Reston Citizen

In a largely partisan vote, Republicans blocked legislation which would require subcommittee votes to be recorded so that citizens know what their representatives are voting for and against. In a letter sent to constituents, Ken Plum (D-Reston) wrote (reduced here for readability):

The General Assembly continues to cloak in secrecy some of its most basic decisions, those concerning the life or death of proposed laws. A bill to change this was defeated on a largely partisan vote during the very first hour the legislature was in session.

Two years ago, the GOP majority in the House of Delegates used its new power to change the legislative rules under which the House operated. Bills that went to subcommittee for evaluation could be killed there - with no recorded vote.

Constituents could find out not only what happened to a bill, but who made it happen. The old system provided openness and accountability.

Nearly 800 bills have been defeated anonymously. And there’s no telling what sort of bills your elected representative may have voted for in secret, in exchange for another delegates vote. Democracy and openness in government go hand in hand and thus should be a bipartisan issue, so why the need for secrecy?

The ultra-conservative Virginia Club for Growth, Virginia FREE, League of Women Voters, AARP, Virginia Education Association, and more supported this bill. But it was still struck down with only one Republican voting for the new rules.

From left to right, delegate Ken Plum, supervisor Catherine Hudgins, and school board member Stu Gibson. Photo courtesy Stu Gibson.

To late to halt proposed boundary changes, the Washington Examiner brings news of a petition calling for a recall election in the Hunter Mill school board race. Christine Arakelian, Stu Gibson’s challenger claims he “Illegally leaked information regarding her sons autism.”

The Virgina Board of Education found these claims true. Gibson rejects them saying “I never requested her student’s record,” and that Arakelian asked what could be done about her sons “double giftedness,” which apparently means he’s retarded (or to be politically correct, “learning disabled”) in some subjects, and excels in others. The information that Arakelian gave him was later reprinted in a newspaper article, and PTA newsletter.

A Google search revealed no other information about this petition. But that doesn’t spell an end to his troubles. All arguments his lawyer made in his support have been deemed “baseless” by the Virginia Board of Education, and potentially opens him up to federal investigation.

In liberal Fairfax County it seemed odd that parents where so quick to not want their kids to attended a “Socio-economic diversity experiment.” But apparently they’re also concerned that being in the South Lakes district will harm they’re real estate values. Now that it seems money is the issue, no wonder they’re fighting so hard.

And thanks to the Restonian blog for bringing this article to our attention.

Fairfax County sure has some sore losers. Just a week ago Garry Baise, who lost his bid for Gerry Connolly’s chairman seat, sued the federal government because of the aerial rail line through Tysons. Now Christine Arakelian, who also lost the 2007 election, has filed a complaint against Hunter Mill school board member Stu Gibson. The complaint alleges Gibson publicized private information about her child.

The Virginia Department of Education has made a ruling siding with Christine Arakelian, but it is non binding, and Arakelian has asked that he resign but has not decided if she will further pursue the matter. Fairfax County Public Schools has 30 days to appeal the ruling, but it is not known weather they would do so.

At stake is a claim that Gibson twice disclosed information about her child, who is enrolled in the public school system. One of the times he allegedly disclosed this information with an interview in the Fairfax Times. Gibson claims Arakelian disclosed the information to him when asking how the school system could best attend to the needs of her child who is what she calls “Learning disabled in some areas, and gifted and talented in others.” Gibson says he never requested information on Arakelian’s child from county records.

Gibson defeated Arakelian by about 60 points. Arakelian did best in precincts that felt they would be negatively affected by school redistricting that would redirect their children to South Lakes.

Incumbent Cathy Hudgins (D) won the board of supervisors for the third time with 57% of the vote. Gerry Connolly (D) also was reelected, with 59% of the public voting for him. Lastly, Stu Gibson won with 61% of the votes. Complete returns for Hunter Mill are at the bottom, or you can visit the Virginia State Board of Elections for more information.

As expected the General Assembly races where an easy win for the Democrats, with Janet Howell getting 97% of the vote. Ken Plum also earned 97%.

Martina “Tina” Hone won the school board at large race, with 18.98% of votes, along with Ilryong Moon (18.31%) and James L. “Jim” Raney (14.27%). Incumbent Stephen M. Hunt lost his bid, finishing fourth on the three person school board at large race.

Republicans and independents in Fairfax County mainly relied on perceived over development and immigration as their key issues. In Fairfax County the people voted, and showed they are satisfied with the current government. Of course Cathy Hudgins could learn a few lessons about interacting better with constituents. But over all the results show that despite a vocal minority, Reston citizens are pleased with their government.

Most people at the Dog Wood Elementary school where in and out in under five minutes, which is typical of an off year election. How was voter turn out in your precincts?

Chairman - Board of Supervisors (All Precincts Reporting)

Gerry Connolly - Democrat - 114,090 - 59.51%

Gary H. Baise - GOP - 68,399 votes - 35.67%

Glenda Parker - Independent Green - 8,987 - 4.68%

Write In - None - 7 - 0.12%

Hunter Mill Supervisor (All Precincts Reporting)

Cathy Hudgins - Democrat - 13,448 - 57.19%

Marie Huhtala - Independent - 5,257 - 22.35%

Spike Williams - Independent - 355 - 16.36%

Geraldine Butkus - Independent - 3,848 - 3.92%

Hunter Mill School Board (All Precincts Reporting)

Stu Gibson - Independent - 13,867 - 61.32%

Christine Arakelian - Independent -8,711 -38.52%

Republican leadership throughout America, from the obstructionist general assembly in Richmond, to the stubbornness of President Bush has created a polarized climate. Cahterine Hudgins, a Democrat on the other hand has presented a well managed form of leadership. She listens to the community’s concerns and has Reston’s best interests in mind.

