Dranesville Supervisor Candidates Share Differences at Community Forum

No runs. No hits. No drama.

That just about sums up the meeting Monday night between candidates competing for Dranesville Supervisor in the Nov. 8 election.The McLean Citizens Association and the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce brought together the candidates Monday night at McLean High School.

Here are the major issues discussed in the Dranesville Supervisor Race between incumbent John Foust (D)  and Dennis Husch (R) a defense contractor and former Herndon City Council member before an audience of about 200.

Costs to be paid by Fairfax County government to finance streets, sidewalks, basically the infrastructure needed for the new city planned at Tysons Corner.

 Husch: The county planning staff has proposed that the county pay 58 percent of the cost and developers 44 percent. “I would not start out with 58 percent being paid by taxpayers.” He said he would start with taxpayers paying nothing.

 Foust: “This is a significant issue we are faced with.”

 He said he would be guided by a capital expenditure analysis. “It (Tysons Corner)  will be the economic engine that allows us to fund our people, our fire department” and other county government services.

The question really is, "What is the appropriate level of pubic and private investment that will make Tysons work," he said.

Funding the metro Silver Line all the way to Dulles Airport

 Foust: "We are working on getting the cost down." There is a special tax district in Tyson, Reston  and Herndon to help pay the county portion of the costs.

 “We have asked the state and demanded that they help with the cost.”

 The Silver Line is being built in two phases. He said neither the state of Virginia nor the federal goverment has put no funds into phase two. The federal government is paying part of the cost for the first phase.

 He added that controversial station at Dulles should be above ground. The Dulles Airports Authority which is building the subway line initially voted for an underground station only to have politicians descend on them complaining about the costs. The airports authority board finally changed it's mind.

Husch: The federal government is not involved because there is not enough ridership between the airport and the East Falls Church station where the Silver line begins.

He talked about the costs to riders. He said commuters can now take a 20-minute bus ride from Route 28 to West Falls Church. He said the subway will take 45 minutes on the Metro and will cost about $5,000 a year.

Turf Fields 

 Husch: I'm going to make sure that every child has the opportunity to play sports," he said. He explained that he was a baseball and basket coach.  He has seen first hand the impact of youth sports on kids.

Foust: Synthetic turf fields are critical to the youth sports. But you have to balance where the field can go in without adversely affecting the immediate neighbors.

He added that there was one turf field in Dranesville District when he took office four years ago and now there are nine.

Forum for candidates vying for the state Senate and the House of Delegates: 7 pm, October 12, Langley High School.