Does everyone remember this statement from Corey, Washington Post Oct 19th?
Stewart said that developers were pleased with the direction the board has taken as a whole in easing permit restrictions, building roads and other key infrastructure and keeping taxes low.
He said that he has never taken donations from developers while they have a project pending before the board.
I’ll bet “developers are pleased with the direction of the board!” Does Avendale ring any bells?!
Tell me, please, why do people spin the truth when the facts can so clearly create obvious contradictions. From today’s Inside Nova:
On Oct. 7, Bruni Peters of Fairfax-based RK Realty contributed $10,000 to Stewart – just 11 days before Stewart and the rest of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved a comprehensive land use amendment and a re-zoning of one of Bruni’s future mixed-use properties.
At issue is the Hunter at Haymarket development. Thanks to the board’s vote, a six-acre portion of a 44-acre parcel of land off U.S. 15 was approved for office space. The board also approved a higher density residential zoning for nearly 10 of 15 acres that were originally designated semi-rural residential.
Before the vote, Weir asked those board members who had received contributions from RK Realty, Peters or the EV Hunter Trust to recuse themselves from the vote and the rest to vote no. Stewart, Brentsville Supervisor W.S. “Wally” Covington, Gainesville Supervisor John T. Stirrup, Coles Supervisor Martin E. Nohe and Neabsco Supervisor John D. Jenkins received $32,000 in political contributions in the last nine months from those entities, including $20,500 for Stewart alone.
Let me add, back in 2007 Corey’s owns words AGAINST his opponent Sharon Pandak, and I quote……….
“I am pleased to see that my opponent in this years election has changed her mind about pledging to protect the Rural Crescent. YOur supporters should be reminded that my opponent refused to sign the rural protection pledge a mere eleven months ago during the last years special election. By contrast, I have always stood as an uncompromised champion of protecting the Rural Areas of our county against development encroachments. Since my opponent was the developers candidate in last years special election, and is quietly so again this year, there are some who might view her decision to sign the pledge this year as politicl posturing intended to confuse the voters.”
I can recall, vividly, the sign, nay, the BILLBOARD, that I erected on my property for Corey. It read something like “Vote Corey Stewart//The Smart Growth Candidate”. Myself, along with many others, feel betrayed by Corey’s lack of commitment to “champion” smart growth along with the preservation of the Rural Crescent.
During the public hearing, Stewart didn’t address the accusations but said the Class A office space is sorely needed in Prince William County. Covington said the proximity of a cement plant near the development didn’t bother him and said with the construction of a nearby hospital, more office space would be needed.
When reached via telephone Tuesday, Stewart said if this would’ve been controversial at all, he would have asked RK Realty to postpone the donation or he would’ve asked to delay the vote. But he said he saw no reason not to, especially in light of how soon voters will hit the polls.
“Everybody on the board agrees we need more office space,” Stewart said.
Really? We need more office space? Either I am living in an alternate reality, or the numerous “office space for lease” real estate signs EVERYWHERE , indicate we have untold amounts of unrented office space. You see, along with the “much needed” office space (what a joke), the property in Haymarket was also rezoned from semi rural residential to high density housing. What do you think is going to sell? I am willing to go out on a limb and predict the housing with sell like hotcakes.
I don’t know how Corey can look at himself in the mirror. I wonder if it is worth it in the end? To sell the well being of your county down the river in hopes of attaining your political aspirations.
Oy Vay, this IS a bad day for Corey but a good one for citizens. The Washington Post also did an aricle on the questionable campaign contributions. Here is my favorite paragraph:
Bob Weir, who sits on Haymarket’s Town Council, had asked that supervisors who had accepted donations from developers recuse themselves from voting. Weir said the town is opposed to the project because, among other things, it would add more than 4,000 vehicle trips to area roads and places an option for an eight-story hotel where the rest of the buildings in the surrounding area have lower height restrictions.
Members of the county’s planning commission opposed the project for similar reasons.
“On this one, and on all of them it would appear,” Weir said, asked if he thought campaign contributions had played a role in the board’s approval of the project. “This isn’t an isolated incident. What’s the purpose of having bodies vet these things if you’re not going to … abide by their recommendations, if the issues that are brought up are just brushed aside?”
