UPDATE:  The article has been posted on www.ruralcrescent.org and can be read there.

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The election of Peter Candland might very well signify the death knell for the Rural Crescent.  For those who may not believe that Peter Candland could be the nail in the coffin for the Rural Crescent and sane land use for the entire county, think again. This article from the Washington Business Journal leave voters with no illusions.    I am going to urge everyone to put this article up on your facebook page, send it to your e-mail list, send it to friends who may have friends who vote in the Gainesville district. People must get out and vote for Ann Wheeler, not just because she signed the Rural Crescent Pledge, but because, overall, she is the more qualified candidate.

Post this thread on your facebook page, the message must get out that Peter Candland, like Corey, like Wally, is sure to be the next “Developers Candidate”. The Rural Crescent protected this County during the last out of control housing boom, now is the not the time to wonder about its fiscal value for all residents!

Don’t believe me? Fine, look at VPAP and see who are Candlands biggest supporters! He has recieved over 23,000.00 dollars from the building industry, 5,800.00 of which is specifially from Real Estate Developers and 3,200 from home builders.

>”Prince William board shift could open rural area

For the first time in 13 years, a window may be opening — albeit a narrow one — for developers to build in Prince William County’s 80,000-acre preservation area, known as the Rural Crescent.

Peter Candland, the Republican nominee for Gainesville District supervisor, acknowledges his election Nov. 8 in the GOP-heavy district may be a game changer for Prince William development policy.

John Stirrup was a vocal and dependable advocate for the Rural Crescent, I cannot understand what made him so publicly support Peter Candland.

Moonhowlings has always recognized John on his steadfast support of the Rural Crescent.

Candlands election would would signify a complete shift in development policy from John Stirrups tenure.  The Gainesville Sector Plan, rezoned in 2003, has enough commercial zoning to fit TWO Tysons Corners.  The problem in Prince William County is not a lack of commercial land, but a lack of quality business’s interested in filling  those land bays.   Destroying the Rural Crescent should NOT be in the future for Prince William County.

112 Thoughts to “Candland Lied, the Rural Crescent Died”

  1. Theseus

    Candland lied:

    About his participation on Stirrup’s budget committee – confirmed by other members of the budget committee and people close to Stirrup,

    About his voting record – he failed to vote in the 2003 and 2007 elections for the office he now seeks and lied at the candidate debate, confirmed by State Board of Elections records,

    About his position on the Rural Crescent – confirmed by Candland himself in a statement to the “Washington Business Journal” apparently when his handlers weren’t watching him.

  2. Rick Bentley

    I’ll never vote for anyone who didn’t support the Rule of Law. If Ann Wheeler had personally slapped me in the face, spit at my children, and defecated on my lawn I wouldn’t feel worse about her than I already do. We could argue in future years about how rational or irrational that is, but it’s how I feel. If I even tried to pull a lever for her, my finger muscles would probably go into spasms.

  3. Elena

    It seems as though Peter says one thing to the “public” but his finances and words suggest his alliegance is elsewhere.

  4. Elena

    Rick,
    What are you talking about? She supporst the current resolution as it is being implemented and has no intention of rescinding it.

  5. Elena

    Nor, I might add, has she EVER said anything different. You must be falling for Candland lies.

  6. Rick Bentley

    Well, maybe I overstated it, maybe I shouldn’t be spasming. But anyone who is politically friendly with Gerry Connolly cannot represent my interests. I regard cozying up to Gerry Connoley as akin to defecating on my lawn, slapping my kids, etc. Her support for Rule of Law seems soft to me.

    “I can just tell you Fairfax County is not going to go the route of some of our neighbors. We’re not going to demagogue. We’re not going to essentially roll back the welcome mat.” – Gerry Connolly, 2007

  7. Lafayette

    Rick,
    Party politics should not be a factor at the local level. Ann said at the debate she would have voted for the more conservative budget that John Stirrup did last year. However, sadly for us the higher tax rate budget got approved. Elena almost quoted her regarding the resolution. She’s merely running as a Democrat, she was an appointee of John Stirrup’s as well.

