My Recommendations for the 2012 Election

2012 ELECTIONS - NORTHERN VIRGINIA

- President/Vice President: OBAMA/BIDEN.  They are far from perfect, but Romney and Paul Ryan unfortunately bring with them the unbelievable lunatic mentality of the religious far right wing.  I wish the national Republican Party would get real.  But frankly I don't think it matters much - both parties are bringing their extremists with them.

- US Senate (VA): GEORGE ALLEN.  He's not perfect, but his opponent Tim Kaine is one of the central players who brought the MWAA disaster upon the Dulles Toll Road and upon the Dulles Metrorail project (also known as the Silver Line).  Vote Allen, reject Kaine.

- Virginia's 10th Congressional District: FRANK WOLF.  He's not perfect, but he did FAR more than anybody else about the Dulles Rail fiasco.  His help at the federal level got the MWAA Board and Officers under control at long last.  If it had not been for the audits that he and Congressman Tom Latham requested, we would not know what the MWAA Board and Executives were doing.  Re-elect this man.

- Virginia's 11th Congressional District: CHRIS PERKINS.  I slightly favor Perkins, because he doesn't have his fingerprints all over the crooked Dulles Rail project.  But he says nothing about the glaringly obvious excessive cost of the project.

VIRGINIA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

- Amending Section 11 of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia

This appears to be a reasonable change.  It specifies the fundamental rules for the taking of property by Eminent Domain and requires just compensation.

Think about it, though.  You may object to the taking of property by Eminent Domain in ANY circumstances.

Study this document:
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/Files/Cast%20Your%20Ballot/Candidate%20List/201211ConstitutionalAmendmentBillofRights.pdf

- Amending Section 6 of Article IV of the Constitution of Virginia

This is a reasonable change.  The old rule is unnecessarily specific about the starting date of a 'veto' session; this change allows a small amout of flexibility.

Study this document:
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/Files/Cast%20Your%20Ballot/Candidate%20List/201211ConstitutionalAmendmentLegislativeSessions.pdf

The language for the proposed amendments which will appear on the November General Election ballot are available on SBE’s website at this link:
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/election_information/Cidate_Lists_Ballot_Issues/2012Proposed_Amendments.html.

BONDS

FAIRFAX COUNTY BONDS

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, Fairfax County voters will be asked to vote YES or NO on four separate bond questions in the general election.

LIBRARIES ($25 million)
Renovate three libraries and build a fourth
I say YES to this.

PARKS ($75 million)
Expand and improve county and regional parks
I say NO to this.  We need to economize.

PUBLIC SAFETY ($55 million)
Rebuild three fire stations and renovate 22 courtrooms
I say YES to this, but control the costs.

STORMWATER ($30 million)
Build a levee and pumping station to protect the Huntington community from floods
I say YES to this.

I say YES to all but the Parks.  But watch out for huge overcharges in the work - our leaders are inappropriately partial to construction interests, and we have been paying far too much for years.

LOUDOUN COUNTY BONDS
(Note: I live in Fairfax County, a mile or two from the Loudoun County border.)

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, Loudoun County voters will be asked to vote YES or NO on two separate bond questions in the general election.

- Question: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum amount of $2,750,000 to finance in whole or in part, the cost to acquire and equip FIRE AND RESCUE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT?

I say YES.  This is a very reasonable amount.  Just make sure the costs of the equipment is reasonable when it is purchased.  Government leaders have been buying contributions by paying way too much for too many things, and they may try to extend that bad practice to the purchase of these needed items as well.  But your fire service is very frugal, doing its own big renovations at very low cost, and it deserves your support.

- Question: Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvements bonds in the maximum amount of $136,150,000 to finance in whole or in part, the cost to design, construct and equip the new Loudoun Valley Estates II HIGH SCHOOL (HS-6) ($81,215,000), the new Dulles South ELEMENTARY SHOOL (ES-21) ($28,820,000), and the Loudoun Valley HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION ($26,115,000)?

I say NO.  Reject this.  Tell your leaders that they need to get better prices.  Schools are very important, but these prices are ridiculous.