But Stewart said that the project was not controversial, noting that it passed unanimously and without debate among supervisors. Stewart said that he did not speak with Peters about the proposed development before the vote and that the donation did not affect his vote or the county’s decision.
“I was concerned about the timing,” Stewart said of the donation. “[But] it was a non-controversial office development the board passed unanimously. Any controversy, I would have delayed the vote until later or I would have asked RK Realty to not donate but … they’re building office space, which is exactly what the county needs and exactly what the voters want.”
Stewart said that the town of Haymarket wanted the project to be within the town’s borders so that it could add the development to its tax base. Weir said that had nothing to do with the town’s position.
So on one hand he admits that the Town of Haymarket had clear issues AND expressed them to the Board but says there was “no controversy”? What does Corey believe controversy entails ? Does there have to be a huge protest in order to know that you may be doing something unethical?
VPAP doesn’t have the latest financial reports posted for local candidates but it’s online at the State Board of Elections website. Stewart’s info shows many many major contributions from developers, including some who have development applications that will be voted on this winter.
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Campaign_Finance_Disclosure/View_Disclosure_Reports/CF_Report_Print_Results.asp?SUWVVal=CandidateView&RepYearVal=2011&tCNVal=&tCCVal=&tCSVal=&tCZVal=&tCOVal=&tCBDVal=&tCEDVal=&tCAFVal=&tCATVal=&tCCSOptVal=EqualTo&CandVal=1178&CommVal=&RDVal=10/26/2011&RSDVal=10/01/2011&SCHVal=A&OffVal=ALL&PtyVal=ALL&DownID=&RepID=%280%29CC20110008&SchID=A+B+C+D+G+H+
Bob Weir is the Harry Markopolis (the guy who brought down Madoff) of Prince William County. He deserves our thanks for his appearances at Citizens Time and for the information he provided to InsideNova. The problem in the Madoff situation, however, was that Markopolis was shouting from the rooftops for years before the SEC or anyone else would listen and do anything. I wonder if the voters of Prince William County will turn similar deaf ears and elect Corey and a Board that reports to the developers next Tuesday? If they do, they won’t be able to claim they weren’t told.
We’ve seen this coming for a long time – Avendale, the rape of the Comprehensive Plan update, violating the Rural Crescent pledge he signed, scamming the Grizzlies families, taking developer money and lying about not accepting funds from anyone with an item before the Board, etc., Reelecting Corey would be like standing on a long train track, watching a freight train coming at you from ten miles away, not moving, and then claiming after you get whacked by the train (if you’re not dead) that you didn’t realize what was happening.
Here are just a few of the controversial points of that case that Stewart failed to notice: (1) traffic impact unmitigated (2) no phasing requirement for the project which means the houses can be built and sold before the so-called high quality office space is built, if it ever is (3) an 8 story hotel – totally out of character with the surrounding community, also no phasing required so this, too, could just be a pipe dream to get the houses approved (4) the Planning Commission voted to deny both the comp plan amendment and the rezoning. But, obviously none of these is more important that the $20K boy-Corey got from the developer and the $$$ flowing to the other supervisors.
Welcome Truthiness,
Thanks for the awesome link!
NTK, part of the problem of ridding ourselves of Corey as Chairman is that too many people vote the party line. One has to decide if development or party is more important. A couple close friends voted for Corey when he ran against run-away growth. They continually harp about congestion and sprawl, but they’ll vote for him again more than likely because they’re Republicans. They’ve heard the smart growth spiel and should know better for the reasons Blue Moon mentions, but I suspect party loyalty is going to win out.
The Democrats also have to offer up candidates that have a chance of winning. Corey’s opposition is a very flawed candidate because of foreclosure problems. In this county, that is toxic, especially considering the good doc also still lives in his house that is now owned by his relatives.
Once light was shed on that little issue he became less desirable. He might have been perfectly innocent but if it takes more than a sound bite to explain, he can’t weather the storm.