  8. Elena

    Rick,
    At some point, it is time to move on, the resolution is in place and life continues. It’s funny, I am married to a VERY conservative republican, and yet, somehow, we manage to get along (mostly 😉 ). The totality of the candidate is what matters. Peter Candland is not the right candidate for Gainesville or the county. I hope you can broaden your persective a little. Ann is the best candidate and seems interested in listening to citizens because she WANTS to serve, not because she was recruited by any political party.

  9. Elena

    I totally agree Laf!

  10. Rick Bentley

    I hear you but … short of her taking a harder line against illegal immigration, I can’t vote for her personally.

  11. Theseus

    @Rick Bentley

    Rick, if your concern is the presence of illegal aliens in Prince William County, you are being screwed and deceived royally by Corey Stewart and company. Corey is now privately disavowing his support for his own resolution to the business community whose support he seeks over yours. Prince William County is only a stepping stone for him and he’s chasing developer backing for their money and support to mount a campaign for statewide office. Why do you think the Prince William Association of Realtors and others have endorsed him, Candland, Covington, Nohe, etc., when Stewart was their public enemy number one in the last election?

    The reason we had an illegal alien problem in Prince William County was primarily because of the development industry. They were even in Mexico advertising for illegals to come specifically to Manassas and Prince William County during the last building boom. Greg ran some posts about that (someone else who has not yet realized that he has now been thrown under the bus by Stewart).

    The decline in problems created by illegal aliens in our community had nothing to do with Stewart. It is because of the housing bust that killed the jobs they were coming here for. The economy will turn around and we’ll see the developers’ lust to profit at the expense of our quality of life spring manifest itself again.

    If the Rural Crescent is opened to development as Stewart and Candland want, what you saw before the resolution in terms of problems created by illegals will be dwarfed by what’s coming your way. That industry will again hire thousands of illegals, and they will live in overcrowded homes in our neighborhoods.

    Ann was honest with you. She might have opposed some of the provisions in the initial Resolution, but supports the current version, that even Stewart and Stirrup said at the time was an improvement. The liars are Stewart and Candland who tell you they are on your side regarding illegal immigration, but are actually working with the development industry to facilitate massive residential projects in the Rural Crescent to be built by illegals who will be moving to your neighborhood soon after all of this gets under way after the election.

    Rick, you are a smart guy. Please think this through for yourself and vote on the basis of what’s true – not on the lies being foisted on you by Stewart, Candland and crew on behalf of their financial backers in the development industry.

  12. Lafayette

    @Elena
    Ditto to every single word. Especially that husband part. 🙂

    @Rick Bentley
    What about contacting Ann and asking her more in depth questions. She is the one candidate that was in-town visiting our neighborhoods. Also, in Candland’s opening email announcing his bid for the Gainesville seat, before Stirrup announced his bid for the new 13th senate seat, he sent an email stating he wanted to make Gainesville/Haymarket a great place to raise your kids. Not DICK about in-town folks like you, me and Moon. Please, just think about that for a minute.

  13. Rick Bentley

    I’m listening. I’m predisposed to vote Candland as Stirrup endorses him.

    Theseus is making a very compelling arguement to me.

  14. Rick Bentley

    Any evidence that Stewart and/or Candland aren’t avidly against builders using illegal immigrant labor will speak volumes to me.

  15. Lafayette

    @Rick Bentley
    Stirrup was going to support which ever Republican won the primary. He did not weigh in, at least publicly during the primary. I hope you’ve read some of the prior threads on Candland. There have been quite a few things said that I would think you, Rick, not vote for this guy.

    I do believe you are listening. Theseus is very well “written” on this topic.

  16. Lafayette

    There have been quite a few things said that I would think *would make you not want to vote for this guy*

  17. Theseus

    Stewart opposed efforts to require use of eVerfiy as part of the rezoning application process.

