To the Editor:
When I read the recent Letter to the Editor, "Proud Marsden Supporter," I noticed a common theme — much of the language used in the letter is identical to that on Dave Marsden's Web site. Given Marsden's history of using letters to the editor as campaign propaganda, I probably shouldn't be surprised.
What is surprising, however, is that the letter even tried to argue with the fact that Dave Marsden cut anti-gang funding by 50 percent while acting director of the Department of Juvenile Justice. On Marsden's own Web site, he takes credit for cutting the budget when he was acting director. Unfortunately, Dave Marsden can't have it both ways — you can't claim you made "tough decisions" to cut the budget and then avoid your record when those decisions turn out to be bad for our community.
I support Michael Golden, not just because he is intelligent, well-spoken and works tirelessly for his community, but because he is honest to the core. Dave Marsden made his agency's budget decisions (as he acknowledges on his Web site), and he cut anti-gang funding by 50 percent. The result is gang violence in Fairfax County continues to increase and worsen. Those are the facts. I guess the moral of the story in this case is that experience and effectiveness are two very different things. Marsden may have 30 years of experience, but he was ineffective at reducing the growing problem of gangs in Fairfax County. He can't run away from that record.
Michael Golden has a record of success as an appellate attorney. He has significant financial experience, and he knows what it takes to keep our economy strong and to make a budget that's good for all Virginians. To top it all off, he is a great neighbor and a committed family man. He runs on his record, not away from it, and that's the type of Delegate our community deserves.
Mark Goeringer
Submitted via e-mail