In a failed attempt to paint me as a liberal open borders advocate, Greg Letiecq, blog owner of BVBL.net, has made quite a laundry list of incendiary charges against me in order to deflect voter attention away from the important issues of the upcoming primary on August 23. His ad hominem attack on me attempted to turn the focus off the importance of signing the Rural Crescent pledge and on to other issues.
This deflection becomes obvious when one realizes his candidate of choice, Peter Candland, did not sign the pledge and is one of only two candidates in the Gainesville Magisterial District who did not commit to the tenants of the comprehensive plan. Letiecq’s weak efforts to intimidate those candidates who did sign the commitment to guard the Rural Crescent will not go unchallenged. Greg also wants to down-play the fact that Chairman Corey Stewart not only signed the pledge in the past but also violated it. Therefore he was intentionally excluded from an opporunity to reaffirm his commitment.
Please allow me to provide background information on Advocates for the Rural Crescent. Advocates for the Rural Crescent (ARC) was started in a small community in Haymarket. Dominion Valley subdivision had proposed to put their water tank in the Rural Crescent rather than on their property. Thunder Oak community fought the water tank proposal because the water tank was intended to serve Dominion Valley and not any homes in the Rural Crescent. Irving Spitzberg, the founder of ARC, asked if I would be willing to take over the leadership role of the organization. I happily said yes because I felt it was one of the most important issues I could support as a resident of PWC.
ARC has never held regular meetings, it has always been an “electronic” organziation. We are connected to other local groups that have like- minded concerns about growth, taxes, county infrastructure and open space. Greg once again, has no clue about what he is falsely claiming.
John Stirrup had nothing do with ARC or its founding, and, in fact, when ARC fought Greater South Market, John was absent during the planning process in the community. That is not to say that Mr. Stirrup has not been very supportive of the Rural Crescent. He most assuredly has, but he was not a founder.
Greg’s unsuccessful approach to paint me as an extremist simply won’t fly with candidates who are interested in demonstrating their committment to lower taxes and an improved quality of life. His use of a video, made a couple of weeks ago, compares apples to oranges. Again, allow me to clarify that video. Reporter Ben Eisler asked Corey if ” all 4000 of those pose a public safety threat” (meaning those illegal immigrants turned over to I.C.E.). Corey’s response was, “Absolutely!” I was asked the identical question. My response was “No, some are dangerous, but many are not” and I then cited police statistics to the reporter to back up my point. Not all my response made it to the video, as often happens when talking with the media.
However, the above incident really has nothing to do with the Rural Crescent or people’s commitment to its preservation. Greg’s use of the video was simply a veiled attempt to mislead, side-tract and distort. Naturally, I have opinions on a variety of topics in my community. My beliefs on the Rural Crescent, as well as an elementary school built on a middle school site, the Dominion Valley Power line, the county resolution that dealt with illegal immigration, Math Investigations in elementary schools, Silver Lake ownership, or any number of topics I have taken a stand on do not necessarily overlap. As a resident of this community, I am as entitled to my opinions the same as any other citizen.
Link to ARC website
@Cindy B
I agree about Mama Mia’s! We need to get together, and meet the Marin twins.
Let’s pick a date and time
Your advice is sound, Cindy.
@Elena
I know you have no intention of changing his mind. I certainly understand where you are coming from. Remember you have this blog and various other outlets to state your stance. Which is well documented over the past decade. Your dedication to land use issues is one to admired. I wish more people understood that land use issues have a dramatic impact on our quality of life, roads, first respsonder services, and last but not least overcrowded schools. These things effect each and everyone of us. The Planning Commission Agenda is a document that should be watched closely. It really is ashame more people don’t speak at their meetings.
@Lafayette
Do I hear the sounds of bok bok bok?
Yes, Elena has spent a lot of time on land use. She was active even before she moved in. It really isn’t a liberal or a conservative issue. Too many people with differing views on politics and from different political parties have come together on land use. Its a great equalizer except for those who want to prove a point and who really don’t understand the issue.
You know, not one of the candidates has gotten in touch with me to tell me they don’t want my dirty old vote because I am pro choice and because I opposed the probable cause component of the original resolution. I keep checking the email. Nothing so far. I will even make it easier for them:
[email protected]
If I offend someone’s sensibilities and they don’t want my vote, please say so.