    Stewart sided with Nohe in not strengthening documention requirements to get business and contractor licenses in Prince William County. Illegals get a business or contractor license, hire each other, and the developers then hire them as contractors who have been given the stamp of approval by Corey Stewart’s County government.

    Now he’s about to get a side-kick in the form of Candland to vote as he tells him to, if people don’t wise up before next Tuesday.

    Enough?

    Stewart and his people feed you the lines you want to hear, raise holy h*** about a drunk driver who happened to be illegal and killed a nun for public image purposes, but refuse to act where the rubber really meets the road. Namely, any effective actions that impair the ability of his supporters in the business and development communities to get all the cheap, illegal labor they want while we as citizens pay the cost through a lower quality of life, and subsidize the developers by paying for social and education services for their exploited workers.

  18. Rick Bentley

    Those things are extremely meaningful to me. Are they sourced? I’m going to go back and read older threads.

  19. Rick Bentley

    Him not showing up to committee meetings is fairly damning to me.

  20. Rick Bentley

    I watched the two clips that you (Moonhowlings) have up on youtube of the two debating. He seems like a vacuous partisan, an empty shill. She seems like someone who is not a good speaker, but with more going on in her head than he has. I respect her arguements generally in those clips and on her website.

    He of course gives me more red meat to think “by voting for this guy, I’ll reflect my DEEP anger” … her by wanting to spend money on transportation projects and things without MAKING SOMEONE SUFFER FIRST doesn’t give me that. But I may step out of my angry white male personna and vote for her.

    Can anyone here tell me why I shouldn’t vote for her, or should vote for him?

  21. Theseus

    @Rick Bentley

    Regarding eVerify, the County makes a big deal about implementing it to screen applicants for County jobs. Illegals don’t apply for those jobs. They require Social Security numbers, background and reference checks, etc. and illegals have never gotten through that process anyway. Again, an action taken just for show.

    It has been proposed several times that builders and developers provide documentation in the form of I-9 forms (which Federal law requires them to have already) and eVerify documentation of their workers as part of approval of their rezoning applications, building permits, occupancy permits, etc. Stewart and the County have never even brought that before the board for formal consideration, to my knowledge. Thus, I can’t cite a specific meeting where that proposal was defeated. It’s like in Congress if you want to kill something but not be on record doing so, just don’t bring it up for a vote. If Stewart were serious about curtailing the presence of illegal aliens in Prince William County, he would have been out in front leading the charge for this, but he’s deserted the cause.

    Regarding the business and contractor licenses, here’s a link to the InsideNova article covering the January 22, 2008 board meeting:

    http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2008/jan/23/board_questions_illegals_plan_01_23_08_wpn-ar-447888/

    The meeting audio and/or video is archived on the County’s website for you watch in its entirely. Stirrup was pushing for implementation of the resolution, Nohe fought to keep the documentation provisions for licenses ineffective, Stewart made a snide remark about Nohe rewriting the process, but in the end Stewart went along with weak documentation requirements while letting Nohe take most of the blame in public opinion. However, this action helped cement Stewart’s rising approval among members of the development community.

    Again, you see lots of showmanship from Stewart on illegal immigration, but absolutely no effective action that will impact its main source, which is the development community and their demand for cheap, illegal labor.

    You’ve been sold a bill of goods by Stewart on illegal immigration, and now he wants a solid supporting vote in Gainesville.

  22. Rick Bentley

    And how about Barbur Lateef?

  23. Rick Bentley

    Thank you “Theseus”. I am seriously considering voting for her, and Lateef.

    I know that there’s truth in what you say. I know that Stewart made no attempt to promulgate hiring of citizens by businesses, and has used the issue of illegal immigration as a springboard to run rampant in several directions.

