From the State of the County Address (Corey Stewart):
We invested in our teachers and public servants. We provided the revenues the Schools needed to increase teacher pay and remain competitive, and we provided County staff a merit increase for the first time in four years.
When Corey? last year? This year, The upcoming year?
That is a blatant lie. You have not invested in the Prince William County teachers. Every year they come to the BOCS and ask for money. Their chief concern has been about class size. They asked the Supervisors to set the tax rate at a few cents more. That was not done.
They haven’t had a raise since dirt was forming on the earth and they aren’t going to be able to get one until something like 2016.
I found it particularly enraging that someone from Fairfax County was wedged in between our teachers last winter/spring begging for more money for Rainbow Riding so his kids could have theraputic riding. Damn if he didn’t ultimately get it too. Meanwhile our teachers who were there asking for crumbs went back to huge classrooms and no raise.
Rainbow got their money–all $200k of it if I am not mistaken. You just have to know the right people, I guess.
Nice slush fund, supervisors.
The teachers got nada.
Then there are the county employees. Simply put- his erratic politics, based on personal ambition are not helpful in leading the county in a systematic and sustainable response to community needs and growth. Everything is a reaction. The strategic plan is a joke. The only strategic plan in place in PWC is to find some political office willing to take Stewart and get him there. Gone.
I just caught the sign-off on Kojo Nnamdi’s show on Thursday. Corey was a guest on the Politics Hour. I don’t know if he earned any Pinocchios for what he said but the link is here.
thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2013-01-11/politics-hour
Was his mouth moving? If yes, then he gets Pinocchio points.
Wally actually got the bonus prize for Rainbow Riding, courtesy of Corey and Peacor. He asked first for $100,000 from discretionary funds. Taxpayers revolted. He got double ($200,000) by waiting and getting it through carry-over. 100% return by waiting a few weeks – I wish I got that kind of return with my investments.
Maybe the teachers should take horseback riding and pledge to donate half of their raises to Wally’s and Corey’s campaign coffers? I can’t think of anything else that might help get them raises.
How do we organize a torches and pitchforks visit to the McCoart Building?
You are right that the money was funded at carry over time…when everyone was at the beach. I don’t blame anyone but the supervisors. They knew the public sentiment. They ultimately control the money. Blaming Ms. Peacor is just giving Corey and others a pass to do it again. She might have been told to do it but we know that the plan didn’t originate with her.
Really, does anyone think Peacor doesn’t do what her boss tells her to do? Or that he actually listens to her?! We only see the public interaction. I think she earns every nickel.
I can’t tell you how much I resent these tax payer funded political mailers espousing lie after lie. Good job Moon!
The buck stops with the BOCS, period.
@Moon-howler
Moon, Peacor has as much or more blood her hands as does Corey or any of the other supervisors. This would not have happened without her connivance.
@NTK, She isn’t the elected official. The board of supervisors or one of them somehow had to approve this expenditure.
The buck stops there, with them. Regardless of what she does…ultimately it is their responsibility.
Every time you make statements like that you give Corey and the rest of the supervisors a pass. You tell them that whatever goes down…someone will point a finger and blame a paid employee and the supervisor can simply get a pass and not be held culpable. That is dead wrong and also very naive. That just isn’t how it works.
@Moon-howler
I’m not giving any of them a pass or absolving Corey in any way. There’s plenty of blame to go around for those who cast the votes on the Board and for those who facilitate their actions.
When I worked for the county it was always understood that those who gave me the paycheck told me what was expected and what to do.
I knew if I didn’t want to play it that way i could find another job.
When you shift any blame off those who are ultimately responsible, then it does give them a pass, whether you want it to not.
He doesn’t like Melissa. That simple. Jumps on all and any opportunity to blame her for something. I’ve learned to ignore those comments which is too bad because there’s some good stuff there – but it can’t be trusted based on motivation.
Moon you’re absolutely right, going after Peacor as some do, only gives the BOCS a pass. Maybe those individuals and bloggers that do this have their own political aspirations. So they pick on a non threat. Save us….
@Lyssa
It’s not a matter of not liking someone. It’s about having knowledge of years of what’s been going on in this County and in the local government. I wish that you and Moon had the same information and experience I do in this matter. I would be glad share what I know with you sometime, including massive amounts of documentation, knowledge of first-hand experiences of others, and historical perspective.
@NTK
I have spent years in this county, more than I am willing to admit on this blog. I have 1st, 2nd, 3rd hand knowledge of many things that went on in this county. I doubt that during your tenure in the county you ran into more dirt than I did. You can’t imagine the rotten apples I have run in to. I know for a fact that there are people I feel are huge POSs that don’t seem to bother you. No, of course I am not going to name them on the blog. The point is, you may walk away with one assessment of a person and I another.