I doubt that Duecaster would even be a part of that posse. Duecaster likes horses.
All right, I’ll start this off but be forewarned, I’m pretty ticked off this morning.
From Peter Candland’s Facebook Page:
“Well, we were very disappointed today to see that another Republican candidate in this race has decided to attack me with a very misleading mailpiece about my stance on the rural crescent. I have always supported the rural crescent and she knows that. But since I decided not to sign a pledge from a left wing liberal group, she is purposely misleading people on my position.”
I guess in this poseur’s estimation that makes me a “left wing liberal”. Those of you that know me know them’s fighting words. Given the membership rolls of other county-based groups, the Rainbow Riding folks for example, I guess the county is just awash in left wing liberal groups. Funny how the avowed conservatives seem to support them with county money, in the case of Rainbow, tens of thousands of county dollars from Candland’s buddy Wally.
Here’s a thought pretty boy, gain a little experience in the county and knowledge of how local governance works before engaging on a campaign for public office. This campaign is coming off as little more than an ego trip for someone, who if successful, is destined to be little more than the yesman for several incumbent board members (presuming they win re-election).
With actions (or inaction) come consequences, if you’re too thin-skinned to endure the perceived slights of campaign, you are terribly unprepared for what will come should you assume office. Don’t believe me, ask Stirrup, he knows first-hand what its like to deal with people like me.
Lastly, smooth move Poindexter, attempting to throw one of the most loyal and hard-working members of the Republican Party under the bus. Martha has done more for the Gainesville District in the last month than you’ve done in the entire time you’ve lived here. Her advocacy for the residents of the County and more specifically the Gainesville District is largely unparalleled and unquestioned. Further, her attendance at the Planning Commission is virtually unblemished while your attendance on Stirrup’s budget committee (something you trumpet as a qualification for office) is spotty at best.
Do us all a favor and drop out, the advice you’re getting is, well to put it kindly, flawed and you’re making an ass of yourself.
End Rant.
Mom, I can’t stop laughing at the thought of you being a “left-wing lib”
Hey, you lefty lib. What’s the deal with the accusations of a “fake” Candland FB page. See more details on open thread.
@Mom
Lafayette, I know where you live so I wouldn’t careless throw that “Lefty Lib” slur around or you might find your house circled by black helicopters. As to the fake page, I haven’t got a clue about it nor quite frankly do I care. I have better (and more profitable) things to do than spend my day on facebook like some teenage girl (my apologies to those of you who were at one time, or in another century, were teenage girls). I wouldn’t be surprised however if the “fake” page wasn’t created by those who created the “real” page as some sort of ruse.
Cleaned up text, I’m sorely in need of a frosty beverage.
Lafayette, I know where you live so I wouldn’t carelessly throw that “Lefty Lib” slur around or you might find your house circled by black helicopters. As to the fake page, I haven’t got a clue about it nor quite frankly do I care. I have better (and more profitable) things to do than spend my day on facebook like some teenage girl (my apologies to those of you who were at one time, or in another century, teenage girls). I wouldn’t be surprised however if the “fake” page wasn’t created by those who created the “real” page as some sort of ruse.
@Mom
We are on the exact same page, with regards to the last sentence. The bottom line is this whole thing will be over next week. That is unless it’s another close race like the one in 1999. I have hunch Candland, nor his “adivisors/campaign mangager” were around for that one. Candland is like Lateef, they are both persona non grata. imo
Helicopters are the norm of this part of the Gainesville District. 👿 Do worries here.
Agree with Lafayette and MoM about the fake page. Where is it?
I know someone who makes fake pages. It was done to Alanna. Hmmmm…lets see….nah…I won’t call him out.
Helicopters are the norm in the part of Gainesville. You can almost set your clock by them. Lafayette might not notice.
I was a teenage girl in the last century. Do I win a prize?
@Durango
I tend to agree about the posse. They all seemed to have a fascination with the PD’s Equestrian Unit. It is no longer an all female unit. 🙁 I bet if their child were missing in the woods, they wouldn’t be such smart a$$e$ about the Equestrian Unit. In fact, I bet the unit is in full force at the fair this week.
