As I read the resolution in the newspaper, my first reaction was “is this it?”
It isn’t just non profits that benefit from “close” relationships to Board members. What about all the developers that give large sums of money to campaigns and then subsequently have an application before the BOCS.
I believe this is a good beginning but certainly the endeavor to stop conflicts of interest should not stop with money being directed to non profits.
Candland’s resolution would be presented on the annual carryover day where the board reallocates funding leftover from the previous fiscal year. Included in the 2012 carryover budget is a funding request from Rainbow Equestrian Center, where Brentsville Supervisor W.S. “Wally” Covington III’s wife serves on the board of directors.
The supervisors passed a conflict of interest policy this spring, which included Candland’s proposal to eliminate discretionary spending by supervisors on charities or nonprofits. The impetus for the resolution came from Covington’s initial desire to spend $100,000 of his discretionary funds on his wife’s charity project last fall. Ultimately, he pulled the donation.
The most corrosive force in PWC are the Developers who pay to play. Here is one quick example I came up with quite easily.
For the second time in less than two weeks, incumbent county chairman Corey Stewart is getting criticized for the political donations he has accepted. This time, Haymarket Town Councilman Bob Weir called out Stewart this week for accepting $10,000 from Bruni Peters of Fairfax-based RK Realty less than two weeks before the county board approved an amendment to its comprehensive plan that paved the way for a housing and office project on 44 acres off U.S. 15 in Haymarket.
Ten grand is no chump change, especially in local politics. Supervisor Candland needs to broaden, in my opinion, the scope of this resolution.
In dealing with taxpayer money to non profits, there should be a more formal grant process that demonstrates measurable outcomes for money invested. The playing field needs to be fair so that the perception of preferential treatment is not possible.
I commend Pete Candland for beginning this critical conversation and I look forward to seeing real comprehensive change in how PWC does business!
Great job, Elena. You have raised the bar and shown us the need to continue to demand transparency and end the “pay to play” means of doing business that is so pervasive in this county.
There has always been way too much “wink wink nudge nudge”going on in PWC to the point where it is political second nature with some folks.
Its fairly simple, folks. for every new development that goes in, count on building a new school. Schools cost money. Your taxes go up. Ask yourself if yet another housing development is smart growth.
Elena – you hit the nail on the head. Pete is going in the right direction, but not far enough. Disclosures should include campaign funding, meals and other perks received by supervisors, employment of family members, meetings with those seeking actions by the Board, and strict prohibitions on supervisors voting on anything that involves even a potential conflict of interest.
This situation seems to me much like implementing voting rights laws in the South in the 60s and 70s. Those areas had abysmal records of denying voting rights to African-Americans and required special, intense supervision to ensure that they obeyed the laws. Prince William County has an abysmal record of corruption and pay-to-play with campaign donors and other special interests. Not only do we need strict new rules, we need aggressive enforcement and oversight.
The South got its act together on voting rights and now virtually no area requires special supervision to ensure that no one’s voting rights are abused. Hopefully, at some point in the future Prince William County will not need special enforcement and supervision to eliminate corruption on the Board of Supervisors and in the County Government.
Almost 50 years of DOJ oversight works wonders.
What, pray tell, is going to happen to take away the pay to play politics of Prince William County?
NTK, are you expecting divine intervention in the very near future? I think people will do what they can get by with doing, as long as pay to play is the accepted standard.
From what I have been able to determine, most people doing business in the county know that is just how the game is played.
The FBI is interviewing people in Prince William County. They have not come to me, but I know two people who have spoken with them. This has been going on for some time and started even before the Sheriff got his blog going. The questions have focused mainly on actions that have taken place through the County’s Executive’s Office.
The two people I know told me that they asked the FBI agents what follow-up was going to take place, etc. but the FBI would not tell them anything.
I have no idea what the FBI is doing at the moment, and what, if anything, they plan to do in the future. All I know is that they have spoken with at least two people in Prince William County regarding the County Government.
That’s all I know. I hope and pray that they can build a case adequate to clean out the corruption in this County. DOJ oversight would be welcome in my opinion also.
They would probably not like an APB put out on their activities.
I guess you don’t want anyone to be ambushed by g-men?
There are some people whose getting ambushed by g-men would put a smile on my face.
I just wish I knew more about what is going on. The FBI people do nothing but ask questions when they interview people. They tell you absolutely nothing, according to the people with whom I spoke.
