Not Larry Sabato

Hit and Run Trial for Gerry Connolly

I wanted to wrap up this section of the Gerry Connolly Sucks series.  For those of you checking in now, check out Gerry Connolly Sucks Part 43 to see the video from when Gerry was charged with a Hit and Run, check Gerry Connolly Sucks Part 47 to see how he avoided a felony charge, and see Gerry Connolly Sucks Part 48 on how he was leading the search for a police chief while he was under indictment.

Now let's get to the trial! Better known in legal circles as:
The Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Gerald Edward Connolly.  Case Number:  GT04089488-00.

(Coming in the next hour!)

"Pay To Play"

From the Connection in 2003:

"I HAVE A LOT of support in the business community," said Connolly, adding that small donors were also an important part of his campaign.

Some of his biggest donors last month were executives from Maryland-based Lerner Enterprises who gave him a total of $10,000. On June 16, Connolly won approval for a Lerner project from the Board of Supervisors even though the Planning Commission had earlier voted to deny the application. Lerner will be able to increase the density at its Tysons II site and build eight new buildings, including a 540-unit high-rise condominium building.

On June 30, Connolly received $1,250 contributions from each of eight Lerner executives. Connolly last week denied a connection between his vote and the contributions.

"The Lerners have historically been supporters of mine," he said, adding that he did not give the company a sweetheart deal. "I put the squeeze on the Lerners in terms of proffers I felt the case needed." Lerner executives did not return calls for comment.

Connolly also received checks from Gerald Halpin, the founder of the West Group development company, as well as from members of Halpin's family. Six members of the Halpin family, some of whom live in Wyoming, gave Connolly $199 each. World Resources Company, a recycling firm run by Halpin's son Peter, contributed $10,000 to Connolly's campaign.

"I've been a friend of the family for a long time, long before I went into politics," said Connolly. "It is a personal relationship I've had initially through Peter [Halpin]. ... It really has nothing to do with business historically."

On Jan. 6, the Board of Supervisors followed Connolly's lead and approved a controversial rezoning application for West Group that allowed the company to build four 14-story high-rise residential buildings in Tyson’s Corner.

"I have no conflict of interest," said Connolly.

Reached at his office, Gerald Halpin declined to comment. Peter Halpin was out of the country last week and could not be reached.

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You wouldn't know this from reading any local papers now- but these same people are back and funneling a ton of money into Gerry's campaign for Congress.  (Part 52)

"The No Class Award"

Given out by Raising Kaine last year- guess who won it?

(Part 51)

Gerry Connolly Sucks, Part FIFTY (50)

Blueweeds has the tragic story of Steve Cornejo who was a resident of Falls Church before he was murdered in Fairfax County.

As many of you know- Blueweeds is the husband of Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner.  So he knows what he is saying when he says:

"Falls Church City Mayor Robin Gardner has made numerous official and unofficial requests for information to Fairfax County officials on behalf of the Cornejo family.  Fairfax Supervisor, and current candidate for the 11th CD Democratic nominee nod, Gerry Connolly has never responded to, or even acknowledged, any request from the major or other Falls Church City officials."

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Three years after a murder Gerry won't even RESPOND to another head of local government asking what is going on with the case and why the person convicted in civil court hasn't even been charged in criminal court?!?!

I would say Gerry is a disgrace to Fairfax.  But really he is a disgrace to humanity.  The family of this victim is in a lot of pain- and Gerry doesn't even have the compassion to give them a response. 

Digital Press Conference

DIGITAL PRESS CONFERENCE WITH VIRGINIA SECRETARY OF TECHNOLOGY ANEESH CHOPRA TOMORROW.

For any of you that can make it tomorrow at 3:15 p.m.- shoot me an email to RSVP- btribbett@newmediastrategies.net - it should be a lot of fun!  We already have a number of bloggers coming, but I wanted to open it up to anyone else interested- just let me know if you are coming.

It's Over: Obama is the Nominee

CONGRATULATIONS DAVID BOWERS!!!!

I endorsed David Bowers as an Independent a few months ago even though he was challenging the incumbent Democratic Mayor of Roanoke.  I'm thrilled (and also kind of shocked) to report he won tonight!!!!

Congratulations Mayor-Elect Bowers!!!  Now please do something about Delegate Onzlee Ware.

Fairfax Firefighters vs. Fairfax Police

From the WaPo:

"The average base salary for a Fairfax firefighter is $56,990 a year, compared with $52,754 for a police officer, according to county figures."

Why does the WaPo think there is a $4,000 a year difference between uniformed personnel?

"The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2068 brings big money to the table: more than $100,000 in the past four years, nearly all of it going to Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) and the incumbent supervisors seeking reelection Tuesday, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project."

Is the Washington Post really that dense to not notice that the police department charged Gerry Connolly with a crime that could have netted him a year in prison?

And now the police are paid far less than another branch of uniformed personal?  Hmm....
(GC Sucks, Part 49)

Gerry vs. the Police

One of the most underreported parts of the Gerry Connolly Hit and Run story is what happened with the Fairfax police after they dared charge Connolly.

After the Hit and Run on Friday, police with the license plate in hand, went over to Gerry's house Saturday morning.  In the Hit and Run stories, you will notice Gerry always talking about how he "found" the dent on Saturday.  By "found" he means after the police knocked on his door asking about it.

At the same time this was going on Fairfax was going through a search for a new Chief of Police.  When the outgoing Chief left, he recommended Suzanne Devlin to be acting Chief during the search.  Suzanne was a well respected officer, and had overwhelming support to take over the department internally.  However, sources tell me Devlin refused to treat Connolly any different during the Hit and Run investigation which left Gerry absolutely livid.  Gerry began a big push to interview those outside the department as the hit and run case was proceeding- as you can see from this link.

