This upcoming supervisors race is getting increasingly amusing.  Some of it is very predictable.  Some of it, not so much.

I hear things. I never tell names and tales in the same breath.  It cuts off your source of information.  Information is gold to a blogger.  You can use it wisely and prudently or you can shot-gun it all over the place and blow folks out of the water.  I have seen both.  I try to follow the former rather than the latter path.

I find it laughable that the same person ran his own strong-arm candidate acquisition scam.   I think about 20 people got strong armed.  Not many people have the stomach for this game so many just said no.

It appeared that there would be one Republican candidate and one Democratic candidate for the BOCS chair.  Then along came a rival, yapping at Corey heels.  I question the wisdom of  Candland support so early in the game.  That sends a clear message to the current chairman that Pete Candland is an adversary and doesn’t plan to work with Corey at all.  Candland might as well have declared war.  Why would you want to send that message, just out of curiosity?  Is that smart to show your cards that early in the game to someone of the same party, sitting on the same board?

Why didn’t Candland run himself?  Could it be that my sources are right and that someone ordered a poll  and Pete saw he didn’t have the numbers to unseat the chairman?  So why send in someone with no name recognition county-wide?  That sounds almost cruel.

Make no mistake.  Corey Stewart will win.  Anti-Stewart Republicans…read Sheriff and his Minions…will try to rough Corey up a bit. It will get ugly and nasty stuff will be said about Corey.  Hell, it already has been said.  There will be no holding back once the primary season gets under way.  Again, make no mistake, Corey will win regardless of how much he gets roughed up.  Then what are all the minions going to do?

Rick Smith is a Democrat.  Are the Sheriff and minions all going to vote Democratic to try to get Corey out of office?  I don’t think so.  So how are they going to cover up that for months they have been calling Corey a POS and have thrown everything but the kitchen sink at him?   This isn’t like  a national or state election.  These are both local people who we might even bump into in the grocery store.  They know us and we know them if we see them on the street.   You just can’t get but so dirty.  Or can you?

I want to watch this maneuver.   Meanwhile, I am placing my bets on the chairman.  It will be interesting to see if my assessment is right.

[Ed Note:  Al Alborn has informed me that there is no official Candland endorsement of Crawford.  Therefore I am changing the wording of the post from endorsement to support, for the sake of accuracy.]

34 Thoughts to “Pre-election prognostications”

  1. Charlotte

    I don’t think this information is accurate. Kind of a Brian Williams moment. But it does continue the broadside attack on Supervisor Candland. The source? Could it be the real Brian Williams of PWC Al Alborn?

    This is all getting to be quite the embarassing moment for the anti-Candland bloggers.

    Ok, I will admit that I really don’t have any personal knowledge on whether Candland endorsed a candidate against Stewart. I am relying on the inaccurate – by his own description – leap to a conclusion that was wrong. And now here it is popping up here. One story teller misleading another story teller. And both of you accuse the SON of being the bad actor.

    I wonder how long all of this will be kept live?

    1. What do you feel is inaccurate, Charlotte? If Pete has not endorsed Chris Crawford, he can shoot me an email and I will print a correction. Actually, that would be a fairly prudent thing to do since a lot of people are under the impression that there has been an endorsement, myself included. The rest of the post is speculation as implied by the title, “Pre-election prognostications.” Opinion is just that…opinion.

      I don’t believe it is an attack on Candland. It questions how it will all work. It certainly has nothing to do with Al Alborn, who you take a swipe at. You are forgetting that I live in the Gainesville Magisterial District. Why would I get my information from the Coles District when so many people from my own district are talking about it? I know a lot of people think that the Gainesville District is only Gainesville and Haymarket but those of us who live closer to the City are also part of the district and word does travel in to us City folks.

      Your talk of leap to conclusion is confusing. I am not sure who the “he” is and who is leaping.

      I suppose I have had the posse sent after me?

  2. Cargosquid

    I predict…..
    That someone will win.

    1. Maybe all will lose. Its not a job I would want, that’s for sure.

  3. Charlotte,

    Pete Candland called me about Chris Crawford. It was a nice chat. While I disagree with Pete on tax policy, I still like the guy (although I don’t expect a Christmas Card this year).

    Chris Crawford challenged me to coffee to discuss tax policy. I accepted. We spend about an hour and a half talking about a number of things. It turns out we have a lot of professional interests in common. Nice guy. I really enjoyed our conversation.

    Chris shared that he was on Pete’s budget committee, and that he signed Pete’s tax pledge. I’ll admit that from the nature of the conversation I incorrectly came to the conclusion Pete had endorsed Chris.

    Pete called to tell me that he in fact not endorsed Chris Crawford. There is a correction on my blog.

    After discussing tax policy with Chris, I declined to sign his nomination paperwork. While Pete hasn’t endorsed Chris, I believe that Chris is clearly in the Candland camp of tax policy.

