The telephone has rung off the hook today with tidbits and rumors. The email box has been chock full. Where to begin….
The Lion and Bull in Haymarket was the place of Carl Genthner’s kick off campaign for Gainesville Supervisor. There was a welcoming committee for all who came to meet Mr. Genthner. It seems that some of the current Gainesville Supervisor’s staff were sitting right outside the meeting room to check out who all was going in and to give a little stare down to the guests. Fans (Thanks you Mr. Supervisor, thank you) were also there for the official stare down.
correction: there were NO CURRENT staff members from Supervisor’s Stirrups office at Carl Genthner’s kick offevent
Like minded political support was there for Mr. Genthner.
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Corey Stewart proposes to use addition county funds for his pet projects to curry some favors. More information should be forthcoming.
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A Dark Blog–A certain blogmeister removed an inflammatory but sizzling exposé about a certain senate macaca candidate and a past RNC chair from his blog. Did he out-sleaze himself or is there a touch of chivalry still alive? Do Republicans really practice cannibalism? It seemed like it reading that exposé. Now should that person win the party nomination for the Senate, how does one undo the image planted in the minds of Virginians that the gentleman is a home-wrecker and an adulterer? White-out just won’t cut it.
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BOCS–What former BOCS member might be challenging the remaining lady on the board? Rumors abound.
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BOCS (2)–What supervisor needs to prepare outgoing email more carefully?
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Residents- Some residents think that the new magisterial district boundary lines are going to split up families. Are some lines running right through the middle of someone’s home?
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Updates:
Blogosphere: A local blogger has announced his/her candidacy for House of Delegates.
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Feel free to add to the rumor mill. Things are getting interesting for sure. We might just need a bookie before election day rolls around.
Who on earth thinks boundary lines are going to split up families? What a crock that is.
All of these rumors running abound, and to think I spent the afternoon in the chambers. What a fool I was. 😉
Well, they SAY John Bobbit’s penis was found and reattached and later on he stared in a movie proudly showing it off. I am still suspect that it was his!
Gas is selling for $1.71 on 234
obama’s birth certificate has been located
You can still find the dark blog’s scurillious accusations about the former Virginia Senator cached in Google.
Virtucon cleaned up better. No sign of the post there or the comments. I guess the republicans at the head shed lowered the hammer. Thx, Starry.
@Lafayette, That definitely wasn’t where the action was. No ‘dust up’ there. Hint hint
The Dumfries district is going to be the Potomac district.
@Moon-howler
You better believe it! 👿
The email gaffe was no rumor. A certain chair released thousands of citizen email addresses in his latest attempt to lobby for a redistricting plan that appeals to him. Yes, folks, our chair spends our money for this. Is he a lobbyist or a chair? Whatever he is (in addition to the names I can think of), he has released private information.
Furthermore, on at LEAST two occasions, I have requested to be removed from his toxic mailing list, to no avail. Not only does our chair disregard our right to privacy, he apparently believes SPAM is okay if it comes from his office.
Who were the spying spectators outside of the event at The Lion and Bull?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Corey Stewart and Wally Covington are going to try to pull a truly fast, sleazy maneuver next Monday on redistricting.
Wally, since the day he was installed, has run the Brentsville Supervisor’s office solely for and on behalf of developers. He doesn’t even respond to contacts by constituents unless they are developers bearing campaign contributions or other services that benefit Wally. Wally’s campaign coffers are loaded fully by developers. Developers are paying most of Wally Covington’s campaign expenses. See
http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/money_in_industry1/10212
Corey Stewart started his political career in Prince William County wearing a white hat and siding with citizens over developer interests. However, Wally showed Corey the path to the dark side and how to drink from the fountain of abundant developer money. The whole thing smacks seriously of Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker.
Corey has now jettisoned his land use supporters and is doing everything he can to get Wally reelected.
That brings us to redistricting. A strong, popular Republican who is staunchly opposed to all of this coziness and corruption with developers is ready to oppose Wally in the primary with many, many PWC Republicans lined up to support her. She lives in the Limestone Precinct in the Brentsville District. All logic and common sense dictate that Limestone remains in the Brentsville District rather than going to Gainesville in redistricting. The proposed redistricting maps from the County (both the 7 and 8 district models) and the map Marty Nohe presented last Monday have Limestone remaining in Brentsville. Corey’s public position is that Wally will just have to face his challengers. Noble, right?
