To the Editor:
Many thanks to Ernie Lehmann [Letter, “Follow the Money,” Gazette packet, Oct. 15-21] for pointing us to the Virginia Public Access Project (www.VPAP.org/commitees). This is a precious tool to determine the candidates’ interests: theirs or ours? Mayor Euille finance report spells it clearly: Real Estate, law firms, transport and finance are massively supporting him ($171,000). Out of these contributions, his campaign has been paying out about $82,000 to consulting. This amount is more than Allison Silberberg's total budget which is mostly made up of contributions under $250, meaning you and me.
It is time we get a mayor and a council concerned about our issues, not a party's interest or outside contributors. These issues are road maintenance (what is the use of bicycle lanes if the cracks in the road are large enough to engulf a bike tire), schools (why spend more than any other city if results are not there), city expenses (have you noticed that all city motors are brand new and that parking enforcement officers ride full size sedans rather that the trikes of the past? What next, chauffeur driven limos?). City budgets (instead of looking to developing new taxes, how about cutting city expenses?). Rather than going on, may I suggest voting for those who seem to have our interests in mind rather than theirs. After all they are the one asking to
represent us, we are not forcing them into it.
Francois Duret
Alexandria