Two AY contributors attended last night's Arlington Civic Federation Candidate Forum. They both took good notes and both stated that Independent Audrey Clement clearly won her debate with Born Again Democrat Libby Garvey.
Although Libby Garvey was glib and rattled off both accomplishments and future possibilities if she is re-elected, it's clear that those accomplishments and possibilities depended and will depend on John Vihstadt (who Libby was instrumental in electing) continuing to serve on County Board. In the year before Chris Zimmerman resigned and John Vihstadt was elected Libby said little during County Board meetings. And things like a 72 Hour Transparency Rule, which both Libby and Audrey say they want implemented, could be postponed indefinitely if Libby is reelected, in deference to the Democratic Old Guard. Much of Libby's agenda appears to be based on being able to finesse reforms past Old Guard Democrats over a number of years. And Libby has to be held partly responsible for significant problems with school and public infrastructure that have occurred over the past decade. After reviewing Libby's presentation we had to ask "What would she be saying if Chris Zimmerman were still on the County Board"?
Audrey Clement is committed to changing County Government for the better - and soon. Her message is succinct. Needs first. No more back room deals. Hands off scarce park land. Put renewable energy on all public buildings. Require a financial impact statement for all major site plans. Reduce taxes for residents and businesses. No more expensive vanity projects - build schools first.
So we have a clear choice for County Board, someone who will spend years finessing projects and programs through the County Board so as not to offend VIP Democrats, or someone who will help us obtain what we need when we need it from County Government.
Cindy
31 comments:
Agreed. Libby is back where she was 3 years ago, having to conform to the wants of a laundry list of VIP Democrats. Audrey is correct, what can you expect from a County that's been run by one political party for decades?
Notice that Libby only stated that the 72 Hour Transparency Rule is a good idea. Same with her other vague promises. We don't need 4 more years of same old same old while the County becomes an unlivable mess from over-development because Libby caters to the wants of her corporate crony fellow Democrats.
Libby is all talk. Her neighbors in Fairlington are pissed because Libby and Mary Hynes exacted a bunch of promises of good behavior from APS regarding Abingdon School construction and APS is breaking the promises. Libby doesn't want to know about it.
Where has Libby been regarding the loss of affordable housing in Westover? Not with the people who are being evicted out of their affordable apartments due to luxury redevelopment.
Westover gentrification is something else that Libby doesn't want to know about.
Same attitude from all the Democratic candidates at the debate. County Board is like a nice club, School Board is like a nice club, U.S. House of Representatives is like a nice club.
Yes, I noticed that too. County Board is a wonderful place, you get to meet such interesting people. Ditto for Don Beyer in Congress.
Regarding Abingdon School constructiion, Libby didn't lie, she used surrogates to lie for her.
Scott McCaffrey called Audrey the winner. A big deal from him, since he doesn't like independents.
This Fairlington neighbor, without a child at Abingdon, is very happy with the progress that is being made there.
Libby did lie when she stated she wanted high-tech BRT and double deck buses for the Pike rather than streetcars, but once the streetcar was cancelled the Pike was relegated to having regular city buses.
FV and Courtbridge II residents and their attorney had to raise hell with the County and APS 3 weeks ago to get APS to conform to use permit conditions related to Abingdon school construction. No response from Libby.
Thanks to spending $32 million for 136 classrooms at Abingdon the relocatables will return in 2019 or 2020. So much money is being spent on amenities around the school that have nothing to do with education that the school's interior will be bare and ugly.
BTW, Libby allowed Abingdon to become a kids' party zone 20 years ago, before SOLs and NCLB.
Ask Assistant Superintendent Meg Tuccillo about Abingdon School, when Libby was on the School Board before SOLs (which Libby opposed). It sucked so bad my parents yanked me out and sent me to a private school, which they could barely afford.
LOL - Paulie Ferguson refused to send his kids to Abingdon School and he was County Board Chair and Libby was School Board Chair simultaneously a couple of times. Both lived in Fairlington for decades. What does that tell you?
How are these Old Guard Dems who have been retired fom politics for years able to set Arlington County's agenda?
Then there's Nick Benton in Falls Church who's so decrepit he can barely make it from his bedroom to the bathroom, still keeps Yellow Doggin' the FC News-Press.
Paulie Ferguson and Libby had the Abingdon ESL program removed from Abingdon, that's why Meg Tuccillo and Abingdon's PTA parents were able to save Abingdon from being a recreation center. That all happened before SOLs, of course.
I am voting for Audrey because of the $46 million that's being wasted on a new Parks and Rec administrative building in Lubber Run Park while the County's office vacancy rate is stuck at 20%.
How about the $40-$60 million Gondola and the $250 million Potomac Yards Convention Center Libby and the County Board have been talking about for months behind closed doors?
Yeah, behind closed doors at Jay Fisette's home. It's gotten so ridiculous that several of Jay's neighbors want zoned parking in the neighborhood.
Look in my eyes. Look in my eyes. You are becoming tired. You are becoming very tired. You are becoming very tired of Libby Garvey. You are so tired of Libby Garvey that you will vote for Audrey Clement on November 8th. When I count to 3 you will wake up and only remember to vote for Audrey Clement on November 8th. 1...2...3
Anyone know whether the County Board will approve any major mixed use smart growth corporate welfare giveaway site plans before November 8th?
Don't know. But there's going to be a Christmas in November County Board meeting with all sorts of taxpayer-funded gifts for Democrats and Democrat-controlled special interests on November 5th.
My parents also yanked me out of Abingdon, which was a total circus 20 years ago, and sent me to an Episcopal day school. Was like having to pay college tuition and they were not happy.
Civic Federatios VIPs who are also ACDC VIPs also get to attend County Board meetings (minus John Vihstadt) at Jay's home.
You mean like Carrie, Larry, and Terri?
I will NOT vote for Libby, nor for Jay next year if he runs again. They are like people who won the Mega Millions lottery and are on a spending spree, But it's our money and there is never any mention of fiscal prudence.
I said it before. I'll say it again. The corrupt Media keep the corrupt Democratic Machine in power.
Not to hard to figure out what's going on in Jay's home when you see Democrat County Board members driving around Jay's and my neighborhood looking for a place to park.
Corrupt media? Like Scott Brodbeck who gets to do an exclusive interview with Katie Cristol in return for being a shill for whatever Smart Growth infill the County's Board's corporate cronies think up?
Three Stooges of Arlington "Journalism": Patricia Sullivan, Scott Brodbeck, and Scott McCaffrey.
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