Mike DeLoose, president of the West Springfield Civic Association, opened the "2002 Election Issues" meeting with an announcement that the meeting would be starting late because of cars. The parking lot out front was full, exemplifying the area-wide problem of transportation.
On the agenda of the Wednesday, Oct. 2 meeting, was the sales-tax referendum to address the traffic problem in Northern Virginia. Del. James K. "Jay" O'Brien (R-40th) and Democratic challenger Rosemary Lynch, candidates for the State Senate seat in the new 39th district, offered their views on the issue. They were followed by Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-37th) and Del. Jack Rollison (R-52nd), who sparred over the proposed referendum. In the middle were seniors from West Springfield High School who were fulfilling a class requirement by attending the debate.
Senior Hasina Monique Patwary didn't know what to expect at her first political forum, but she knew the Northern Virginia transportation situation. She's more worried about education.
"I know roads and I've seen no improvements in the last 10 years. I don't see how a half cent is going to help," she said.
Classmate Mileva Sturgis took it personally.
"I have to pay more and I'm not really happy about it," she said.
As the cafeteria filled up with people, nearly half were high school students, Lynch studied her notes at one of the tables. O'Brien was nowhere to be seen.
"He's stuck in traffic," joked one audience member.
Lynch took the podium.
"Virginia hasn't been providing adequate support for our needs," she said, including Prince William County in her discussion, which is part of the 39th district.
"Are we better off then we were 10 years ago when Jay O'Brien took office?" she asked.
O'Brien showed up and reiterated his accomplishments, including Megan's Law, student tuition, the organ donor program, aggressive driving and teen driving reforms. He briefly mentioned the referendum before leaving.
ROLLISON OPENED with "shock value" statement.
"Northern Virginia has the third worst traffic in the United States behind San Francisco and Los Angeles," he said, throwing around figures such as 84 hours a year are wasted per person in traffic and 44 percent of state funds go to Northern Virginia, $140 million a year from the half cent if the tax is passed, which equates to $5 billion over 20 years. He concluded with a soft approach.
"No matter what happens Nov. 5, I believe we're all winners. Either way the decision's yours," he said.
Cuccinelli took the stand, showing doubt about the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and who would control the extra money from the tax.
"On paper, the Northern Virginia TransportationAuthority is supposed to get the money, but the Legislature can change this whenever they want," he said.
His arsenal of figures included 44 percent of tax revenue as well, provided by 25 percent of the state's population in Northern Virginia. Then there was the real estate tax that went up 37 percent in the last three years, and Northern Virginians' lack of control over the make up of the 14-member transportation authority through the ballot box.
"The only one of the 14 you get to vote for is [Board of Supervisors chairman] Kate Hanley," he said.
Both Rollison and Cuccinelli had a chance to address questions submitted on note cards by the audience. The first one dealt with a baseball stadium in Northern Virginia.
"There's not a line item for a baseball stadium," Rollison said.
CUCCINELLI continued to question the Transportation authority using the proposed widening of I-66 as an example of locality decisions effecting the entire region.
"The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority can hide a lot of their spending; they're not subject to freedom of information like VDOT [Virginia Department of Transportation]," he said.
The next question was what would happen if the referendum were defeated? Rollison pointed out there was an anticipated $3 billion shortfall, with no referendum, out of a total $12 billion state budget including cuts across the board.
"The Cuccinelli budget would start out on a $3 billion hit on a $12 billion state budget. This has severe consequences for local governments," he said.
Cuccinelli looked at the budget process and the prioritization of programs.
"We're going to have to change the way we budget, raise transportation to the top," he said.
Rollison came back with the 25-cents-a-day figure for what it would cost the taxpayer.
Rollison felt his mission was accomplished after the meeting.
"I got a chance to say what was on my mind and give the voters some food for thought," Rollison said afterward.
West Springfield senior Caroline Evey stayed until the end but wasn't set on the results.
"I didn't think anything got solved. One of the opponents seemed more of an attacker," she said.
The meeting broke up on schedule just as a traffic jam tied up I-95/I-395 north. VDOT trucks blocked the on ramps and traffic came to a standstill while workers were milling and paving, exemplifying the effects of traffic on the region. The problem remains unsolved.