  24. Theseus

    @Rick Bentley

    You can probably guess how I’m going to vote, so let me put it this way. A conservative friend of mine who is going to vote for Lateef explained his rational to me this way. He could stick to the party line and vote for Stewart, thus helping put in place a board that will be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the developers. The result will be a lower quality of life, more illegals, and higher taxes. These are not Republican values. On the other hand, he can vote for a guy with whom he disagrees on many issues, but who would essentially gridlock the board with people like Covington and Nohe coming back, and then we’ll see what happens in 2015. A board led by Stewart and Candland allowing scorched earth on behalf of their developer supporters, or a board chaired by a liberal Democrat that is deadlocked and can’t get anything done. The latter means less government, which is a Republican value.

  25. Mom

    Well, I guess its about time I chimed in on this topic.

    Frankly, this election cycle nauseates me. As most are aware I’m so far right that I can’t see the center from my postion but, I won’t overlook the facts in the name of political expediency. Elected office requires one to assume the mantle of the public trust. Truth be told, I don’t think Candland fits the bill.

    His lack of attendance at the budget committee meeting has been attested to and documented to my satisfaction (Stirrup’s comments are quite simply a partisan smokescreen). Any reasonable person would, having been caught in an exageration, simply change the wording of their website to more adequately represent the truth. Candland is apparently incapable of that, Strike One.

    His lack of a voting record in local elections has also been adequately documented. A lame excuse about working late, soccer games, etc. would have been better than his response that the allegation was simply another lie by his opponent. He should know better than to lie about easily fact-checked issues, Strike Two.

    There is apparently an article which presents statements by Candland regarding the Rural Crescent, statement which are the antithesis of what he has previously said publicly. One lie might be a mistake, two is a trend, three is the end for me. Strike Three.

    Personally, I hold elected officials to a higher standard than the tax-paying residents and I hold GOP officials and candidates to an even higher standard. This clown doesn’t even meet my base line expectations for the Kennedy family.

    Sorry Uncle Ronnie but I can’t pull the lever for this fraud. Doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll pull it for Anne, I sense a vote or two for Ham Sandwich.

    1. MoM, thanks for a great summary. Too bad you won’t vote for Ann. She is in tune with the things I believe you feel are important. I would suggest that if Candland lied about the areas you stated, he has also lied about his opponent. Ann Wheeler will have the best interests of the Gainesville District first and foremost in her heart. I have personally found her to be honest and to have more integrity than you can shake a stick at.

  26. Theseus

    By the way, I asked the person referred to above why he doesn’t just vote for John Gray, with whom he is more philosophically compatible than Lateef and he was very pragmatic. Gray will be lucky to reach high single digits in the percent of votes he gets. If you don’t want a board chaired by Stewart and his campaign financiers, you’ve got to vote for the person who might have some chance of winning.

  27. Blue Moon

    There is absolutely no question that Candland lied, bald faced, to a room full of pretty savvy people at the committee of 100 candidates forum when he said he voted in the last election, which was 2007. State records show that he did not vote then or in 2003. He lied about his participation and “expertise” in county budget matters by virtue of his participation in Stirrup’s budget committee activities which he mostly avoided attending. The guy is an empty suit. Pure style, nor substance.

  28. Lafayette

    MoM,
    Honestly, you won’t keel over if you vote for Ann. You remind me of a neighbor or two. You all will live to see another day.

  29. @Rick Bentley

    She supports the rule of law that exists now…you know, the one that doesn’t forbid children of illegal aliens to go to libraries, swimming pools and yes, in definance of federal law, school.

    Many many people didn’t support the resolution that called for those things, including any public employee not reporting suspected illegal immigrants. Many people didn’t want the county to get sued because it would cost us money, not the supervisors who just wanted to get elected.

    Many people also felt that even illegal aliens weren’t to be rounded up like cattle.

    The real rule of law observes our federal immigration laws and isn’t something patched together by schlock lawyers for FAIR and less than honest politicians who just want to get elected.

    I think Ann is fine with what we have in place right now. It keeps one group from being targetted and attempts to keep criminals out of our community.

  30. Cato the Elder

    Theseus :

    A board led by Stewart and Candland allowing scorched earth on behalf of their developer supporters, or a board chaired by a liberal Democrat that is deadlocked and can’t get anything done. The latter means less government, which is a Republican value.