@Moon-howler
Well, if you get a prize. I do too. I was a teen last century too. 🙂
@Laf….Thank you 🙂
You know, sometimes a person just has to step back from a situation and take a longer look, after everyone goes to bed and after the frenzy of comments slows down to a trickle.
Greg did what Greg does, sort of like the scorpion and frog parable. That’s just what he does. His following of 10 minions all hi-5 each other, make nasty remarks about us until they grow tired, sort of like puppies after a days play. Then they fall asleep until the next victim comes along. We have come to expect that.
Elena and I had pretty much decided to stay out of the primary race. We have friends running–friends we like. There is plenty of time to hop in. We had both made up our minds who we were supporting in the primary here in our own district and had adopted the attitude of “Do No Harm.” It should be patently obvious that we are staying away from some races. The reasons should be equally obvious.
Greg used to be more careful. What he has done unintentionally is to cast Candidate Candland in a very unbecoming light. What person won’t commit to uphold something that he says he supports just because he has heard negative tales about the person who sent him the form. What is even dumber is that that person lives ine the district where he is running. He applied a broadbrush by insinuating he couldn’t/wouldn’t work with her because she was a far left liberal. Of course, that label might be difficult to prove since she is not.
Candidate Candland has listened to gossip and has allowed himself to be taken in by puppet masters Greg and Corey and a few others who feel compelled to not do the right thing, regardless of outcome.
I often listen to Bill O’Reilly. I disagree with him 80% of the time. He is far too conservative for me. At times I find him outrageously offensive, for instance, when he called Dr. George Tiller, Tiller the Killer. However, there are times when I agree with him and admire his tenaciousness in going after a problem. He is relentless in going after child molestors and judges who allow them to go free. I fully support him.
Would I allow child molestors to go free just because I dislike some positions taken by Bill O’Reilly? Of course not. That’s what makes America great. We can agree when we agree and disagree when we disagree.
Should Candidate Candland decide to run for office again in the future, he needs to remember that he will represent all constituents in the district, not just those who agree with him. No one in their right mind would vote for someone who only represents a small segement of the community. His own words disqualify him from serving as Gainesville Supervisor. He has much to learn.
Thanks to Greg for unintentionally exposing a weak, young, unsophisticated underbelly. There are 4 other candidates.
As this thread gets ready to roll off the front page, it might be good for Greg to reflect on how the junkyard dog behavior actually worked against his candidate of choice.
By attacking Elena, who has worked on land use and protecting the Rural Crescent for a decade, some real vulnerabilities on his candidate of choice were exposed. Apparently many people in Prince William County are sick and tired of slash and burn politics where candidates, campaign workers and other activists are attacked with lies, half-truths and other irrelevancies.
Greg, beware of unintended consequences. The people of Prince William County deserve better. You should have listened to Patty. She tried to tell you.
@Moon-howler
I’m getting more confused about the Gainesville race on a daily basis. Reading the main stream media you would think this is an open race but the blogs say it is a two person race between Martha and Candland. Much of the chat and recent mailings would seem to confirm that thinking. Is there are good third candidate in this race that has a chance or are they all just going to get their followers? There seems to be mixed messages depending on where you get your info. My opinion for what its worth, based on listening to all the candidates speak at NVCC, what my friends in Hertiage Hunt thought of their candidates forum, newspapers, websites etc is that High squeaks out Botello for 3rd but barely. Are these guys just too unknown or is there a problem I am not aware of?
I really don’t know, NoHype. I am trying to rise above it all but the Candland insists on declaring war on 2 bloggers who were minding their own business. It makes no sense to me why Moonhowlings/Elena were dragged in to an issue that is clearly about land use.
That recent poorly constructed blog that you brought to our attention includes more lies about Elena and about this blog.
Elena very much supports the current resolution that does NOT include the probable cause component and the 287(g) program. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar. In fact, Elena worked hard to get that probable cause component removed. We celebrated its removal.
I am the person who wrote the article on Indiana Planned Parenthood. why anyone would attack someone because they support the Rule of Law is a fool. We, as Americans, do not get to cherry pick which of our laws we obey.
I just got a robo-call from Suzanne Miller’s campaign. I’ve not gotten any other robo-calls. In fact, we’ve not seen one mailer from “Team Botello”. Unknowns tend not to fair well around these parts, No Hype.