Hi all. I just posted this on the RK blog. Sorry for the cross post, but time is short.
Some of you may have heard about what happened with the Wedderburn development – the lot at the southwest corner of Cedar Lane and the W&OD trail. But, for those you didn't get the details, I can't think of a better reason to throw Linda Smyth out on her ear on Tuesday. I spent 2 1/2 years working with the Wedderburn Neighbors Steering Committee, trying to save 14 acres of ancient land – the land that time forgot – from development, and Linda Smyth thwarted us at every turn. Not only was she uninterested in saving the land, she facilitated the approval of a project to increase the number of proposed houses on the lot from 13 (a 'by right' development) to 26! The bulldozers haven't started yet, but they will be coming any day now – most likely a few weeks after the primary is over. So hurry down Cedar Lane, turn left at Wedderburn Lane and take a walk through the most charming land you will see in Providence District. IT WILL BE GONE BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
Linda Smyth has run a low-down, dirty campaign for re-eleciton. This Tuesday, voters have a chance to tell her what they think of this. For more on Linda's nasty, sleazy tactics, see the following articles on Raising Kaine.
There's a lot more where that came from. Tell all your friends to reject Linda Smyth's style of campaigning, which not surprisingly parallels her style of governing. The election is this Tuesday, please make sure you vote for Charlie Hall, the reform Democrat in this race (against former "Republicans for Connolly" chair Smyth).
As I continued my blog-reading, I came across this post from Raising Kaine from one poster, originally a Linda Smyth supporter who has come to realize that Charlie Hall is really the better choice.
"Doug in Mount Vernon" was a strong advocate for Linda Smyth on the blogs. Though he does not live in the district, he thought Linda was the better candidate. But now, he's a Hall-fan.
How did this come about?
Doug in Mount Vernon :: OK, I agree, Charlie Hall is the best choice.
Well, I've been going back on RK and elsewhere are reading the words of the man himself.
The recent stuff about being a "real" Democrat really bothered me. I didn't like when Harris Miller supporters assaulted Jim Webb as a Republican, especially since I once considered myself a Republican.
So, it was this response to that question by Charlie that speaks volumes to me about who Charlie is, and what kind of Supervisor he will make:
UPDATE: This was one of the most fair and gracious responses to a politically-charged accusation that I've seen lately from any candidate in any race. To me, it spoke volumes about the kind of Supervisor Providence District voters can be expected to be.
Please, if you're not sure who you're going to support and you want to get a sense of the candidate himself, read this response from Charlie.
Good luck Charlie!
It's true. In the face of these attacks, Charlie has not succumbed to the petty name-calling that Smyth's campaign has. This entire campaign, he has eloquently and calmly responded to all accusations and insinuations. Charlie Hall has class, and that's why he deserves to be on the Board of Supervisors.
(This is how Linda runs a campaign? - promoted by ReformNow)
Linda Smyth has finally taken the low road. Her campaign sent out negative direct mailers this week, attacking Charlie Hall. Raising Kaine has the scans.
The accusation is ridiculously misleading. Smyth claims: "Charles Hall Consults with Republicans Before Running in Our Democratic Primary."
Here are some of the "lowlights" as Eric from RK says:
* Tell the Republicans to Hit the road.
* Charles Hall consults with Republicans before running in our Democratic primary.
* Hall is running a campaign to recruit Republicans to vote in our Democratic primary.
* Tell the Republicans to stay out of our primary.
These are the classic out-of-context, ad hominem attacks that the Connolly-Smyth machine glorifies. This is the Karl Rove-style politics that, apparently, has won over Linda Smyth. Perhaps Linda Smyth has forgotten that Democrats don't play like that. Democrats attack the message, Republicans attack the messenger.
If we're going to start attacking party ties, then why not mention the fact that Linda Smyth voted in Republican primaries or, even worse, she was the head of "Republicans for Connolly" in 1999? Either she was a Democrat voting in the GOP primary, or she's now trying to get Republicans to vote in our primary. Either way, Smyth is being hypocritical and disingenuous in this mailer.
Linda Smyth -- if you're really a true Democrat, why don't you attack Charlie Hall for what he stands for, not who he is? Either that, or take your Republican tactics back to your party.
The Connection Newspapers reports on a dispute between the Vienna Little League and Linda Smyth regarding a debate that she was invited to, but declined to attend. Essentially, Linda Smyth is calling the Little League liars.
Linda Smyth calling the Little League liars, nice. Raising Kaine concludes:
So, who do you believe? The Vienna Little League, which says it sent e-mails to the Smyth campaign on May 18 and May 22 (proof provided to the Connection Newspapers) or Linda Smyth, who says they "haven't sent me anything?" Tough choice, I know.
Over at Raising Kaine and NLS, Deborah Reyher notes that there were two parts of Dana Kauffman's motion yesterday to open up the 6/18 meeting to public discussion:
Dana Kauffman stongly advocated hearing from citizens on this -- the single biggest public transportation project in the state. He suggested using 4/18, the date of the scheduled vote, for the type of modified Town Hall that WMATA employed to address public outcry regarding the sale of public land for MetroWest, since there was no time to advertise a regular public hearing.
