The Vienna Connection has given Hunter Mill supervisor Catherine Hudgins an endorsement in the current three pronged race which covers Reston, parts of Herndon, and Vienna. They write:
This race shouldn’t require much deliberation, but it does. Incumbent Catherine Hudgins has served the district encompassing Reston, Vienna and parts of Herndon for two-terms with unequalled energy and passion for those most vulnerable in this wealthy county: the homeless, the working poor and people with disabilities. At the Board of Supervisors, Hudgins is the voice for health and human services, whether leading the county’s work on affordable housing or speaking out for improved and better funded mental health services.
But the usually anti-growth newspaper did have some critiques for some of her policies:
But Hudgins has no one to blame but herself for the competitiveness in this three-way race. […] Independent candidates Marie Huhtala and “Spike” Williams are running because Hudgins has come across as aloof or arrogant during some public meetings where constituents felt they weren’t being listened to — or respected. These meetings — whether the south Reston park-and-ride public-private development proposal or the Lake Anne revitalization efforts — attracted concerned constituents, some of whom, afterward, became angry constituents.
The newspaper praises her experience in government, including time spent before she was a Fairfax County Supervisor. There are no polls on who might win, but if numbers make any difference, Hudgins has raised $54,000, Maria Huhtala $13,000, Spike Williams $5000, and Geraldine Butkus, who is not in active campaign mode, has raised $30.
November 5th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Vote For Marie Huhtala!
No offense against Mrs. Hudgins’ personal character, as I do not like to make personal attacks, but she is really out to lunch. I witnessed the meeting which took place, during which Reston’s Three Major Constituent Groups all voiced opposition to a plan that would allow for greater population density in Reston. They simply requested that such an enormous undertaking of allowing for greater density should be further reviewed, and its impact on such aspects as traffic, quality of living, etc. be researched and thoroughly thought out before a final decision was made. After the discussion was over with, Mrs. Hudgins then proceeded to turn towards her fellow Supervisors, and blatantly give a go ahead towards her higher density plans, which completely went against what her Three Greatest Constituent groups had just requested. With this sort of utter disregard for her VERY own constituents, the VERY individuals who elected her and put her into office, what can Restonians and others expect for their future? Remember, this United States is a Government Of The People, For The People, and By the People. It seems that Mrs. Hudgins has forgotten these ideals, and taken the role of “Supervisor” far too literally.