    Hmmm. Normally I’d rather have a finger amputated before voting for a Democrat, but since you put it that way perhaps I’ll give Lateef another look. A do-nothing board sounds pretty good to me.

  31. Elena

    Peter Candland has shown his true colors. Why he let out his true feelings regarding his role were he given the opportunity to be Supervisor is astounding. He knows that he will vote to dismantle the Rural Crescent, either piece by piece or all at once.

  32. Theseus

    @Elena

    As I wrote above, his handlers must have left him by himself for a few minutes. The leopard-skin liar was out of the room.

  33. I expect he didn’t think anyone would read Washington Business Journal. It is an expensive magazine that isn’t on most of our cofee tables. I also expect his handlers who handle the lies weren’t present.

    The guy saw the word business and thought he was with his peeps so he sang like a bird.

  34. GregL continues his spin. He admits that Candland will be Corey Stewart’s right hand man and will help Corey push things through the Board of Supervisors. Somehow raping the Rural Crescent comes to mind. Do folks remember Corey pushing Avendale through and how he shamelessly involved a youth football team, the Grizzlies, to manipulate that Avendale iniative? Vote to let Avendale through into the Rural Crescent and they will give you new football fields. Go Grizzlies. The little grizzly pawns even showed up at the BOCS meeting.

    Avendale was rezoned for suburban development, which is a deal breaker for the RC. Over 100 new homes could be built if the developer wants to go that route. New homes add stress to already stretched infastructure like roads, schools, libraries, fire, rescue and police.

    I suppose Greg just annointed Corey the new puppet master. Should Candland convince enough folks in the Gainesville Magisterial District that he has the time to do his duties this time around and he gets elected, he will surely be the new puppet, ready to do Corey’s bidding.

    Meanwhile, Ann Wheeler continues to work hard, meeting her obligations, studying issues and will owe nothing to anyone. She will continue to serve the people of the Gainesville District. She is no one’s puppet.

  35. Theseus

    Might not take Peter that much time to do the job, Corey either. Certain powerful land use attorneys and developers will tell Corey what they want done. He’ll brief Candland. Jenkins, Covington and Nohe are already old hands at dropping their pants and bending over for the developers. Caddigan will vote with whomever slips the most 20s in her undies. May will wonder what he’s doing there, Frank too if he wins. As long as Candland and Stewart show up for the key votes they are being paid for, they can spend the rest of their time doing whatever they want, such as campaigning for his next election for Stewart.

  36. Elena

    Actually Moon, Avendale would be up to 500 homes where only 12 could have been built! You cannot DIG yourself out of a hole.

  37. Theseus! Good grief. You must think you are on the dark side. Cross over…into the light.

    Sorry Supers….[glaring a stern Mama Moon look at Theseus.]

  38. @Elena

    Just what Corey needs….a puppet to do his bidding. Next development he slams through will be for 1000 homes. Will that be at the cost of another set of football fields? Soccer fields? What will the Gainesville Goats need?

    Puppets? Puppeteers? Grizzlies, tract homes? Where is my cartoonist when I need him/her?

    Don’t we need a visual of this?

  39. Elena

    When Rick, putting aside his need for anger ;), can see that Ann is clearly the better candidate, I hope others will to.

    Peter Candland admitting he will the devepment “game changer” for Prince William County should sufficiently scare the heck out of anyone who cares about their quality of life!

  40. Elena

    Moon,
    We DO need a visual, any ideas?

  41. Gainesville First - Politics 2nd

    @Theseus

    This sounds eerily like the hyperbolic doomsday rhetoric about George Bush and then Barack Obama just before they were elected president.

    Strip out the partisan hyper-venilated accusations, distortions, and lies, and what you have left is two people who have different philosophies about government.

    Pete Candland wants lower taxes and less government.

    Ann Wheeler wants government to do more for those who are in distress, and that requires more revenue and even higher taxes.

    I live in the rural crescent, but I want the Count to allow only smart growth in the future. We built ahead of the infrastructure needs and let developers get a little crazy.

