clearly gets that formula, one reason we support him
for a second term.
Whether sporting his education, transportation or
business cap, Caputo has proven to be a consensus builder who is comfortable
working both sides of the aisle to get things done.
At every level, Caputo has shown he's attentive to the needs of his community and has the work ethic to follow those needs through to
completion.
Our main reservation with Caputo's opponent, Republican Marc Cadin, is his lack of public service and lack of roots in the community, glaring omissions when stacked against Caputo.
Sally Kurtz is the obvious choice for Catoctin Supervisor. Your points are well made. You may also want to let Loudoun voters know that her opponent, Geary Higgins, accepted over 54% of his 2003 campaign contributions FROM DEVELOPERS, many of whom do not even reside in Virginia (wink wink). Seems Mr. Higgins has also been making promises to a number of Evergreen Meadows residents that he will get their kids back into Evergreen Mill Elementary School if they vote for him. Funny, I thought the SCHOOL BOARD, not the Board of Supervisors, had jurisdiction over that decision. Wonder how Woodlea and Greenway residents would feel about that?
Posted by 0001
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WHAT???? "Clem is serious about tending to the business of constituents"???? You MUST be joking. Clem refused to meet with 4 HOAs in his own district!! Ignoring them completely. Clem supported the massive Crosstrail development all along, and made no bones about it (despite analysis recommending it's denial and a massive public outcry). When asked by representives of 4 HOAs in his own district to meet and discuss this faulty development proposal, Clem refused NUMEROUS TIMES. Talk to the residents of Tavistock, Kincaid Forest, Beauregard Estates, etc.
Having worked with Mr. Clem for years, I will say this: He is a master talker, but he does NOT walk the walk. Looks like he has tricked the LTM too.
Better get your facts straight.
Mr Clem has approved every development application on his watch, except one - Ignoring staff analysis, ignoring the voice of Loudoun residents, ignoring the County's existing plan in place for responsible growth (which was developed BY THE CITIZENS).
Why does this matter? Because OVERdevelopment not only ruins our quality of life, it results in major tax burdens (although Republicans "say" they are for lower taxes), congested traffic, and overcrowded schools, and further degradation of the environment.
Yes, Mr. Clem talks a good game, but his actions speak the truth.
Posted by 0001
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Your paper is endorsing Steve Snow? Was anyone from your paper in the room when Mr. Snow called a citizen with an opposing political view "an idiot"? Does your paper seriously think he has conducted himself in a manner that deserves re-election to a position of public trust? Lots of people get things done for their districts –- are you suggesting that excuses Mr. Snow's chronically bad public temper and repeated lack of respect for the public process? What a standard! Boy, did you miss the mark on this one.
Posted by andreagaines
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Obviously 0001 has some serious issues with seperating the truth and generating fiction. His/her comment that he/she has worked with Mr. Clem for years just does not bear out. Anyone who has worked closely with Mr. Clem knows that he not only talks the talk but he also walks the walk. Having said that though, Mr. Clem is not above changing his mind if more and better data becomes available. That is not waivering on an issue or talking out of both sides of his mouth, but rather taking everything into account and doing what is best in the end for the majority of citizens, not his political careeer like some of the others on the current BOS. That is called leadership and is something that his opponent Kelly Burk is lacking completely!
Mr. Clem does not "trick" anyone including the LTM. He tells it like it is and if you agree then great and if you do not then you are entitled to your opinion like everyone else. The difference is that unlike 0001 Mr. Clem does not badmouth you after the fact. Mr. Clem, could teach 0001 much about ethics in this regard.
As for the Crosstrails development when is 0001 and the three other people that continue to bring it up in the SE of Leesburg going to get it through their heads that he voted against the project? And, that is the bottom line. As for his failure to meet with the four HOA's perhaps you should call his aide and ask her about the rude HOA representative who demanded that Mr. Clem meet with them only on a single date and at a time that they dictated. In complete disregard to the rest of his schedule as if they were the only people on earth that wanted some of his time. 0001 and his cronies can keep trying to tell the lie that he refused to meet with them but I doubt that he and his cronies will tell the truth that they only gave him a single opportunity to do so. And they have been trying to use that against him ever since even thought he voted against the project that they wanted him to vote against! Talk about talking out of both sides of ones mouth, 0001 sounds like an expert.
