Bd. of Supervisors Debate - Oct 3 -Broad Run and Dulles

GM, I saw they'd changed their site. I think they're going to be VERY busy with the new DOE corridor designation.

As to FOIA, government computers etc, Mr. York's office missed the response date for a FOIA. Not good.

 

Flynn-
It appears you haven't been to many political events. Politics and professionalism are quite often separate around here.
I thought the chicken was pretty funny. Especially when it got out of the cage and several kids were running around yelling "Catch Mr. Snow, catch Mr. Snow!!"

 

No media coverage of this specific anecdote, but here's the roundup of media coverage of the debate:

Loudoun Times Mirror - http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2007/oct/04/snow-no-show-debate/

During Wednesday's event, Snow's opponent, Democrat Stevens Miller, made sure Snow's absence did not go unnoticed.

"Look mom, I finally scared off the school bully," he said during his opening remarks. He also called Snow an "unethical supervisor" on the Board of Supervisors during a time of "uncontrolled growth" in Loudoun.
​

Leesburg Today - http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/2007/10/04/news/fp755debate100407.txt

"Miller criticized his absent opponent for not attending the debate and said Snow has focused too heavily on allowing higher residential densities to obtain infrastructure. Excessive residential growth, he said, will not help ease congestion or address other problems facing the county."​

Loudoun Extra - http://loudounextra.washingtonpost....r-candidates-debate-growth-immigration/?local

In a written statement today, Snow dismissed Miller’s critique as the product of “a world of paranoia and pseudo-solutions that will do nothing to address the real concerns of the voters of the Dulles District.”
​

For the entire statement that Snow put out, see http://www.votesnow.com/?q=node/85.

For Miller's take on the debate and Snow's statement see http://miller4dulles.com/m4d/?p=43.

 

I just read Mr. Snow's press release on why he didn't attend the Dulles District Debate this week. He states the following in the PR:

"As the League has not acceded to the request I forwarded (sic: to include General Assembly candidate debates) along with other Supervisors, I will not be participating in the LWV forum on October 3 as originally planned. However, I look forward to highlighting the clear differences between me and my opponent at the Loudoun Easterner debate on October 13, and will continue to get my positive message of building America's best community out directly to the people of the Dulles District."

I have a question for Mr. Snow. Why in the last minute do you cancel the LWV debate because of supposed solidarity over the lack of General Assembly candidate debates and then point to the Loudoun Eastern debate as an alternative? I am most curious because the Loudoun Eastern debates also are not including debates with the General Assembly candidates.

I find hypocrisy within Mr. Snow's supposed reasons for not speaking with the voters of the Dulles District. What is the reason reason Mr. Snow doesn't want to debate? Could it be his chicken to face questions about his four year record?

 

I have also read Mr. Snow's post mortem press release on why he failed to show at the Dulles District Debate.

First, if he had shown up at the debate I am sure he could have presented the ideas he notes. Additionally, he would have had an opportunity to rebuttal the differences he raised between himself and Mr. Miller. It's a shame Mr. Snow deprived the constituents of Dulles of that opportunity.

Second, I know Mr. Snow and Mr. Delgaudio are very close. His release sure sounds alot like Mr. Delgaudio's campaign letters.

 

Let’s break this down a little further:

Mr. Snow & Ms. Waters are both R's in the LC BoS race - yet Ms. Waters made the decision to attend and face her opponents in front of some of her constituents at the LWV debate – Why did Mr. Snow not afford the voters in the Dulles District voters the same opportunity?

Mr. Snow, maybe in his own mind made a decision based on ‘party loyalty’ to withdrawal his original intention to participate in the LWV debate is valid. As explained by some of his own words…"executives of the LCRC request", I have to concede, loyalty is a noble quality and Mr. Snow is very loyal to the LCRC. What about the tax payers in the Dulles district?

Why was Mr. Bob Maistros, the Comm/PR Director for the LCRC (yes that is the same LCRC that asked Snow not to attend the LWV debate) at the debate proffering to the media the "real reason for his (Mr. Snow's) absence from the debate”?

 

thepea2001,

You raise an extremely valid point. The LCRC's motives appear quite clear. They are more than willing to send their communications director to an event to get the spin out, but they are unwilling to let Snow attend a forum where actual political discourse could occur.

 

Flynnibus, I don't know how long the lag is, but staff is pretty quick with it. Until the minutes are posted, the webcast is available at loudoun.gov.