Alas, that might not be the outcome. Wally and Corey have sold at least three other supervisors on a last minute move to put Limestone in Gainesville with no prior public discussion, consideration or comment. Marty has been as much of a pro-developer supervisor as Wally, and has been Wally’s ally since long before Corey joined forces with him. I’m sure developer money has easily bought at least two other supervisors to join in this assassination plot against a truly honest, ethical, pro-taxpayer challenger for Covington.
They will concoct some lame rationale why this move is in the public interest. In fact, the sole reason for such a corrupt maneuver will be to protect Wally Covington, one of the best friends crooked developers ever had in Prince William County.
Hint: Lion and Bull–just some gainesville ladies. One of those ladies had a very busy day yesterday. Sucking up is very tiring. (Thank you Mr. Supervisor, Thank you)
I recall the severed part was also disposed of across jurisdictions, as well.
BTW, News & Messenger staff won a Virginia Press Association award for their series of articles on KK’s Temptations debut in Old Town Manassas, where it thrives today (joint event at Philadelphia Tavern later this month to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure).
If you weren’t around when they were welcomed to Manassas, here’s a refresher:
http://www.kktemptations.com/Press.html
On the Allen non-story, the source was wikipedia. My guess is both Greg and Riley decided to pull the stories, rather than risk potential legal action. When the source of the material is a user-edit to a wikipedia entry, with no supporting evidence, one could potentially put themselves in a position to get sued. That is not to say the suit would be successful. Afterall, the blog owners could/would contend that they were commenting on the fact that the comments were made on wikipedia, and did not mean to advocate the legitimacy of said comments. But that would be after racking up much in legal expenses. A wise move to take the post down. A wiser move, never put it up in the first place.
Now, regarding the “story about the story”, a funny coincedence that “the story” appears right when the Allen camp releases their campaign-finance reports, showing they have raised ove $1M. Some folks are concerned, I’d bet. Some folks within the GOP, and some on the Dem side. Do I think the Kaine camp is behind this? Nope. This lacks any kind of finesse or sophistication. If I were to guess, I’d bet on Allen-haters within the GOP. I am starting to hear a lot of rumblings from the “anti-establishment Republicans”. These well-meaning but misguided folks believe that the GOP leadership is failing them, and the last thing we need to do is elect an “establishment” former Governor/Senator who was “part of the problem” or “who lost their way” between 2000-2006. I have been discussing/arguing with these folks for the better part of 4 years. I’m not going to blame this on the TEA Party. I will say, however, that many of those I have been speaking with have aligned themselves with the TEA Party, although I don’t think they constitute anything approaching a majority. These folks were actively stirring things up before the TEA Party even formed.
Nope, these are the same folks I have known going back to the ’05 election cycle for Governor, who actually campaigned against the GOP nominee for governor, all the will refusing to acknowledge that their actions constituted aid to the Democrat candidate. These are the same folks who showed up at the last state convention, and tried to take out Bill Bolling, claiming he was an “establishment RINO”. These are the same folks who tried to hijack the 2008 10th District convention, and get their people elected a delegates to the RNC convention, with the purpose of having those delegates cast their votes for Ron Paul, even though McCain was the primary winner. These are people who spend much of the time between elections, picking fights within the party. Problem is, they do little more than pick fights, and when the rank-and-file within the party get tired of them, they “quit” for a few months, and then reappear just prior to the next election cycle.
Steve,
I believe your summary is accurate. It almost seems like inner party cannabilism.
KK’s seems to be really getting involved in community issues, breast cancer walk and MS walk. Good for them!
Steve, I thought it was inner fighting also. Thank you for giving us your opinion. As you know, I don’t like the politics of personal destruction, even aimed at people I consider political enemies. In particular I don’t like sullying people’s names, especially in times of tragic person events like divorce.
I figured the big boys sent a brief message from Richmond: remove it or die or something to that effect.