Posted by Bubba
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How on earth can you possibly justify endorsing Steve Snow for reelection. His blatant disrespect for the citizens of Loudoun and his obvious conflicts of interest are reason enough not to endorse him. His record of "producing for his constituents" is limited to those in South Riding. He took money meant for the renovation of the Arcola Community Ctr and gave it to the "South Riding Rec Center". The Arcola Community Center and Senior Center are now scheduled to be closed in a year. The library is already behind schedule and from what I hear, Van Metre has not been able to lease the top floors and will not build until that is done. Mr. Snow works Dietze Construction and they have even advertised to their clients the benefits of having a supervisor work for them.
Posted by Bobcat
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The very fact that a public servant insults his constituents from the dais and appoints others who do the same is reason enough that they NOT be endorsed or re-elected.
Snow does have vision for his district, one in which developer built roads flood Rt. 50 and 606 with even more traffic. The Gum Spring Library you cite was originally proffered to be a stand-alone building. Mr. Snow allowed Van Metre to dodge this obligation by putting it in the first floor of an office complex which is way behind schedule. The Inova complex is part of BOS conspiracy block HCA from the county, thus preserving Inova's monopoly position in health care - hardly good for the consumer.
All in all, Snow represents an oligarchical style of government which is simply unacceptable in a modern, educated community such as Loudoun County.
Posted by TomConway
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I feel the Times' endorsements were pretty much on target, including Waters, Snow, York and Clem. Getting rid of Staton, Tulloch and Delgaudio will go a long way toward making the new Board of Supervisors a board that will communicate better and get things done. Loudoun needs a BOS that the public can trust.
Posted by pdssks
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I used to think the LTM was an upstanding, fair and balanced paper...that was until I read your BOS endorsements for the upcoming November election! Are you kidding me? Steve Snow? Jim Clem? Lets take Snow first....take away anything that you or Snow thinks he has accomplished..and just take into consideration his boorish, childish rants at the BOS meetings, his denigrating of the hard working County staff...that alone is enough not to want this embarrassment back on the BOS!!! He has no loyalty except for the builder's and development community. How can you not see that? And for Jim Clem...as they say, that train has left the station. He is wishywashy at best, and out of touch with the needs of this county. He does not have a clue about what is right or how to balance growth. He needs to go. From now on we will use the LTM to wrap fish or pick up dog poop...as an unbiased news source, you have fell on your typeface!!
Posted by Skybird
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Steve Snow has done more for the Dulles District than any other supervisor has done for their district. Look at the Rte. 50 task force. Without Snow's initiative, the Route 50 task force would not exist. Steve Snow engaged the business community and worked with developers to bring a well thought-out plan to that corridor. No one sees it yet, but in the next couple of years a Target, Home Depot, and other great stores will be opening up along Route 50. Anyone who drives Rte. 50 now on the weekends knows how busy it is on the weekends. All that traffic is people driving into Fairfax County to spend their money in Fairfax County. Why not keep that revenue in Loudoun, while reducing the traffic at the same time? Rte. 50 will also be widened as a result of Steve Snow's initiative. Let's face it, Steve Snow gets the job done.
And traffic. Everyone seems concerned with all the traffic in Loudoun County. The traffic is a result of all of the development being pushed west of Loudoun County and driving through Loudoun County to get to the office space in Fairfax and points east. Why not have planned development so that office and retail space is availalbe in eastern Loudoun county? That way, we can keep revenue in Loudoun County, we can keep residential development close to office and retail, and therefore reduce the traffic in the county and at the same time get roads constructed. Sure, the republican supervisors work with developers, but so what? Without developers we would not have the road improvements, the retail, the office... I would much rather have planned development that results in road improvements, libraries, school sites, etc. than by-right developement that results in more houses with no infrastructure improvements.
The real drain on the County is when uninformed individuals oppose planned development (that is a result of the job growth around the Dulles airport), and the developers who own the land are forced to develop by-right to get a return on their investment.
Steve Snow does not let developers "have their way" and do whatever they want to do. Steve Snow creates the relationship with developers to get the maximum improvements for the County. Any supervisor that does not embrace the business community and work with developers is only hurting the county.
Posted by tbp1
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Steve Snow does not embrace the business community, he is in bed with the development community. Snow is obsessed with building houses, not bringing business to Loudoun. He cares nothing for local business or he would not have approved the massive amount of retail the will soon be across from South Riding. Many of the small businesses in the area are already struggling. Almost 2 million sq ft more of retail has been approved for the Rte 50 corridor. Far more than the 1.4 million sq ft that a retail analysis shows is sustainable (and that is in 2030) We could easily end up with empty stores and low end retail due to heavy saturation.