I know it’s wishful thinking, but there are a few, elected and non-elected people in this County, and even in Manassas, who I would love to see do a perp walk, get convicted and serve some time. I’ll honor your rules and not name names, but guessing wouldn’t be hard. If that happens, drinks are on me.
I hear there is a lot of buyer’s remorse out there that goes right along with “Be careful what you wish for'”
Currently, any Board or Commission which needs to meet to work on any county business and which would need more than two members present, must advertise that meeting for three days in advance and hold it open to the public. Why shouldn’t the same rule apply when the developers meet with the Supervisors or senior staff? What is good for the goose, should be good for the gander — let’s shed some sunlight on those “behind closed doors” meetings with the developers.
And another thing….. Add to the list any business relationship between interests that have items before the Board, and any beneficial business interest of a supervisor or a supervisor’s family. I’m thinking, in particular, of Appliance Connection, which is Nohe’s business. What kind of dealings does Nohe’s business have with developers, especially those whose Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Rezonings he votes on? At present, we have no idea. Perhaps no such relationships exist, but we should know. In fact, if I we’re Marty and had clean hands I would come out publicly with a disclosure stating such. I would want the public to know that no conflicts of interest exist. He should declare that his business transacts no business with any firm having dealings of any kind with the County, or with any firm associated with them in any way. All supervisors should make such disclosures of their business interests.
We need a policy like they have in Loudoun that talks about campaign donations from developers and recusing themselves from votes on land issues from these same people. Unfortunately in PWC that may mean no one is left to vote, even Supervisor Candland whose top contributors are from the development community. I doubt he would want to include that in his conflict resolution but someone should suggest it.
What disclosure policies are in effect now, if any? Certainly money from developers has the potential to impact all of us more than money allocated to the non-profits of the community.
@Watching
I agree. However, it’s going to have to be written to avoid loopholes. Developers often make their contributions through related companies or individuals who have no immediately apparent connection. A developer or developer interest in Fairfax with no interest in PWC can donate to a PWC supervisor in exchange for a PWC developer donating to a Fairfax supervisor. Rest assured those on the receiving end know where the money is coming from.
Check http://www.vpap.org. For example, Stewart, Covington and Nohe receive much more in campaign contributions from outside Prince William County than from people in the County. Moreover, Nohe has received more contributions from people and businesses in Fairfax County alone than from Prince William County. Who do they think they represent?
NTK,
I don’t feel comfortable accusing Marty of improprieties based on his business as simply conjecture. When, or how, do we determine that we simply have philosophical differences as opposed to only serving our self interest?
I think people might want to think about the 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon. People, their work, family, etc.. are linked in ways which are unavoidable. Therefore, it would be almost impossible to get anything done.
This is all getting a bit ridiculous! I’m about ready to stop voicing my opinion, because of all I’ve read on FB, insidenova and blogs. Then we have a group that wants to be the new Sheriff in town simply by data mining others thoughts. Then twisting them to suit their needs, and I simply am not willing to be a part of it. I finally was able to read the new blog. I was getting a black screen for weeks. I finally figured out how to view the blog. I wish I’d never figured that out. I felt better being left on the black screen that I could not read the words on.
Chris (Corey I would hardly consider myself a coward. Furhtermore, I know you know who Lafayette is, as does everyone. I’ve never tried to hide my identity because I use a moniker)
🙄
As most of us know, there has been quite a lot said around the county this week after the BOCS meeting. Most of the conversation has danced around the apology given to Mr. Bergman from the Chairman before he attacked anonymous bloggers/blog owners.
The Derecho has given some outside persepctive to some of these events from a somewhat different point of view.
http://thederecho.blogspot.com/
@Lafayette
I had to look up the 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon. You know that F in pop culture I always get.
Sometimes the blosphere does get overwhelming. Sometimes I have to take a break from my own blog.
There is another part of me that wonders why Corey took the bait. The anonymous bloggers reeled themselves in a big one on that nibble.
Perhaps he needs to think back about 5 years ago when he was on the giving end of the stick and all sorts of people caught it left and right at his behest. He commanded and his puppeteers worked their magic on whoever he sicced them on. He also screwed over his own colleagues.
Corey, how does it feel to be on receiving end of the stick? Not so good, eh? Maybe you might have a little more sympathy for the wrath brought down on Ms. Pandak and Chief Deane.
If my money is right, the same person is twisting the knife again. You just got more dispensible.