What might be horrible for you might be good for someone else. As for other people’s experiences, well, that is 2nd and 3rd hand information.
Let me see how to put this…you nor I have no idea who we are really talking to on the blog. I have explained until I am blue in the face why I don’t want this topic or any other topic about an employee on a personal level discussed here. I feel like I am not being heard. It really isn’t a “yes, but….” situation.
I don’t have all that many rules.
@NTK
What makes you think you are the only one having knowledge of years of what’s been going on in this County and in the local government? That’s a tad presumptuous of you.
I think you had a bad experience. Many have had rotten, gut wrenching, personal experiences with the County – I can only imagine parents and kids in the schools – very emotional. Your intense dislike for one person in particular is clear but in rare cases of experiences with government does it narrow down to one person particularly if it involves massive amounts of documentation and others. Everything is done by committee or panel.
The problem is that this thread was about corey and that is where it really should stay. Thinking of corey as a politician, in comparison to my wonderful godfather is a joke. Corey doesn’t really understand what it means to go into pubic service to SERVE your community. He is the one that need to be engrandised, he is the one that requires accolades of praise, he is the one driven by ambition, has been since he first came here. Ruth Griggs saw through him, certainly before I did.
@Lyssa
Lyssa, I am not the one being presumptuous. Moreover, my views are shared by many, many people who also have extensive knowledge of and experience with the county. Your rhetorical tactic is good, but not valid. You are trying to negate my views and statements by trying to reduce them to personal animosity rather than objective fact and experience. I’ve studied debate and argumentation also, and will not succumb to such a fallacious move on your part.
From my perspective you are obviously a close friend of the County Executive who is blind to facts and objective reality because of your desire to protect your friend.
You don’t have to 🙂
From what I’ve heard, how could she have any friends? Fair is fair and I’ve noticed you can always be counted on to insert her name negatively into any discussion regarding PWC. Just an observation.
Yes, it is about Stewart – it’s frustrating to see the same old same old diversion. SERVE is the operative word. At least the others that run for office resigned. Didn’t Stewart call for Connaughton to resign??!!!
Corey Stewart is a big fat liar.
@Lyssa
It is certainly about Stewart also. I’m sure we are in nearly complete agreement about him. Corey did indeed call on Connaughton to resign but seems to think what was right for Sean does not apply to him. He also told his original land use supporters, such as Elena and myself, that he was with us. He said in addition at one point that he wanted to clean house of Gerhart and his cronies. We see what happened with all of those pledges.
I’m sure the County Executive has many friends despite her actions while employed by PWC, as does Corey despite his obvious shortcomings. Again, that is not the issue. The issue is the conduct of both while serving in official capacities in the County government. Criticizing Peacor does not equate to praising Stewart. In fact, the two are closely allied at this point. Criticizing one while praising the other is logically inconsistent.
What does it effen take?
Notice:I am going to take down, without comment, any statements calling out county employees.
When you are on MY effen blog we are going by MY EFFEN rules.
Yes, the caps are anger. I am tired of being ignored.
For that matter, no one knows who is friends with whom. I have lots of friends in the county because my SERVICE is over decades.
@Lyssa
Perhaps while I was typing my previous post Starry stated the obvious more succinctly than either of us did.
@Need to Know
We are at 100%!! Having a politician for a boss isn’t easy. Even a great one or as Starry points out….
@Lyssa
It goes far deeper than that. Again, I hope that at some point I can share the information and first-hand stories I have with you, Moon and others.
Moon, I’ve stayed out of this, you know my position on local elected and officials and many senior staff. I’m not going to call anyone out for any particular action but I think that its worth noting that in my view, the Chief Executive Officer of the county is a different animal than the rest of the senior staff. PWC is one of only two counties that have this type of governmental structure which places significantly more power, responsibility and accountability in the hands of the CXO, in many respects the CXO has more power and authority than the BOCS and can exercise that authority in whatever manner she deems appropriate, the only check being the BOCS ability to terminate her contract at will. In this particular form of local government the buck stops at two places, the BOCS and the CXO’s desk. Given this somewhat unusual circumstance, one that pays the CXO at a significantly higher rate than most of those with “equivalent” positions in other counties, I would suggest that she is fair game for comment and criticism. The BOCS drives policy but the CXO executes that policy, if the policies are open to criticism so too should be the execution.
Here is the issue with always redirecting your disagreements with Melissa Peacor. We the citizens control who gets elected and then the decisions roll down from that foundation. When you focus so much of your time on the CXO, you avoid the real problem which is our elected government. Please, I am urging you, stay on the subject, it is the only way to create real long lasting change. If we had a true pubic servant in our BOCS, we would have comprehensive leadership. At some point, the single minded focus on Peacor denegrades the valid points you make in land use and our political process.