It seems self defeating to me. You can’t think someone is a scumbag for months and then once the primary or convention are over, the scumbag has a rebirth and ends up a good guy. It doesn’t work that way.
Plus, both people mentioned by name have families. You are right. Don’t put things up like that in the first place.
Thanks Steve.
@Cindy B
Thanks for that refresher, Cindy. I didn’t realize N & M won awards based on that series of stories.
I will also say that I found out some not so good things about some people during that time but that I also made a wonderful unexpected friend.
Nope, I saw Virtucon’s post in the google cache too. Also includes a comment regarding the originat
@Steve, you have better eyes than I do. I sure didn’t see it. I don’t know how to clean up so ….
…origination IP address, and the Company and location of the IP address. I would think, considering the targets of this smear, that life could get pretty interesting for the person or persons responsible.
Steve,
I hope this will be a lesson for anyone, no matter what side, that those kinds of vicious strategies of personal destruction have real consequences. Certainly there is enough to disagree with our opponents on policy that one does not have to resort to this type of nasty behavior.
If this is true, only a coward would purposefully redistrict an opponent out of their district. Is that the caliber of public servant we have are reduced to?@Theseus
@elena
Two questions, first, I’m assuming your question was rhetorical and second, having dealt with him extensively, isn’t that exactly the type of public servant we have been reduced to?
It does lead to an interesting question, as the addition of the Limestone precinct would throw the Gainesville District population over the acceptable +/- threshold, which precinct would Stirrup have to give Wally. The numbers for Alvey, Westgate, Mullen and Pace West won’t work and Glenkirk is already slated to be part of Brentsville. It would appear that the only way to do it would be to create new precincts on the Gainesville/Brentsville border an expense that, well shucks, we just don’t have the money for.
It is cheaper than adding the 8th district.
@Elena
As I understand the situation, the decision has been made. However, my intent is to shed light on the situation prior to having this manuever happen; let those behind the scheme know that we know what they are up to; and hope that sunlight and transparency are the best disinfectants. My hope is to be proven wrong. If Corey and Wally want to come out later and say they had never planned this and my post is pure BS – fine. Just as long as they don’t gerrymander potential primary opponents out of Brentsville just because Wally is scared.
If Wally wins a fair primary against this potential challenger, so be it. However, if they carry out this scheme “coward” doesn’t begin to describe the depths to which our “leaders” have sunk.
Mom & Moon,
We don’t know if we have enough money or not. County staff was asked by supervisors to provide the real cost of an additional district. If those numbers were ever gotten they were NOT shared with we the citizens. How can we decide if they idea of an 8th district is good or not. The 8th district is the most compact and contiguous map of them all. Furthermore, I think $3 per citizen is a very small investment for our county over the next decade. Also, as I said yesterday if they must go with the 7 districts Gainesville and Brentsville should both start out on the low side of the threshold. However, in order to make that happen that would mean bringing the Dumfries, err Potomac district almost to the town of Nokesville. Then we have that pesky donut hole(City of Manassas and City of Manassas Park) that our county districts must work around.
@Lafayette, I am still in favor of an 8th district. However, to create 1 precinct is cheaper than creating an entire new magisterial district regardless of cost.
I agree that $3 is not a lot to ask.
Oh, I forgot this from Ms. Cosiato during the budget recap stating the county was on pace to have a healthy surplus. So, why the heck not invest in we the citizens? Oh, that’s right that might actually make a little bit of sense.
I believe under a 7 or 8 district plan that they both yield a gain of one precinct. It’s a crying shame that the public does NOT the cost. What’s the big or not so big secrect. Pehaps, they don’t have an incumbent to protect. I just want this redistricting to be done.
I dont know what’s involved in creating a district so I don’t know. I suppose that there are start up costs and overhead for office, staff, equipment etc.
For all I know, the precinct location would change.
@Theseus
I guess we have to wait and see……
@Theseus
I know who Theseus is talking about. She would be a far superior Superviser than Covington in terms of land use, dealings with developers, and constituent service. His fear (cowardice?) is justified because she has a lot of support among Republicans. I agree that this needs to be a fair primary without gerrymandering out potential challengers. Wally needs to “man up” and face his challengers rather than pull sleazy maneuvers, if that is in fact what he and Corey are up to. As Theseus wrote, if Wally wins a fair primary, “so be it.”