It was the SECOND part of his motion to re-schedule the Board vote for a date following receipt of the FTA risk assessment (now scheduled for August).
While Linda Smyth seconded the motion and voted for it, her remarks were notable in that she did not ONCE mention the need to hear from citizens or verbally support that part of the motion.
Her ONLY concern was that the Board members would not have sufficient time to review the documents and confer AMONG THEMSELVES themselves before making their up/down vote
So, Linda may seek to preen over her overall support of the motion, but she did NOT support the part most important to citizens, which is to be included in the decision-making.
So it seems that the only Board member to actually advocate for the voices to be heard was Dana Kauffman, despite Linda Smyth's support of the motion.
I think its obvious Smyth voted in favor of the motion for political reasons. All her chums on the Board voted against it, including her leader,
Gerry Connolly. There's this suggestion from indievoter on RK:
I wasn't at the meeting, so this is speculation. But I'm now cynical enough about this Board to suspect that Connolly knew Kauffman's motion wouldn't pass, so he gave the okay for Smyth to second/vote for it. That way, she can claim she tried to get a hearing, but there was never any danger of such a thing happening. And Connolly is worried enough about her survival that he is feeding her this (and lots of other) opportunities to look good in the press.
Also, by being on the opposite side of a vote from Connolly (for what, the first time in 4 years??) she can claim she isn't his stooge. I'm not buying it.
This is not beyond the realm of possibility. It wouldn't be the first time the Connolly machine was at work.
*Charlie Hall calls in, says this is "more than just a road funding issue." People have seen the board adding development without proper road systems to support them. When people come to the Board with their concerns, the Board has been, in a very visible/in your face way NOT been listening. At the meeting on Monday, voted in front of 500 people and said "we really don't need your opinions, we can do this on our own." This is "emblematic of a board that is determined to go its own way no matter what concerns and fears they're triggering in the community."
In addition, Raising Kaine says that Washington Post reporter Bill Turque predicted that "Linda Smyth could lose her seat over unhappiness with regard to Dulles rail, lack of transparency, cost, etc."
Finally, here's what "Amy from McLean" had to say:
"Amy from McLean" asks about rail to Dulles Airport, says that the the "over 500" people at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday were "appalled." Going to give a "multi-billion dollar public project" less than a week of review and no public hearing...this "borders on malfeasance." Robert Puentes says that the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is a "national exemplar" of smart growth. Amy notes that the reason Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is successful is because rail is underground. Amy adds that we are "absolutely adamant" that we can't "make a Ballston out of Tysons Corner if we have an overhead rail." Puentes says that the caller's frustration with lack of transparency, "lip service given to performance and accountability" reflects the fact that the "public trust is really at stake."
Over at Raising Kaine, Lee Diamond calls the meeting yesterday on "aerial vs. tunnel" for Tysons "A Song and Dance, Complete With Farce and Levels of Deniability." Lee writes:
Is that how government is supposed to be conducted? Are you going to let him get away with that? This is the real boss, not the wonderful sounding stuff on his website. He hasn't shown that wonderful side to the neighborhoods of Fairfax County, VA and that is all I care about.
There's a lot more here. Read it and weep. And vote for Charlie Hall on June 12!
The blogs Not Larry Sabato and Raising Kaine have coverage of today's big meeting in Fairfax on the Tysons Tunnel. Also, Charlie Hall's got a statement here:
This board showed today why change is so desperately needed in Fairfax County.
Gerry Connolly, Linda Smyth and the others say they support a tunnel, but today?s meeting made it clear that they are determined to install an elevated train, against overwhelming opposition from the citizens who elected them.
Even more offensive was the board?s refusal to even hold a public hearing.
On one of the most important and controversial decisions this board will ever make, they looked an auditorium full of tunnel supporters in the eye and said, ?"We don?t need to hear from you. We know better than you do.?"
The supervisors? decision came after the entire board, including Gerry Connolly and Linda Smyth, refused even to acknowledge a request from Tysonstunnel.org for such a hearing. This board has been defined by its arrogance, but its stonewalling of Tysonstunnel.org may be their most arrogant act yet.
Sounds like it's going to be an "aerial option," whether we want that or not.
Mr. George Burke, Chair
11th Congressional District Democratic Committee
Dear George,
I hope all the Democrats receiving this message are as concerned as I am about how business is done in Fairfax County. A lot of people would not know this, but there is a Democratic primary on June 12 to decide who is going to represent Providence District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for the next four years. It is my understanding that in addition to being the elected chair of the 11th District Democratic Committee, you play a highly prominent role in FCDC. For a leading party official to actively promote one candidate in a Democratic Primary is highly objectionable. I assume you did not break any "rules," but that is not the point. You are not doing your job as a leader.
This is what Connolly/Smyth apparently think of anyone who opposes them, including Charlie Hall and his supporters:
Republicans posing as democrats. Frauds with single issue criticism akin to no car tax. You can read their sniping and heel biting, their empty rhetoric of "too many unanimous votes." Put the pieces together. Just say no to those angry, bickering Bozos.
The arrogance is incredible. What will they be saying after Charlie Hall is nominated on June 12?
Here are some of the "lowlights" as Eric from RK says: