Debate: Williams and Bulova Clash on Experience, Affordable Housing

Isa Sarac, the president of Fairfax County's Virginia International University, came to Tuesday's chairman's debate undecided about who to support. He was looking to find out which candidate would help his business.

In Sarac's case, in charge of a student body that needs housing, he cared about making sure his students could find affordable housing in the county, and finding the candidate that would help. 

He received a lot of information to base his choice on. The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored debate between Democratic candidate and incumbent chairman Sharon Bulova and Republican candidate Spike Williams centered on affordable housing policy, along with Bulova's record as chairman, development in Tysons Corner, and funding for the Dulles rail line.

Bulova pointed to her experience in county government, with 23 years on the Board of Supervisors and 2 as Chairman.  

"It's important to have someone at the helm who's been working on these issues over a long period of time," she told the audience of around 150 in McLean's Capital One Conference Center. 

While Bulova touted her leadership, Williams attacked it, saying that Bulova should not be re-elected for her handling of the effects of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC). Bulova responded by saying Williams doesn't understand what happened at the meetings about BRAC because he wasn't there.

Williams would apply the lessons he learned running a real estate business to run the county.

"You have to tighten up the belt in order to fight another day," he said.

Top on Williams's belt-tightening list would be Fairfax County's affordable housing policy, which he repeatedly criticized during the debate. Fairfax County currently requires some developers to build lower-cost units along with more expensive developments. The county also operates some rental units of its own. Williams said that government should not be involved in the housing market.

"I'm a real market-based guy," he said. He warned that continued government support for affordable housing risked creating low-quality, dangerous neighborhoods. 

Bulova defended the government's involvement in affordable housing, saying that county support is necessary for part of the county's workforce.

The candidates also disputed the county's commitment's to development in Tysons Corner, which Williams called a "$1.5 billion unfunded liability." Bulova said Tysons Corner will appeal to seniors and young single people who are attracted to walkable communities, although she warned that Tysons Corner development would be a long process.

"It's important to note that the transformation of Tysons Corner is not going to happen tomorrow," she said.

Both candidates called for funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the second phase of the Dulles rail line, and agreed that the county should continue with the second phase.

When asked by Washington Post reporter Freddy Kunkle what "uncomfortable truth" the candidates would have to tell the county's residents, Bulova chose the issue of poverty in the county, choosing again to talk about affordable housing policy.

Williams said he would tell residents about the retirement policy for county employees, saying that it is more generous than options offered private sector workers. Bulova disagreed, saying that county benefits are not too generous.

The one thing the candidates did agree on was that they wanted to work together through the Board of Supervisors. But who would be the chairman, and who would be the petitioner?

"It is my hope that I'll be working with you when you come before the Board," Williams told Bulova.

Independent candidate Will Radle, who was not invited to participate in the debate, was in the audience. Afterwards, he criticized the candidates for not talking about quality-of-life issues.

And once-undecided Viriginia International University president Isa Sarac? he listened to the candidates' position on affordable housing and left supporting Williams.