What's the Rationale for Linda?

Over the last few weeks the blogosphere has taken a strong position in favor of Charlie Hall over incumbent Linda Smyth for the Board of Supervisors. I asked someone close to Smyth and Gerry Connolly to give us their reasons for supporting Linda. 

I'm not endorsing Linda, this is for informational purposes only.

----------------------------------------------

Guest Column by Fairfax Dada

Record versus Rhetoric

Democrats have earned the right to claim the best managed county and the many state and national honors earned by its elected representatives. The good government achievements by Gerry Connolly, Linda Smyth and the democratic controlled board of supervisors have been validated with the recent election results of the county going blue.

Look at the rhetorical bickering that has gone on in Richmond and thank our lucky stars that governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have been there to counter-balance the extremist who place partisanship above representation. Look across the river and see that it was the latest election of democratic majorities that have put the brakes on the national embarrassments of Bush, Cheney, Rove and Rumsfield. And what do those two environments have in common? It is the Fairfax county democrats who were instrumental in electing Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Senator Jim Webb. It is clear the republicans are losing national and state prominence because of the Fairfax County Democrats.

Just what have these Fairfax County Democrats accomplished? Despite local taxpayers being saddled with unfunded mandates, such as no child left behind, or initiating protection projects, such as emergency preparedness and 911 responses, or getting the short shrift by the republican assembly in Richmond, Connolly and company have maintained the priority of education, strengthened environmental protections, and stayed the course for the world class education of our students. Linda Smyth has been an integral part of that Democratic controlled board that is now close to preserving 10% of the county as parks, preserving affordable housing, committing tax revenue to storm water management and harnessing Metro for transit oriented development. Connolly, Smyth and company have received numerous national awards for the achievements, while putting the brakes on rising taxes and actually reducing tax rates.

Fairfax is a complex county with the hottest job market, rising senior population, BRAC, and increased diversity. For those who came late, the Metro to Dulles debate is here because of the county electeds working with the national leaders to bring it to a reality after over 20 years. You know the Republicans would rather spend that money on a bridge in Alaska.

Even Tom Davis praises the Fairfax County task forces as the model for federal government, and those task forces have been widely used by Connolly and Smyth to find solutions to complex problems with many stakeholders. Reality is that compromises are lousy and some never get over not having it their way as the only way, like Bush.

Add the green Cool Counties initiative, Tree Preservation, Transportation Demand Management, the Cross County Trail, Synthetic Sports Fields, Bike Trails, and maintaining arguably the best Fire Fighters and Police Force in the nation, and you see why Fairfax County voters go blue.

What are the republicans to do? How can they break up the Fairfax County Democrats who get the deserved credit of bringing good government and Warner, Kaine and Webb to office?

That answer is out there. 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.

Linda Smyth and Gerry Connolly have earned the ire of the republicans. That is why voters should support Linda and Gerry's record and keep the blue wave rising.

Comments

[Voice of Reason (Rarely heard)]

FD:

The fact that the County has "gone blue" has nothing to do with Gerry Connolly. In fact, his approval ratings lag behind nearly every other Dem in Fairfax, including Kaine and Webb.

To put it another way -- was it Democratic Chairman Audrey Moore's fault that the County went "red" for Reagan and Bush back in the 80's? Of course not. It was a diferent time and different demographic. It's absurd for a local official to claim credit for Kaine, Webb, etc.

Stick to the issues (which you are largely correct on) and stop the egotistical posturing. That is what really costs Gerry and Linda the votes.

"Just say no to those angry, bickering Bozos."

OK, everyone, this is what Gerry Connolly, Linda Smyth and the Fairfax County establishment think of you if you care about growth issues, sprawl, traffic, quality of life, open government, the environment, or any of the issues being raised by Charlie Hall and his supporters. You're all a bunch of "angry, bickering Bozos" for daring to challenge the Machine. Keep that in mind when you go vote on June 12...for Charlie Hall!!!

This just shows you how terrified the Connolly Machine is of Charlie Hall and his band of engaged, informed supporters (also known as "citizens" of Fairfax County) who Connolly and Smyth call "bozos." All the Connolly/Smyth people can do is lie, calling Charlie Hall a Republican when they know damn well that Linda Smyth has a clearly documented record as a Republican (headed "Republicans for Connolly," among other things). What a pathetic joke.