One of the e-mails was read into record in public comment, but copies were physically entered as well. As they are (again) public record--i.e. having been obtained through FOIA, and then submitted at the BoS meeting--any citizen can request a copy from the county. This is true for any items submitted for the record at any public meeting.

 

Hey Barbara,

How about that chicken! Have you read all the press coverage? I heard a lot of folks in SR are talking about it.

 

AFGM,

which one?

 

Yes, I've seen the coverage. I've heard some of the military folks who are pretty disgusted with the image in relation to Steve's service record. I understand that the "new" "grassroots" PAC is intended to be snarky and "playful", like BlackOut. I don't know if some of the desired audience is responding to it the way the posse is hoping it will.

p.s. re Flynnibus' post on minutes, etc: this doesn't have a lot of details, but it is a pretty accurate discussion of the FOIA issue at the BoS meeting.
http://leesburg2day.com/articles/2007/10/05/opinion/editorials/987edit100507.txt

 

Well it is going to come down to are we happy with the last four years. Steve's distinguished military record is irrelevant. Traffic and taxes are!!! Also the avoidance to discuss his relationship to Dietz and how it effects his voting. Again it does not matter that this is technically not a conflict of interest in my opinion and many many others it is definitely in the grey area as they will profit handsomely if as many developments can be approved as possible, no matter if it is a bad neighbor developer or good neighbor developer. I have heard a lot of unhappiness with Steve's record in the north dulles district and his just come lately going to acknowledge us now it is time to vote. Just go back on these forums years ago and see how people from the north district wondered where is steve. SO where is steve and will there be anymore debates between him and Miller???

Personally I think it was a big mistake not to show up at the last debate, and the chicken thing could of been diffused now it is going to ring loud with the residents.
I can see how steve snow is extremely upset with the chicken thing but it is his own fault it is getting so much coverage.

Lee j

 

Lee, it appears most of the coverage is on the blogs (referencing blogs. Welcome to Monty Python's "Interviewer's Island").

In my opinion (and that's all it is!), we have a spinoff of a blog desperately trying to launch as a new venture. (Interesting that the questions for Mr. Miller were asked by a member of the blog group, and the chicken was carried by one).

This conglomeration of "different" groups consisting of the same ~dozen people are not only trying to gain visibility and credibility, they also seem to be trying pretty hard to divert from the fact that members of the blog, the "new" PAC it spawned, an LCRC member from a western district who blogs against every eastern incumbent but Broad Run (coincidentally, the only candidates opposed by the "new" PAC), and two Democratic candidates in eastern districts are all on the distribution list of a government e-mail figuring in a lawsuit.

By all means, keep focusing on the chicken. Meanwhile, Mr. York still missed his FOIA date, more FOIAs have been filed, and consequently more lawsuits may be on the way.

In addition, if there was no conflict between heading the LWV and being an officer (and registrant) of another related PAC that has already made endorsements in all races, why would the League President step down?

How 'BOUT that chicken? Yessirree.

If you'd really rather talk about traffic and taxes, let's talk about the position taken by the people endorsed by the various anti- PACs, that the Comp Plan is written is all the planning we need.

That means by-right Lee. By right doesn't build roads or anything else, yet the people in the houses must still be served, and the workers in the flex still have to get to their jobs.

Have you changed your opinion on by right?

 

You know I have never been a fan of by right ever.

It will be interesting how much influence the blogs and internet will have on this election. Very different from four years ago. I personally am very curious what effect it will have!! We live in a different world. Wouldn't it be nice if all developers were like miller and smith and the Moorefield people the Loudoun station people like the original zerox now what has become landsdowne like many of the other good neighbor developers. That is the quality we need in this county before it is too late. I agree if we stop growth then taxes will skyrocket or services will be cut especially the almost billion school system that only serves a population of a quarter of a million. Then people that want to have their kids go to school here might see it deteriorate. Their is not near the wealth here to support all these services without beautiful and intelligent growth. They are already going to cut the money given to the police dept and schools will be next no matter what the candidates make you want to believe. All this takes money and there is just so much to go around, especially when the assessments drop again and the taxes will be raised but most likely not enough to even stay pace with last years budgets. So everything will have to cut to the bone. We all better hope the subway gets out here soon to give this county a much needed shot in the arm and the mega good neighbor urban centers get built with high quality good neighbor development to pay the taxes to keep the services we have been accustomed to. Because if you don't think it will get worse think again. When new schools get delayed and we can't get enough quality teachers things could go south very quickly.

Lee j

Lee j