Monday, November 7, 2011
A Get Out the Vote Rally at George Mason University focused on voter turnout and the importance of retaining control of the state Senate.
"Grab three or four or five of your friends and get out to vote," Senator Mark Warner told a crowd gathered outside the Johnson Center at George Mason University Monday afternoon. A virtual who's who of Virginia Democrats gathered to encourage voting in an election expected to have low turnout, with much at stake. Democrats took control of the Virginia Senate in 2007, for the first time in almost a century. They hope to retain that control November 8. If Republicans gain enough seats to win it back, the GOP would have complete dominance in Richmond. "The races will be determined by tens of votes, hundreds of votes," said Warner. "If you will do your part [by voting], you will make a difference." According to the Virginia State Board of …
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Two seats among those Republicans hope to nab in Tuesday's election
As Election Day nears, Virginia Republicans are keeping a close eye on several tight races across the state, hoping to wrest control of the state Senate away from the Democrats. George Mason University Professor Mark Rozell told Reuters that if Republicans take the state Senate, it could spell trouble next year for President Obama, who won the state in 2008. Northern Virginia has seen visits in recent weeks from Michelle Obama, second lady Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Democrats and Republicans in Virginia are duking it out down to the wire, throwing cash at campaigns across the state where they see trouble. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, last-minute contributions …
Fairfax Republicans rally, disperse to go door-to-door.
About 100 people gathered in Springfield Saturday to hear from Governor Bob McDonnell and other Republicans holding or running for office in Virginia. The '72 Hour Rally' was sponsored by the Republican Party of Virginia and the Fairfax County Republican Committee. "Getting out the vote in the next 72 hours is critical," said Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. "This is going to be a race with below 40 percent turnout, so every person who shows up [to vote] makes a bigger difference." A report Sunday on WTOP, not related to the rally, confirmed this. George Mason University Public Policy Professor Mark Rozell told WTOP, "The party that is able to mobilized it's core constituency, the one that has the greater intensity on its side…
Friday, November 4, 2011
Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics IAFF Local 2068 President John Niemiec answers a Patch reader's question.
A Patch reader asked why the local firefighter's union contributes to and endorses candidates. We asked Fairfax County (VA) Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics IAFF Local 2068 President John Niemiec. He said: "Being an employee in a Right to Work state that specifically prohibits collective bargaining with management, we need to be particularly active in the political process to help get those politicians who understand the issues and needs of active and retired Fairfax County firefighters, fire inspectors, mechanics and communications professionals elected. "Local 2068 is no different than any other special interest group that engages in political action, donates money to candidates, works at political fundraisers and puts signs in …
Candidates for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors respond to the fifth and sixth of six questions posed by Patch.
The four candidates running for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors answered six questions by email for Patch. Following are the unedited responses to questions five and six. Incumbent Democrat Sharon Bulova (website, Facebook, Twitter) Independent Christopher DeCarlo (website, YouTube) Independent Will Radle (Facebook, YouTube) Republican Michael “Spike” Williams (website, Facebook) Question #5: The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority weekly reports in its newsletter the relocation of mega-firms into the county. Would you move to require contribution of private sector money to support the investment tax payers have made in the county's infrastructure? Explain. Sharon Bulova Fairfax County does not put tax or …
Thursday, November 3, 2011
In their response to the fourth of six questions posed by Patch, the candidates for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors deliberate the school district's Capital Improvement Program.
The four candidates running for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors answered six questions by email for Patch. We will feature one question each day, with the unedited answers by each of the candidates. Incumbent Democrat Sharon Bulova (website, Facebook, Twitter) Independent Christopher DeCarlo (website, YouTube) Independent Will Radle (Facebook, YouTube) Republican Michael “Spike” Williams (website, Facebook) Question #4 - The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) school renovation Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget currently receives nearly all funding from Fairfax County bonds. FCPS Chief Operating Officer Dean Tistadt has repeatedly warned that current CIP funding levels are not sufficient. “The capital program …
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
In their response to the third of six questions posed by Patch, the candidates for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors discuss funding for VRE.
The four candidates running for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors answered six questions by email for Patch. We will feature one question each day, with the unedited answers by each of the candidates. Incumbent Democrat Sharon Bulova (website, Facebook, Twitter) Independent Christopher DeCarlo (website, YouTube) Independent Will Radle (Facebook, YouTube) Republican Michael “Spike” Williams (website, Facebook) Question #3 - Virginia Railway Express CEO Dale Zehner says the system is at capacity, and money is needed to "maintain the service levels we have today in cleanliness, customer care and mechanical maintenance, while at the same time working toward adding more cars to the trains and more trains to the system." How …
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
In response to the second of six questions posed by Patch, the candidates for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors discuss the $1.6 billion in unfunded costs in Tysons' development.
The four candidates running for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors answered six questions by email for Patch. We will feature one question each day, with the unedited answers by each of the candidates. Incumbent Democrat Sharon Bulova (website, Facebook, Twitter) Independent Christopher DeCarlo (website, YouTube) Independent Will Radle (Facebook, YouTube) Republican Michael “Spike” Williams (website, Facebook) Question #2: According to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (Table 7 in the Tysons Comprehensive Plan), there are about $1.6 billion in unfunded road and transportation costs in the development of Tysons. Who will be paying these unfunded costs? Explain. Sharon Bulova It is important to remember …
Monday, October 31, 2011
In their response to the first of six questions posed by Patch, the candidates for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors discuss county versus state control of area roads.
The four candidates running for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors answered six questions by email for Patch. We will feature one question over the next six days, with the unedited answers by each of the candidates. Incumbent Democrat Sharon Bulova (website, Facebook, Twitter) Independent Christopher DeCarlo (website, YouTube) Republican Michael “Spike” Williams (website, Facebook) Independent Will Radle (Facebook, YouTube) Question #1: Should Fairfax County take local control of its roads, as some surrounding jurisdictions, or allow VDOT's continued control? Explain. Sharon Bulova The State is increasingly making overtures about turning the road system (which is now pretty much entirely a State responsibility) over to …
True Democracy is Christopher DeCarlo's message in music.
Independent candidate Christopher DeCarlo, running for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, posted a campaign video to YouTube on Sunday. DeCarlo announced his candidacy on October 24, 2011, with this statement. "My name is Chris DeCarlo and I am a candidate for the office of Chairman. This campaign is directed to True Democracy. A place that promotes personal freedom and self responsibility. A place where financial influence does not corrupt the administrative and legislative processes. A place where you and I can have more weighted influence in the process of our form of self-government. As Chairman I will lead your County to this place where elected representatives are not obligated to provide financial and legislative …
Terrence Dankel
6:45 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Surely there was no party politics in establishing the two new districts, eh? more ›