[Not George Burke]

I'm not George Burke, and I'm also not supposed to be endorsing one candidate over another in a Democratic primary. Panic!!!!

Did this person say anywhere something that Linda Smyth can claim accomplishment for (as opposed to the Board)?

One big problem I see with Linda is that she's invisible, doesn't seem to have any agenda or passion. She just seems like a leaf in the wind.

Tell me something Linda Smyth has accomplished or something that SHE can claim some credit on.

[novamiddleman]

She can claim credit on dysfunctional development traffic choked roads and a county budget that has nearly doubled in just four years.

Heck of a job there Smyth heck of a job

[Deborah Reyher]

You know, Bozo was never my favorite character as a kid (that was Mighty Mouse), but what I remember most about Bozo was he was always gentle and listened to people and made them laugh. And like the best clowns, he had a very deep wisdom and compassion for how people need to work together to get along and make things happen.

So, I laugh to be called "Bozo," as Bozo himself would want me to.

"Angry?" Sure, I'm angry about all the harm done to our communities in the drive for density and profit over streams, parks, trails, schools and roads. Isn't our democracy founded on the right of citizens to get angry and stand up and disagree and participate in the marketplace of ideas?

But "bickering"? Let's dissect that one a bit.

Leaving aside the nice alliterative ring with "Bozo", doesn't the choice of that particular word say a LOT about how our leaders view dissent in Fairfax County?

Is all our testimony until the wee hours of the night, after hours of preparation (and fighting TRAFFIC to the Government Center just to GET our three minutes at the podium), just "bickering" in our leaders' minds?

That is actually sad. I can never, ever imagine Charlie Hall ever treating a citizen who disagrees with him with less than complete respect. Would Charlie ever, EVER call citizens "angry, bickering Bozos"?

All you have to do is pose that question to know how to vote on June 12th

[Lee Diamond]

This person Ben talked with is spouting a bunch of bull. If he/she is comfortable with government run in secret to benefit developers then why don't you just tell us that? This is not a partisan issue anyway. Bringing in this Republican stuff, like Connolly himself did to my face, is childish.

We want supervisors who represent neighborhoods. Excuse me for wanting a Democracy. Why do you think the Boss engineered a Firehouse Primary in 2003 that was not even announced on the FCDC website? 1500 people voted. Linda Smyth got somewhere around 400-450 votes.

Thanks to Charlie Hall and his campaign, we have a good chance of getting an Open Hearing about the Metro extension. Would NOT have happened if not for Charlie challenging Linda.

I recall that Tim Kaine received 29% percent of his vote from Republicans. Does that mean Kaine was a Republican in Democrat clothing?

Sorry guys, trying to suck out the wind of the Charlie Hall Campaign by focusing on the "whispers" accusing Hall as a Republican is pretty stupid. Sure there was a bit of chatter about Smyth not owning up to being a Republican and voting as such. The real issues in this campaign are gridlock streets, over development, too much $$$$$ from developers, and shoving citizens out of the decision tree for land use projects. These issues are right at Smyth's feet.....that is the focus. Stick with the issues like what HAll is doing.

[Fairfax Dada]

DEMOCRATIC SUPERVISOR LINDA SMYTH GARNERS BROAD BASE OF ENDORSEMENTS

Here is an impressive list of endorsements for incumbent Democratic Supervisor Linda Smyth that shows the broad base of support and satisfaction with her work on behalf of county citizens.

Supervisor Linda Smyth’s endorsements come from key Fairfax community leaders and elected officials, respected environmental groups, businesses small and large, and first responders and law enforcement personnel who support her stewardship of our resources, her leadership in Providence District and on the Board of Supervisors, and her record of achievement.

Among those endorsing incumbent Democratic Providence Supervisor Linda Smyth are:

Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics, IAFF Local 2068
Fairfax League of Conservation Voters
Fairfax County Deputy Sheriff’s Coalition, IUPA Local 5016
Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter
Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerry Connolly
Delegate Jim Scott
Senator Janet Howell
Delegate Steve Shannon
Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw
Senator Mary Margaret Whipple
Delegate David Bulova
Delegate Bob Hull
School Board Members At-Large IIryong Moon
School Board Members At-Large Janet Oleszek
Providence District School Board Member Phil Niedzielski-Eichner

[vote on the 12th]

Republicans posing as Democrats. Would that be Linda he's referring to?