    Candland and Wheeler say they are for smart growth.

    I don’t need any more static about who voted in what election; who may have fudged the truth on cutting my utility bills; who may have been on a volunteer committee doing what the sponsor of that committee wanted done — even if in unconventional means; and no more accusations about HOA scandals or who candidates listen to or accept contributions from.

    On balance, Pete Candland’s PHILOSOPHY ABOUT GOVERNMENT is closer to my own philosophy on that topic, and so he gets my vote.

    The negative diatribes by Wheeler and her supporters about Candland’s alleged sins are wearing very thin in the community. We should hear what the candidates propose to do themselves and not about tearing down the other guy.

    The way it sounds right now, here is where the candidates stand:

    Candland: I want lower taxes and less government.

    Wheeler: Candland is a liar, hires sex offenders, and hangs out with thugs.

    So where does your vote go? It seems awfully clear from this vantage point.

  42. Elena

    Gainesville first,
    If you believe in lower taxes then Ann Wheeeler is your candidate, its that simple. Peter Candland got caught in a lie. You cannot support the Rural Crescent and then admit you will be the “game changer for development in PWC”. What is he talking about first of all?

    We have had plenty of develpment in Gainesville, especially along route 29. We have had plenty of development in Manassas. What we haven’t had in the Gainesville district is development in the RC.

    Are you confused about who is being the most vocal against Candland, it is republicans who bellieve in smart land use decision in order to KEEP taxes low.

    There is no need to build in the Rural Crescent if you are interested in commercial development. We have enough retail and commercial to fit two tysons corners AND a potomac mills planned in Gainesville already. What we DON’T have are high end commercial business’s interested in bringng their business to those areas.

    Even Candland freely admits that quality of life issues are what will bring the right business’s to PWC. If you have lack of services, like fire and rescue, like social services, like police, like investment in education, you will FAIL to bring those commercial entities to PWC.

    1. Let me echo what Elena has said. The people on this blog who are the most vociferous against Corey and Candland are Republicans.

      Elena and I are independent. You might expect us to be against Corey and Candland, despite the fact that Elena gave a fundraiser in her home for Corey, before he crossed over to the dark side. We both supported Republican Martha Hendley in the primary. Until Elena and the Rural Crescent ideals were attacked, no one would have known that though.

      We had planned on keeping our voting intentions to ourselves until Peter Candland and his pitbulls Greg and Jamie decided to declare a personal war on Elena during primary season. It was a strawman decoy to divert people away from voting for Martha Hendley who was the go-to Republican woman for decades in the Gainesville District. However, it is a good idea to never declare a war with people who buy ink by the barrel. (Right, Peter?) If you are going to declare war, at least tell the truth.

      It doesn’t look real good to attack a woman of Martha’s stature in the community so ….they were sneaky and went after Elena and the Rural Crescent pledge which is simply a statement that the candidate upholds the lot size of 10 acres and supports no municipal sewer systems. The picture painted of Elena practically had her sitting on Stalin’s lap, hoping that some of that image would rub off on Martha because she had signed the RC pledge.

      Peter had a chance to retract his lies and apologize when Elena contronted him with what was being said. That didn’t happen either. Perhaps it is because Peter knows he is Corey’s puppet and what is expected of him if he is elected. Perhaps he knows he is to cannabalize the comprehensive plan that protects the rural crescent. He pretty much indicated as much in the Washington Business Journal.

      A nice letter of apology would be fitting, before the election. Elena never did anything to hurt Peter Candland nor did she trash mouth him for not signing the pledge. She positively recognized those who did sign. The entire situation reminds me of a kid who didn’t do his homework and then gets pissed off because the kids who did got a piece of candy. Sorry, Pete. No candy for those who don’t do their homework. Our world is just not that touchy feely.

  43. Theseus

    @Moon-howler

    Moon, be careful about calling everyone Republican. Some people who oppose Stewart and Candland are actually not in that party, but I’m glad so many of them are willing to criticize their own people. Democrats would be better off if more would be willing to clean their own house.