After Bob Dix, the former supervisor for the Hunter Mill district, lost in an election to Hudgins, she reigned in development as promised, and has continued to control it. She has also stuck by the master plan of Reston, which is still endorsed by Restons founder, Robert Simon.

Marie Huhtala on the other hand proposes a halt to Reston’s planned residential growth, which would create a worker/resident imbalance and as seen in Tysons Corner creates horrible traffic. Huhtala has also shown some rough spots, claiming that South Lakes was overcrowded (it is actually 800 students short of capacity), and claimed this due to “unbridled development.”

Huhtala also totes her experience with the State Department, but as shown by the recent Blackwater Controversy, the Department is anything but diplomatic. Meanwhile Hudgins was a community servant long before she ran for political office. Hudgins has also represented the homeless, the working poor, and those with disabilities by various initiatives on the County Board.

A politician that bows to the demands of every moment and citizen creates an unstable government. But a politician must also listen to the needs of their constituents, and Caterhine Hudgins has done a good job of both.

Stay with The Reston Citizen, as we will update you on the results of the Virginia and Reston/Hunter Mill elections.

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.

Gary Baise was the first EPA Chief of Staff. He has worked on many cases concerning the environment. And now he (a Republican) is running for Fairfax County chairman in a heavily Democratic jurisdiction. Most of his views are anti-liberal, from his stance that the County needs an “Ironclad immigration lock-down,” to his views that “Education spending should be second or third priority.”

But the one issue he “agrees” with Democrats on is the environment. This may come as a shock, but in reality he’s toting the party line. The GOP views the EPA’s goal as “Restoring the balance between the environment and America.” By that they mean allowing oil drilling from the Everglades to Alaskan wildlife preserves, allowing companies to use dangerous pesticides, and a myriad of other offenses.
Read the rest of this entry »

Marie Huhtala doesn’t consider herself a no growth politician, but was motivated to join the race for supervisor of the Hunter Mill district because she felt Fairfax County mishandled the now canned Wiehle Avenue development.

She believes that at 60,000 people Reston is built out despite the fact that Robert E. Simon envisioned Reston having 80,000 citizens. The Reston section of the Dulles Technology Corridor is composed of more parking lots than buildings, but Marie Huhtala considers that “dense.” While she may not want to be labeled as an anti-growth candidate, she appears to not want any new growth in Reston.

I emailed her a question about her views Transit Oriented Development, and she went on to use an entire paragraph to explain to me what TOD was. Of course since I asked her views and not for a definition I felt that she answered back in a condescending manner. We already have enough politicians that would rather beat around the bush on questions.

She also appears to not know about the current state of Southlakes. She says “School over-crowding is a direct result of too much density.” But Southlakes Highscool will have over 800 open seats when renovations are completed in 2008.

Why is Marie Huhtala running? It appears her main goal is to bow to the needs of anti-growth residents and prevent Reston from reaching it’s goal of diverse housing options, high density housing to maximize open space, and and it’s continued growth. If the people of Reston choose to elect a no growth supervisor, that’s fine, I just want to see a candidate with solid views.

Cathy Hudgins faces three opponents this election. Two of whom appear to be slow growth advocates, or at least pander to those voters.

Spike Williams advocates limiting density outside of areas walking distance from metro stations. Marie Huhtala believes Reston is “built out” and thus wants to see any future density adding road or other infrastructure improvements. And lastly we have Geraldine Butkus who is a rail advocate and calls herself a conservative. Assuming this conservative label also applies to future construction we can assume all the opponets are slow growth.

But looking at the numbers Cathy Hudgins has nothing to worry about. She has brought in two times more than all the candidates combined in the money race. Butkus has raised no money, or at least has reported raising no money. Huhtala has brought in more than $10,000, and Williams has raise more than $2500. Hudgins has raised nearly $30,000.

Hudgins has more than 75 donors. Huhtala has 43 donors (two who’ve contributed about 20%), and Williams has only two listed donors.

Spike Williams is running against Cathy Hudgins to represent Reston and the Hunter Mill district on the board of supervisors.

While officially he is an independent Spike Williams has, or is scheduled to attend several Republican events. But in local elections, party affiliation doesn’t matter so much as what the views are.

Mr. Williams supports Reston residents having the choice to make Reston a town. He says “I embrace democracy and any time government starts trying to erect obstacles to it I get worried.” Supervisor Hudgins has been criticized for blocking the town initiative. Like the other candidates running he says he supports giving Restonites a choice in the town matter.

Spike Williams also believes TOD, or transit oriented development isn’t a blank check for density increases. Before any high density projects are approved, he wants to see that other transit options, and community infrastructure isn’t overwhelmed. He also brought up a point which I hadn’t thought of, which was a concern of the Wiehle Avenue station becoming a dumping point for commuters of all points west. He says he’ll try to get the Silver Line built in one phase to prevent this.

You can visit Spike Williams website to learn more about him and his views. This article is part of our continuing coverage of the 2007 election.