There’s a guy who lives in Bennett Precinct who might have challenged Wally also, and whom Wally wanted redistricted out of the Brentsville District. Given the County’s geography and demographic changes, however, moving Bennett into the Coles District makes sense. Moving Limestone into Gainesville does not. He’s unhappy with Marty on land use and developer issues also, but I don’t know if he will challenge Marty.
It’s interesting that Marty is less popular among PWC Republican Committee members (the most likely primary voters) than Wally, but more people want to challenge Wally than Marty.
What Wally doesn’t know (and I’m not going to provide details here) is that two other strong challengers in Brentsville are waiting in the wings who have not yet shown their hands. The guy in Bennett will be moved to Coles. If Wally succeeds in redistricting out the woman in Limestone, absolutely everyone will know precisely what happened and resent him even more. She is much better liked and respected among PWC Republicans than Wally or Marty. One of those other two candidates would be a slam dunk in a primary against Wally if he actually does to her next Monday what Theseus expects. That won’t help Corey either.
Regarding 7 or 8 districts, I can’t work up strong feelings either way. I know Lafayette’s arguments, and she makes a strong case for 8 districts. There are good reasons for sticking with 7 districts also. I suppose I’m not going to get too worked up regardless of the outcome on that matter, unless an 8th district is created with the obvious intent of removing from the Brentsville District anyone who might possibily challenge Wally Covington.
@Need to Know
What really has me worked up over the 8th district is the fact that the they have NOT shared the costs of the district. This in my opinion, is compromising public input. How can we or the supervisors make a sound decision on the 8th without numbers, and that mystery million does not cut it. So, why did they even bother to introduce an 8th district map? Oh, that’s right they have to make it look good for DOJ. However, the 8th map was nothing more than a farce.
We’ve known for over a decade that redistricting would occur this year. This is a very important issue that effects each and everyone of residing in the county. Maps were only introduced a couple of weeks before public input, and then the time was shortened by a month due to error on the electoral board’s part.
I do give Marty and staff credit for addressing the citizens’ concerns from the public hearing and creating an alternative 7 district map. Clearly, our voices were heard. I’m more concerned that our neighborhood stays intact in any ONE district. The supervisor really matters not to me. I have told the two that are taking over other sections of the WG area, that they will be included on all my neighborhood issues that I normally just send to Gainesville office.
With regards to the gentleman from Bennett. Wally seems to think he knows who that person is and claims he’s “not afraid of ________”. This really gave me a chuckle on several levels.
@Lafayette, do a quick FOIA and tell them you will get an injunction to hold up the vote until you can get the financial information.
@Lafayette
Gentleman???????????
There sure are a lot of people floating around these days.
What state set aside $500,000 for Stephen Speilburg’s Lincoln movie?
Hint: like we have an extra half million floating around. Maybe the Kook thought he would be allowed a cameo appearance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/virginia-shells-out-money-for-spielbergs-lincoln-movie/2011/04/11/AFQd3WSD_blog.html
@Moon-howler
That’s right the gentleman from the Bennett precinct. Not the gentleWOman from Limestone.
Ah, the F-word(FOIA). I know the fair is your F-word. 🙄
I’m getting ready to write an email to the BoS, et. al. regarding the costs. Perhaps the supervisors were given the numbers. However, that’s not too transparent by not sharing that information with the public. I will consider my written request via email as a F-word request. I like your idea, but I’m still reasonable about this whole mess.
@Moon-howler #12
This is absurd and an abuse of taxpayer dollars. Spielberg is richer than the Almighty and doesn’t need to be subsidized by Virginia taxpayers. Moreover, movies don’t generate much by way of good jobs or extra income. Producers bring in their own staff and local people are only hired temporarily as extras or in support roles – both pay very little. The only way Virginia makes real money is if a production studio or something is established in the state. This case is just someone in Richmond fantasizing about hanging around with Spielberg or getting a bit part in the movie.