    Regarding the above post, perhaps it was a bit over the top. But I’m mad. I see corporate interests buying off everything. And speaking of cleaning house, can’t we find a better candidate than Jenkins – someone without their hand in the corporate/developer money cookie jar? When are more Democrats going to be willing to go after him like some of the Republicans do Stewart?

    On Caddigan, she’s largely to blame for Avendale. When that first came up for a vote in January 2010, it was four to four, tied, and Stewart deferred it. When Stewart slipped it back on the agenda with less a week of notice in the middle of the summer when most people were on vacation, Caddigan had switched and became the fifth vote to approve it. How many 20s???????

    1. Sorry Theseus. I didn’t realize you were a D. Ooops.

      As to your questions, I simply do not know. I got tired of the parties myself. However, if you want in the decision making, parties are the only way to go.

  44. Theseus

    Moon, I’ve lived around here for a while and started getting interested in politics a while back. MH has been fun. I’ve got some good Republican and Democratic friends who are much more involved than I am. Surprising how much they’ll tell you if you ask the right questions. I enjoy having somewhere to vent my anger about all of this. This community has changed much for the worse over the past 30 years (I was here as far back as 1980). Have to say that Stewart has made it much worse and I’m infuriated that he seems on the verge of getting more lackies to back him and his developer friendson the board. I wish he would go back to Minnesota or wherever he’s from and take his pal Candland with him.

  45. Theseus

    Moon, I’ve lived around here for a while and started getting interested in politics a while back. MH has been fun. I’ve got some good Republican and Democratic friends who are much more involved than I am. Surprising how much they’ll tell you if you ask the right questions. I enjoy having somewhere to vent my anger about all of this. This community has changed much for the worse over the past 30 years (I was here as far back as 1980). Have to say that Stewart has made it much worse and I’m infuriated that he seems on the verge of getting more lackies to back him and his developer friendson the board. I wish he would go back to Minnesota or wherever he’s from and take his pal Candland with him.

  46. Gainesville First - Politics 2nd

    @Moon-howler
    I was not defending any of the interactions between partisans who have had a strong disagreement.

    Frankly, I do not believe the article in the Washington Business Journal provides the ammo everyone is attributing to it. There is an article in the News-Messenger that provides some clarity that is worth reading.

    http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/nov/05/gainesville-candidates-spar-over-rural-crescent-ar-1438147/

    “Candland said the accusations from the Wheeler campaign are disingenuous scare tactics.

    “Let me be as clear as I have been numerous times throughout this campaign,” Candland said. “I support the Rural Crescent, and I have always supported the Rural Crescent. This is just more of the same lies and dishonesty that the voters have come to expect from Ann Wheeler.”

    “From the very beginning, I have been a strong supporter of the Rural Crescent — that won’t change now or after the election,” Candland said.”

    From talking to a number of my neighbors at a community event, to a man (and woman) they find the Wheeler attacks “offensive”, “juvenile”, “over-the-top”, “way too negative”, and “complete nonsense.”

    One individual stated he was a strong Democrat, but the Wheeler “campaign pitch has been completely a turn off.”

    I personally have no doubt that the attack pieces (which I have discussed in other blog threads) on the HOA stuff were not only offensive, they reduced the stature of Wheeler as a credible candidate, but they will move some undecideds to her column. But the attacks will motivate Republicans who may have been lukewarm about going the to polls, and even lukewarm in supporting Candland, to go to vote on Tuesday.

    Net effect, in my estimation, is Wheeler poked the sleeping giant and generated more votes overall for Candland that he otherwise would have gotten.

    I also personally checked out claim on another unnamed blog about the 4.5% rate reduction that Wheeler regularly touts in her campaign materials. I called the AG who argued the case at the State Corporation Commission and he said he was “floored” that any member of the NOVEC Board would have the “ba**s” to claim they supported giving the money back to ratepayers.

    Turns out Wheeler has flatly misstated her credentials. The NOVEC Board fought against the rate cut.

