The Connection

Office sought: Sterling District Supervisor

Party Affiliation: Republican

Previous offices held; please include dates: None

Incumbents: when elected to this position:  November 1999

Occupation: Non-profit foundation CEO, full-time dad and husband

Current employment:  President, Public Advocate of the U.S. Falls Church, Va.

Previous employmenT: New York Senate Majority Leader Warren Anderson, NY State Senators Roy Goodman, Sheldon Farber and U.S. Senator James L. Buckley.

Education: BA, Economics and Political Science, York

College, City University of New York

Community ties:  Donate to 17 charities, promote all charitable events in Sterling through newsletter. Attend weekly church worship services with family at local Roman Catholic church.

ENDORSEMENTS:  The 2002 Ronald Reagan Freedom Award from the Conservative Forum, The 60 Plus Association 2003 Guardian of Seniors' Rights Award,  the  Rotary Foundation's Annual Activity Award, 2002 Citation for Public Service from the Department of Health,  U.S. Senator George Allen, Congressman Frank Wolf, Congressman Tom Davis, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, U.S. Senator John Warner, Senator Ken Cucinnelli, Senator William Mims, Delegates Gary Reese, Dick Black, Bob Marshall,  Tom Rust and Joseph May, County Treasurer Roger Zurn, County clerk Gary Clemens, and Sterling School Board member Warren Guerin.

1.    What is your top public-service accomplishment?

I am the only candidate opposing tax increases, to sign a tax relief pledge for homeowners, oppose the density packing development of 30,000 new residents into the Sterling area.

Incumbents: Describe the top accomplishment of your last term. Why shouldn’t voters blame you for current problems in your district?

I have worked for improving roads and for building $150 million in new roads using private public partnerships, and bigger contributions from those who benefit from public roads.

To fight crime I successfully pushed for the new Community Policing Station in Sterling, which serves as “central command” to fight crime in our community.

2.    What are the top five problems facing your constituents and what approaches will you use to solve them? Describe one challenge (or more) in your district that is different than other parts of the county.

High taxes, out of control government growth, transportation, crime and density packing development.

I have introduced proposals limiting the number of people in one home and the number of cars to each house.

3.    What qualities, qualifications and characteristics will you bring to this office?

non-profit CEO and husband to wife Sheila and father of six children.

4.    How will voters best distinguish between you and your opponent(s)?

Family man and non-profit executive

5. What specific solutions will you propose for the transportation dilemma? Please address funding, prioritization, air quality, bus service and other non-rail public transportation solutions, expansion of rail service, and any other possible approach.

Support the expansion of private public partnerships allowed for under Virginia Law. I have pushed for the protection rather than the destruction of these special tax districts by the current board of supervisors. Rather than dismantle and abandon the quick construction of new roads, I will work to defend and expand these private mechanisms that will result in the fast construction of new intersections at six locations on Route 28, including the Church Road Intersection at Route 28. Using the new privately funded methods being decided to improve a vast section of Interstate 81, I will work for improvements for Route 7 in Loudoun County and the improvement of the Sterling Boulevard intersection with Route 28.

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6. The majority on the current Board of Supervisors have followed a "Smart Growth policy. How has it been successful? How has it failed? What remains to be done?

Smart Growth means policies that truly benefit the county. Local government must  manage growth fairly and reasonably . Local government land use regulations must be fair, uniform, and easily understood. Loudoun should improve the commercial tax base through zoning and use regulatory powers to ease the tax burden.

7. What are your top environmental priorities? Please address air quality, water quality, open space, etc.

More private initiatives and incentives for commercial and private residences, less government waste and interference.

8. Are residents safe enough? How do public safety officials balance new demands of "homeland security" with other safety and quality of life issues?

To fight crime I successfully pushed for the new Community Policing Station in Sterling, which serves as “central command” to fight crime in our community.

9.  Do you have any concerns about civil liberties and public access to information in the wake of the Patriot Act and other responses to Sept. 11?

Not in Loudoun County.

10. Working poor families in Northern Virginia face a daunting cost of living, with little in the way of affordable housing, health care, child care and transportation. Are low-wage workers important to the local economy? What do you propose to address the needs of these families?

Keep promoting all charitable events, programs and projects and assist in fundraising projects in private sector.  Through service for 4 years on the Loudoun County Transportation  Association , I have worked to provide lowcost  bus service to all low income workers in Sterling.

11. Should counties have the taxing authority of cities?

No.

12. What proposals do you have for mitigating the effects of soaring property values and related taxes?

Eliminate $65 million in non-essential wasteful spending. Zero out $2 million in travel outside the county, end 24 hour security at the county dump, close down the purchase of development rights budget that sends 8 million tax dollars to rich residents in Western Loudoun County.

13. What campaign finance reform do you support? How should the county avoid conflict of interest, or even the appearance of conflict, given the Board’s role in approving development and zoning changes and contributions by development interests?

Full compliance with all disclosure laws under the election laws.