While Acting Chief, Suzanne was also getting Gerry's ire for her outstanding press.  She was even featured in the Washington Post for taking down a male attacker twice her size at Dulles Airport.

But at the end of the day in Fairfax, qualifications don't mean anything when Gerry Connolly is angry that he was charged with a crime. Suzanne was passed over for the position. 

Most important- Gerry did NOT recuse himself from selecting a new Police Chief while he was facing criminal charges that the police recommended.  But the Fairfax Police learned a valuable lesson- not everyone is equal under the law in Fairfax County.  And this wasn't the last time that Fairfax Police have been penalized for daring to think so... more on that later.

(Gerry Sucks, Part 48)

Gerry Sucks, Part 47

Before we get into the verdict part of the famous Gerry Connolly Hit and Run case- one quick point:

Under Virginia law- the difference between a felony hit and run and a misdemeanor hit and run is if $1,000 in total damage was done.  According to the police "estimate", Gerry's huge dent on his car was $300 worth of damage and the other huge dent was $200 so he was charged with a misdemeanor.

Where can you get two cars with major repairs fixed for $500? 

Would any other citizen who hit an occupied car not get charged with a felony hit and run?

ATTENTION HERNDON

Vote for this guy tomorrow.

HE WILL EVEN CHEAT ON A COIN FLIP

Amazing story coming out of the 11th CD.

Ballot-Order in a primary is determined by who files first.  To keep people from filing years in advance, a certain date in March is set up as the first day people can file, starting at noon.

This year both Gerry Connolly and Leslie Byrne being veteran campaigners were waiting to file at noon.

In the case of a tie, a coin flip determines ballot order.  John Jennison represented Gerry- Larry Byrne represented Leslie and  George Burke flipped a coin.  John called heads- and it was tails- putting Leslie on the ballot first.  When John told Gerry at an event, sources tell me Gerry snapped at him for calling the wrong side of the coin- typical Gerry, he probably expected them to flip a two-headed nickel.

Anyway, when the form was sent to the State Board of Elections with ballot order- George showed them as a tie- so Gerry would get a new coin flip done by the SBE.  Sure enough, odds prevailed and Gerry won this time. Burke then played dumb and claimed he had filed the form wrong- knowing it was not amendable and that the SBE coin flip would have to stand.

So now Gerry is first on the ballot in the primary.  But when you see your ballot, just remember that he is so pathetic he had to cheat to get there.

(GC Sucks, Part 46)

Mark Warner in Roanoke

Great write up here.  He was introduced by Delegate William Fralin's father.   Will Senator Ralph Smith who ousted Senator Brandon Bell last year now call for a primary to Fralin?

MARK WARNER KICKOFFS

BRING BACK THE SONG!!!

Lying to Channel 9 (CBS)

Here's Gerry Connolly in a September interview when asked about running for Congress.  Could the guy possibly lie more?

(GC Sucks, Part 45)

Local Elections on Tuesday

I can't keep my finger on all of them- but as usual Blueweeds has Falls Church totally covered.

Gerry Sucks, Part 44

Funny story from yesterday's Derby Day event:

Every year Braddock District Democrats do a fundraiser at Kilroy's for their committee.  One of the hottest items at the auction is lunch with Braddock District Supervisor Sharon Bulova.  It usually goes for $150-$200 or even more.

This year as Sharon stood up to auction herself off, she announced it was going to be a lunch with her AND Board Chairman Gerry Connolly.

Bidding started at $100.  Silence.  Silence.  Silence.  Sharon announced bidding was starting again.  Silence.  Silence.  Silence.  District Chair Walt Mika whispered in Sharon's ear- and Sharon dropped the bidding to $50.  Silence.  Silence.

The Connolly people started looking around the room desperately.  It was hysterical.  Finally, they got two people to start bidding.  Janet Muldoon- aide to Dick Saslaw, and Jan Hedetniemi who wants to run for Supervisor when Sharon runs for Chairman because Gerry won Congress.  (Sorry Jan, ain't happening).  They bid back and forth and got it up to $90.

Gerry then came to the front of the room, and offered TWO lunches- so the committee could raise $180!  LOL!  They would have raised more than that, if he had just withdrawn himself from the lunch.

By the way, this lunch includes Sharon and Gerry buying for the winner and a guest- so someone getting it for $90 is basically getting it at food value for four people, as if Gerry and Sharon weren't even coming. Pathetic.

Every year Anonymous is a Woman bids on this lunch with Sharon and wins it.  I asked her why she didn't bid this year at all- she summed up the room well.  AIAW said: "Gerry was the deal breaker.  Why would I want to have lunch with someone glaring at me for an hour?"

Indeed. 

There's an old term about "smart money" in a political race.  When activists get together and won't spend $100 to have a lunch with a politician running for Congress- that speaks to where the "smart money" is in that race.

Gerry Sucks, Part 43

GERRY CONNOLLY WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN IN TYSONS CORNER!!!  CLICK HERE TO SEE CHANNEL 4'S COVERAGE, INCLUDING AN INTERVIEW WITH GERRY HIMSELF. WOW!!!!!

Democrats Win Louisiana Special Election (Pickup)

This ad was considered to be the deciding factor for Congressman-Elect Don Cazayoux- I think we may see it here in Virginia when Steve Shannon runs for Attorney General next year.  As many of you know, Steve started the Amber Alert in this area with his wife Abby.

Another Amazing Mailer

Download it here!  OUTSTANDING!

Gerry Sucks, Part 42

As the WaPo blog said when they were covering this:  "Connolly... will from time to time... go off on some unsuspecting citizen".