Alas, tis a very sad day when our choices are the nut, the liar and the cheat.
@ISO Decency
Right. The Dems did a bad job of vetting.
@what stimulating conversation!
tis true. Do I adhere to unquestioned loyality to the party to which I’ve belonged my entire adult life by voting for a liar who will sell me out to developers, cause taxes to rise and quality of life to decline, or vote for someone with whose philosophy I might disagree on many things, but who would prevent the Prince William County Board of Supervisors from being a sub-committee of the realtors and developers associations?
Bob Weir, as a Republican, was brave to come forward, he deserves our thanks for sure!
And Allen was bragging today about Corey Stewart endorsing him? Sounds like the kiss of death to me!
This sounds like really dirty pool to me. I think all of them need to take a look at some sort of code of ethics involving office holders.
What else are they going to gouge the county for? I seethe every time I think about beautiful Silver Lake having that damn airplane hangar at its entrance and a middle school being only a stone’s throw from the lake. Middle schools and peaceful lakes create some sort of perverted oxymoron.
I think they should all have to give the money back that they took. I am tired of Corey begging. I feel like sending him an envelope of play money.
It seems that Jeremy Borden of the Washington Post is also getting in on the action.
The moral of this story, Corey, is to not lie to reporters or your constituency.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/prince-william-chairman-corey-stewart-receives-controversial-donation/2011/11/02/gIQAHdP3fM_blog.html
Why anybody would vote for this patholigical liar is beyond me.
@ISO Decency
I agree ISO. The Democrats in PWC carry a full share of blame for this situation. They continue to be mostly irrelevent in politics. With the exception of Ann Wheeler, who seems to be a terrific candidate probably mostly because she is clearly NOT a party insider, their fielded local candidates are just pathetic. They continue to shut out potentially strong candidates in favor of those who will kiss party leaders (Jenkins, Roemmelt, et al) rings but have no chance in the general elections. And, truth be told, Jenkins is just about the worst on the board anyway when it comes to delivering consistently for the developers. He votes for them, they write him the checks. Cozy relationship.
Looks like Dan Telvock of the Manassas Patch is getting in on this story too. I did send him an email that Mr. Wier is a councilman for the Town of Haymarket, not a supervisor.
http://manassas.patch.com/articles/developers-realtors-pump-big-money-into-corey-stewart-s-campaign
Thanks to my neighbor for sharing this story.They started out “I know how you feel about Del. Marshall”… I will give credit where credit is due even for Del Bob, and have actually done so maybe a handful of times. I think Del Bob needs to rework these two bills and see if they can’t get passed. I think the problem is MOST politicians love the big buck$ the developer/real estate industry can throw their way.
From the story “Del. Bob Marshall, who is running for re-election against Democrat Carl Genthner, filed a bill in 2000 that would have prohibited any county, town or city official who votes on zoning cases from taking donations from any person affiliated with a project that came up for a vote within six months of the donation. Marshall said he rarely gets donations from the developer industry because he always demands that development pay its way.
“They dont want to pay the cost of the roads,” Marshall said.
Marshall said if the bill had passed, it would have given “more confidence to the public that these projects were getting approved based on their own merit and not on who gives money.”
Marshall also tried to pass conflict of interest laws that would require any official who votes on a zoning case to disclose potential conflicts. Ironically, Marshall said this bill was introduced after a Haymarket woman serving on a zoning advisory board recommended a rezoning for land she owned, which she did not disclose.
“Public officials need to be prudent more than the average citizen should be,” Marshall said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyone else out there agree with Del Bob on these two bills?
Hmm..let’s see a couple of us have been shifted into the 13th. I already know what my first discussion with my possible new delegate will be. Hey thanks, Corey!! I now know how to “make nice” with Del Bob! 👿
A code of ethics would be a good idea but I suspect it would be like asking the SCOTUS to submit to a code of ethics. Not going to happen unless the voters make it happen. Is this going to happen? Somehow I don’t think so. So while all this spleen venting may make you feel better, I suspect when we wake up the day after the election, Stewart will still be the chairman and a good deal of ill will will have been created. I don’t mean to imply “Go along to get along” but such venting can lead to all kinds of blow back along the way. Whether we want to accept it or not, the spoils system still exists, particularly in local politics.