However, $500,000 is far less than Prince William County wastes regularly subsidizing the fantasies of wealthy and influential people. The County agreed originally to pay $1.5 million annually in debt service for the Hylton Performing Arts Center. We’re up to $1.9 million, plus at least an additional $200,000 for other uses. Most PWC families can’t afford to attend performances – they’re just paying to help keep ticket prices a bit cheaper for the well-to-do who can afford it.
Don’t forget the Wartime Museum boondoggle. The Hyltons get rid of some useless, scrap land in between finished developments, no longer have to pay the property tax, and receive valuable development rights elsewhere in the County, while supporters praise them for their “generous” donation. The CEO pockets a quarter of a million annually in salary and benefits despite having failed dismally in raising private funds. PWC taxpayers have been bilked to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars for this white elephant.
But, wealthy campaign contributors get their own taxpayer-funded park to use to ride around in tanks on the weekend.
Wally Covington makes a deal with the Gainesville Grizzlies to get their support for the 100% residential Avendale development in the Rural Crescent, and the Grizzlies receive a yet-to-be-built park, which is owned by PWC taxpayers but dedicated to the exclusive use of the Grizzlies.
Need I continue?
Virginia is for lovers? No more. New slogan – Virginia (especially Prince William County) is for the wealthy and influential to have their fantasies subsidized by taxpayers.
@NTK
The only thing I can add is, Wally didn’t court Grizzly deals alone. I suspect he had help.
Other than that….no argument here.
At least the Civil War money didn’t come out of the general funds like some people wanted to have happen.
Elena,
I agree. While there is a place for “negative campaigning”, there must be a limit as to what the electorate will accept as “legitimate”. Sadly, this limitation is often heavily reliant on the “moral compass” of the individual making the claim, as it’s hard to “unring the bell”. I do think outright lies clearly out of bounds, which is why we have libel and slander laws.
Personally, if I am going to comment on a candidate these days, I am going to restrict my comments to matters of policy, or on their previous record. If you see me doing otherwise, please point it out, as old habits can still pop up now and again.
@Moon-howler
Moon – just think about the tax cut we could get, or the number of teachers, firefighters or police we could hire, if the County would stop squandering our money like this.
Agreed, on the grizzly game. That was not Wally alone.
Thank goodness for a few speaking out on the quarter of mil. I’d much rather see the county give money to the CVB and those with a plan for the money. There was no plan presented when the plea for funds went on for about 20 minutes at the BoS meeting.
@Lafayette
Agreed on both counts.
Wally did not act alone, but it was his idea. John Stirrup, in whose district the “Gainesville” Grizzlies are located found out about the scheme at the last minute from one of his staffers reading Moonhowlings.
Was it $250,000 the private group wanted? I forgot the amount but recall it was a lot. In that case, the situation came out beforehand and was discussed in public. There was no plan presented. The advocates, again wealthy people wanting taxpayer subsidies to have a grand ball and other events, just wanted the money forked over with no questions asked.
@NTK, yes, it was the private group. I believe that CVB works with the private group but that they(CVB) cut the checks. CVB holds the purse strings, which was very wise on their part.
It is conversations like the one NTK, Lafayette and I currently having that make me feel all the work that goes into keeping up the blog is worthwhile. I am glad John Stirrup’s staff discovered the Grizzly plot.
We were the blog that sounded the alarm about requests for county money to go to private groups. It wasn’t the most popular stance to take but in this day and age, financial accountability is vital. Money is too scarce. A quarter million sounds about right. Too much to just turn over without being assured of a good return on your money.
Don’t forget the plea indicated that that would be the first of several requests. It made my blood boil when the presenter said to OUR BoS “I can’t have you down at Quantico, when I need you at the battlefield”. The NERVE!!!
Moon, issues like this are exactly why the blog MUST be kept intact, and it most certainly is worthwhile. It sure keeps some “staff” busy reading what the people are saying and thinking regarding county issues.
@Moon-howler
The group folded after it did not receive the County money. They asked $250,000 from the County and received $100,000 from the City although I doubt they ever got the City money since they folded.