Snow works for Dietze Contstruction. His employer has even sent out letters to potential clients stating that having a Supervisor as an employee of Dietze Construction will allow their applications to get easily through the county process.
Have you seen the job statistics for Loudoun lately? If you disregard the low paying retail jobs, Loudoun would have a net loss of jobs since Snow has been a Supervisor.
Posted by Bobcat
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In the three way race for Broad Run Supervisor, you list Jack Ryan as an Independent, as he will appear on the ballot. You fail to mention that in fact he is a Republican who failed to win the Republican nomination, but is strongly endorsed by Loudoun County's old line Republicans, including Charlie Grant, Dave Olson, and Charlie McKinney. His election, along with reelection of Stephen Snow, Bruce Tulloch, Eugene Delgaudio, and Mick Staton, would continue the current Board's opposition to the slower-growth policy that his opponents, Lori Waters (R) and Phyllis Randall (D) support.
Posted by btm1
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Scott York braggs that he has not taken any contributions from residential builders but forgets to tell voters that he got his employer's property remapped in a CPAM from keynote employment to residential (guess that six figure salary does not county as monetary influence?) Scott York meets inappropriately with staff, sends email after email, gets administrative approvals that are erroneous, allowing the installation of uses at his employers' property that are not allowed under the zoning ordinance. He forgets to tell voters that his employer applied for a special exception, requiring public hearings, for certain uses, then got citizen opposition, and a staff recommendation of denial. No matter, they just withdrew the application and did it anyway, administratively. Melinda Artman, zoning administrator, wrote a memo to the file, that it was "bugging" her that they were "slipping in" a retail center in an industrial zone...She says in the memo, "We can't let this happen." But what could she do? Nothing,,,the retail center is there, with uses like a convenience store and free standing car wash, which should be special exception uses...Go see it for yourself, at Farmwell and Smith Switch in Ashburn, Cameron Chase Village Center.
Scott York's legacy is an insiders club where the rules don't apply to special customers, and are overreaching and unreasonable to many others...Why did Scott York recently secretly resign? Was he forced out as a liabilty?
Time for a Change... Save Loudoun from the likes of Scott York, gaming the system for his personal benefit, full of hypocricy. VOTE FOR MIKE FIRETTI, FOR REAL SOLUTIONS, REAL INTEGRITY, FAIR ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS
Posted by sallymann
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Jim Clem and Steve Snow? What ARE you people smoking?
Jim Clem didn't give a rip about his consituents - not returning phone calls, emails, or responding to invitations to speak to EVERY HOA in SE and SW Leesburg! Except for the past two weeks. Now he just LOVES the people of Leesburg. Jim Clem is in bed with developers who want to close the airport and build thousands more homes off Sycolin Rd. No thanks!
As for Snow. I lost all respect for this newspaper when I saw that recommendation.
Posted by Waya
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My view, from the East, is that I agree with your split ticket. I have long wondered when voters would wake up to the lack of leadership that they voted in.
Mr. Stanton sending out junk mail taking credit for everything that happens in Sugarland, even if he could not possibly have caused it, believes that his constituents are dumb. One example of many is that he would like us to believe that he solved the cell phone coverage issue in his jurisdiction, discounting the basic intelligence to recognize that there are economic forces that motivated T-Mobile to erect two towers in the Lowes Island and Cascades areas. Then again, it was this Mr. Stanton who wanted to vote on tax rates prior to budget discussions.
Fear not for Mr. Stanton’s livelihood as he will no doubt retain his position in the lobbying firm that his parents own working with father in law Dick Black. There seems to be work for Mr. Stanton as Mr. Black is a renter in Fredericksburg preparing for a run for the first congressional district.
Mr. Delgaudio is in a similar boat. I have long been embarrassed for the residents of Sterling Park to have such representation. Mr. Delgaudio has managed to hide the fact that his day time job is the president of an organization committed to extreme homophobia. His previous claims of masterminding the fly-over ramps on route 28, complete with pictures of him with shovel in hand are laughable. His asking the clearly displayed his small mindedness while speaking to a gathering of Muslims on August 25 and when not warmly welcomed “demanded to know whether those in the crowd "come in peace" and whether they pledge allegiance to the United States.”* Most egregious to me his use of elected office to legitimize himself as a credible public official when he goes to Washington to parade in front of public building as publicity stunts for his radical agenda.
So I offer three cheers for getting your view of my area right! I hope that Mr. Delgaudio and Mr. Stanton are politically unemployed very soon. Maybe this little change will get us some legitimate, credible and support worthy candidate choices in the future.
*Source: Washington Post
Posted by EView
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