George, one thing venting does is hook up like minded people. There are now many people involved in the cadre of people who back up Bob Weir and the town of Haymarket.
It not only makes us feel better, it tells us where the alliances are. Never under-estimate the power of a cadre of those wanting to hold Corey’s feet to the fire. Walk across those coals and join us.
I don’t intend to vote for Corey. As to hooking up “like minded people”–are all these avatars PWC residents? How can one tell? For once it looks like Delegate Bob has had a good idea, but I wonder if it will ever fly–probably not. If it did, there would be a lot of politicians without any funds.
The problem is uninformed voters, especially those who simply pull the lever for an R or a D without thought to their positions, track record or ethics. Party status is completely irrelevant to the type of local issues managed by the BOCS.
The only thing you can really tell about an incumbent candidate, with a published track record, who says one thing but does another is that he thinks voters are fools. Why would you vote for that?
Blue Virginia posted an amusing video on this very topic
http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/5252/corey-stewart-was-against-george-allen-before-he-was-for-himor-something
Hunter at Haymarket
EV Hunter Trust
Contribution Date Campaign
$2,500 5/12/11 Nohe for Prince William County Board of Supervisors – Martin
$1,500 5/26/09 Covington for Prince William County Board of Supervisors – Wallace
$1,000 5/13/11 Jenkins for Prince William County Board of Supervisors – John
RK Realty
Contribution Date Campaign
$10,000 2/23/11 Stewart for Prince William County Board Chair – Corey
$5,000 7/31/11 Covington for Prince William County Board of Supervisors
Bruni Peters
Contribution Date Campaign
$1,500 6/27/11 Stirrup for Senate – John
$500 8/23/11 Stewart for Prince William County Board Chair – Corey
Comprehensive Plan Amendment PLN2009-00295, Lake Manassas CEC
Planning Commission and Planning Staff recommended denial
Board of Supervisors approved it 2/16/10
Contributions
RER
$1500 5/13/09 to Covington
$500 5/15/09 to Stewart
Merrifield Garden Center
$500 5/27/09 to Covington
Special Use Permit Application PLN2006-00725, Malloy Properties III, LLC – Woodbridge
Planning Commission and Planning Staff recommended denial
Board of Supervisors approved it 5/18/10
The SUP was for the expansion of the auto dealership.
Malloy Lincoln Mercury, Inc.
$2500 6/28/07 to Stewart
$1000 5/15/09 to Stewart
Malloy Woodbridge LLC
$1000 6/4/10 to Stewart
Comprehensive Plan Amendment PLN2009-2009-00270 and Rezoning PLN2010-00045, James Madison Business Park
Planning Commission and Planning Staff recommended denial
Board of Supervisors approved it 1/11/11
The parcels are owned by Rt. 15 Gainesville LLC (Mary Ann Ghadban is the principal)
Mary Ann Ghadban
$1000 5/09/09 to Stewart
$2,500 to Stewart since the approval
Weber Ghadban & Assoc. Realty
$500 5/22/09 to Stewart
Corey is duplicitous George. He only goes along to get along as long as you serve some useful purpose to him. Corey has burned many bridges along his percieved rise to political fame.
I don’t consider these facts to be “venting” though, whether Corey gets re-elected or not, does not change the need to bring out these issues for public consumption.
Truthiness!
That was HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!
We could say the same about Corey….first he was for the rural crescent now he is for developers 🙂
Too bad developers bought the primaries for Nohe and Covington. Covington is unopposed and the Democrat challenging Nohe is doing nothing. Those two need to go also but we’re stuck with them for another four years.
Elena……is it really true that 2 weeks ago, Corey took a $10,000 “donation” from a developer who had a controversial application before the BOCS? So controversial tht the Planning Commission denied it? Then Corey moved the application up on the agenda and they approved the damn thing last week. Is this true????? Should we vote for Corey and/or anyone else associated with him on November 8th?
Welcome back Ken! So good to see you!!!