Elena, land use decisions, the political process and the CXO are all intertwined. I ask you, could the previous planning director have operated in the fashion he did without the implicit if not explicit support and direction of the CXO?
Change the BOCS and change the direction of the BOCS and the broken culture it inhabits. Period. I don’t vote for the CXO but I do vote for two BOCS members.
Here is my problem–the issue and post is directed at Corey Stewart. This continually happens–I put up something about the BOCS or Corey and it always gets redirected at the CXO. I can predict it like the sun rising in the east.
While you might be right in theory MoM, the issue boils down to I don’t want it here. I have my reasons which I have explained time and time again. There are enough blogs in this county where anyone who wants can have at it with any character assassination they want to have, about anyone.
Let’s put it in different terms. If I come to your house and put my feet on the coffee table, you have every right to tell me to get my big clod hoppers off the table. However, how many times should you have to tell me? You don’t want feet on your coffee table. Your house, your rules. Maybe your coffee table is old and ugly and looks like feet have been there before–still, its your coffee table. If I keep doing something after you request me not do it, it doesn’t matter what I think, its your coffee table.
Sometimes county employees set policy. It isn’t a problem to criticize that policy. Obviously if the police chief decides to ticket everyone speeding over 1 mile an hour we are all going to holler and carry one over it. (and we should) The discussion should then be about the policy, not about whether we have a dossier on the police chief or whether he (or she) is the biggest AH south of Bull Run.
Meanwhile Corey will continue to lie about what he has done for education and county employees because my entire post has been disregarded and hi-jacked because someone else decided what they had to say was more important. He will never be held accountable for anything, obviously because every time we try to focus on his short-comings as an office holder, we are right back to the CXO, like a broke record. Well who the hell hired the CXO? Obviously she didn’t hire herself.
Will Elena and I not be shown the same respect the male bloggers are shown? Must we swear, cuss and spit and scratch in public to get shown basic respect for our house rules?
Having some direct knowledge of how this all works, I would like to make the simple observation that (1) the state of the county documents and speeches coming from this chairman, (and Connaughton), are more about personal political ambitions than anything else, and (2) the CXO, whoever occupies the office, either tows the line for the BOCS chairman, (unless there is open rebellion from five of the BOCS members against the chairman, and in support of the CXO), or runs the very real likelihood of losing his/her job. CXO is not a low paying job. ‘Nough said.
Thank your for your post, Blue Moon. I think you have said it all!
Moreover, my views in this matter have absolutely nothing to do with Ms. Peacor’s gender. My dissatisfaction with the way the County government is run originates with Mr. Gerhart. Were he still the County Executive and administering the office the way he was doing prior to his departure, you could take everything I’ve been writing and just substitute the name Gerhart for Peacor.
NTK,
THE common demoninator is the leadership of the BOCS. PERIOD.
I wrote in my comment of 10:40 that Peacor is nowhere near as bright as Gerhart. I apologize for that remark. It was a personal insult rather than an objective observation or statement of fact. It detracted from the credibility of my arguments and I should not have said it.
@NTK,
She should not be discussed at all as I have said time and time again. Policy yes, personal issues, no.
I removed the comment. Obviously you have no respect for me or our guidelines when you continue to act as though I have not spoken.
It really is my right and responsibility to enforce the guidelines here.
Thanks for giving Corey a pass. Whatever happens, he can just blame the staff for that which is his responsibility.
I can see that the time I spent putting together this original post was a total waste of my time.
In the future, if I feel the need to do a Corey post, I should probably just give my opinion and cut off call comments.
There is no point in going through the State of the County address to pick out other inaccuracies and lies. I had planned to parse the address for comment. Why bother.
@Moon-howler
I would enjoy seeing your parsing the address, speaking just for myself. If you’re up to it please do so.
I have lost my copy. Looking now. Blue Moon, do you still have my verizon email address?
The other blog might be a better home for those that want to bludgeon county staff – based on fact or on gossip; either approach works well there.
The BOCS is resposible for issues addressed or not addressed that impact the county and the BOCS is responsible for staff. The BOCS is the leadership of PWC not the CXO. Unless you’re in business for yourself, you understand what having a boss is. Particularly an elected boss.
The point of this story was that our “leadership” is “misleading”. It was clear who was running the ship during immigration – certainly not staff. So why bring them in when the ship is sinking fiscally.
Thank you for your blog, Moonhowler. I am sorry folks get sidetracked but the reading is very interesting.
Thank you, Janelle. Welcome back.