    Looks like allegations of lack of integrity are rampant on both sides.

    I wish there was a little tougher examination of Wheeler on this blog. The discussion might actually be more enjoyable (don’t get me wrong, it is pretty enjoyable now — it use could be MORE ENJOYABLE).

    Just saying.

  47. @Gainesville First – Politics 2nd
    Your point would be more valid if this were just a battle between Ann and Peter. How do you explain that much of the same fight took place between Martha Hendley and Peter Candland?

    We had no intentions of getting involved publically in any of the races as of July 1, 2011. However, Candland publically attacked Elena on his FB page, stating that he would not sign the Rural Crescent pledge that the others had signed because he just didn’t know about Advocates of the Rural Crescent. He then went on to say that she was pro-choice (true) and didn’t support the ‘rules of law’ resolution. (false) and a few other comments that indicated he didn’t like her value system. The attack continued on at least 2 other blogs.

    The Rural Crescent has nothing to do with reproductive rights or immigration. Candland deflected and is now speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Why start the fight? Why personalize an attack on anyone? Elena never spoke negatively about Peter Candland. If he chose not to sign the pledge, that was up to him. Attacking her character and basically lying about her beliefs was foolish and showed that he listened to gossip. We know the source of the gossip. When given an opportunity to apologize to Elena, he chose to make up excuses and denied what he had obviously done.

    Additionally, if a candidate allows lies to be spread on their behalf in public, on Facebook or on blogs and does nothing to challenge this bad habit, then I personally hold that candidate responsible. Candland painted himself in a corner.

    In summation, this issue didn’t start with Ann. It started with Martha. Elena never badmouthed Peter Candland, not even to me on the phone. She was vilified on 2 blogs by blog masters with strong association with Candland. He should have told them to stop and he should have immediately apologized to Elena.

    He apparently wants to keep his options open with regards to the Rural Crescent. I am sure Corey would say he supported it also even though he voted to allow Avendale to open up inside the boundaries of the Rural Crescent–further proof anyone can justify anything.

    I have heard that there has been lots of whining about the howlers beating up on Peter. You know, the moral of this story is, don’t dish it out if you can’t take it. In the words of Billy Joel, we didn’t start the fire….

    I am perfectly satisfied with Ann Wheeler as a candidate. The electric company crap is just that, pure crap. She serves on the board. When half of Northern VA is power out, we have power. I have no complaints there at all. That’s just Greg, making like a gerbil on his gerbil wheel. I am surprised you would listen to all that.

    Hopefully this clarifies our position.

  48. Blue Moon

    “From the very beginning, I have been a strong supporter of the Rural Crescent — that won’t change now or after the election,” Candland said.”

    Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what form, specifically, that “strong support” has taken?

  49. It sounds like politics 2nd came here with mind already made up. It must be frustrating to see that Ann is pretty much the candidate of choice here with Republicans and Independents. Probably the difference is on this blog, 2nd has been allowed to speak. Try that on the other 2 blogs that seem to want to discuss Elena rather than county direction.

    Peter might be a good guy who has just gotten some bad advice. Once that starts, its hard to get back on track. He sounds like he would have a lot on his plate if he got elected between family and job. My concern would be if he would be under too much pressure to give in to those who would have different plans for the rural section of the county (especially in Gainesville District) other than those plans stated in the Comprehensive Plan.

    Corey seems to have taken him under his wing, yet Corey could not avoid the temptation to break his pledge and sell out to the highest campaign contributor.

    Follow the link to see Corey’s pledge. Corey is just not to be trusted where the Rural Crescent is concerned.

  50. Candland has not agreed to the two components of the Comprehensive plan that ensure that the Rural Cresent remains…the Rural Crescent: 1. minimum 10 acre lots 2. No expansion of municipal sewage lines into the Rural Crescent.

    He mumbo jumbos around listening to others, preserving beauty for future generations and ensuring that our infastructure keeps up with current population which isn’t really what protecting the Rural Cresent is all about. He misses the point.

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