    I’m not anti-Candland. I spent a delightful evening with Pete and Robin Candland, and his supporters, just a couple of weeks ago. I’m anti-Candland tax policy. There’s a difference.

    When it comes to things I say on my blog, I put my own name on them, stand behind what I say, and correct errors when they are pointed out. I am happy to have coffee with anyone who would like to discuss something I have said, and make corrections if I make an error.

    Try that with other blogs that are out there. We should have coffee Charlotte.

  4. Charlotte

    @Moon-howler

    Ms. Moon:

    Okay, I must have been wrong. You and Al Alborn love Pete Candland but you just don’t like his tax policy. Or his position on development. Or where he has his office. Or how he stands up to Corey Stewart. Or how he talks to county staff (no matter how they lie to him). Or how he cuts off the County Executive (no matter how many times she cuts him off). Or who supports him. Or he advises him. Or anyone who says they agree with him on some issue or another. Or how he cuts his hair.

    If either of you think you can pretend to not be anti-Candland just because you say it, makes you more like Bill O’Reilly (I saw Nuns shot in the back of the head) than Brian Williams (my copter was shot down). How does that old saying go: With friends like the both of you, Candland sure does not need any enemies.

    But my original point was that the claim was wrong about Candland endorsing a candidate against Stewart. That was the inaccurate rumor started by blogger zero Al Alborn.

    So Moon either reads that inaccurate rumor on Alborn’s blog (Moon reads and comments there), or some “birdie” chirps it in her ears. Moon repeats it.

    The defense: If it is untrue, Candland should just “shoot me an email.” Wow. Is that how it works?

    An untrue rumor, publicly corrected by the source who acknowledges an incorrect leap in logic, can only be retracted if Candland himself denies the untrue rumor? Will Moon send Candland a list of every person who hits this blog and who may have been misled so Candland can shoot them an email?

    No, I think the responsibility is on the purveyor of the lie.

    I just finished a class at my workplace on situational ethics. This is a case study in that.

    You both attack SON for being anonymous and saying things that are untrue. So shine up that black pot because you are now the kettle. SON is out there, no doubt. Provocative and pretty edgy about it. But SON makes no false and unbelievable pretense about not being anti-Stewart or anti-Nohe or anti-tax or anti-Peacor or any other members of the so-called “tax and spend” crowd. There is a bit of integrity in that, wouldn’t you say?

    All of you Candland-lovers should all have coffee together to plan the next “I love Candland but here is another thing on the list that I hate about him” blog post — I guess that’s what you retired people turned bloggers do with your time. I have another 30 years before I can do that. But thanks anyway.

    I have to get to work to afford the next tax increase that is coming down the tracks.

    1. Finished with your little snit fit, Charlotte?

      Here is what you have to know: absolutely do not like Pete Candland’s close association with an anonymous blog. I have said so many times. That association, in my opinion, is simply bad governance. I am not the only one who thinks that. Many people think that in the county. Connections have been established over and over again including an email where someone accidentally signed his name. So let’s not play games.

      I don’t attack anyone. I point out things I do not like that have happened in my county. Just out of curiosity, is your rant about defending Pete or about defending the SON? It’s very difficult to tell the difference.

      For the record, before I read this diatribe, I had printed a correction based on what Al Alborn said on this blog. Its a small correction but a correction nevertheless.

      Why would I expect to hear from Pete? Why not. He is the only person who can tell me who he is supporting, endorsing or otherwise. As it turns out, I accepted Al’s word also because he generally tries to present all sides fairly in almost any argument. I have known Al a number of years and believe what he just said on this blog.

  5. Pete Candland did endorse Paul O’Meara.

    As a Coles District resident, I attended O’Meara’s kick-off to hear what he had to say. I was honest with O’Meara sharing that he would have to convince me to vote for him instead of Nohe. I’m unconvinced as of this moment; however, I’ll wait for the debate before making any final decision.

    If there is no debate, my decision to support Nohe on what I know today stands.

    I don’t hold Candland’s endorsement of O’Meara in high regard. Nothing against Paul. He is a nice guy, and a credit to our community. I am not comfortable with trying to replace incumbents with whom I disagree within one’s own Party with like minded candidates rather than seek a path of compromise with folks popularly elected within another District.

    It gives me a rather “creepy” feeling to think Candland, the Gainesville Supervisor, is interceding in Coles District business to get his way in future issues which come before the Board. He can do that. I don’t have to like it.

    I value diversity in politics. We need different opinions to ensure that the needle doesn’t swing too far left or right. When people try to “rig the game” to move the needle too far in either direction, I object.

    When they come into my community to “rig the game” in their favor, I’m frankly offended.

  6. Wow. that is certainly a share-ful. Thank you Al, for your openness. I guess I should be expecting a call from Pete. Many people in his district sure thinks he has endorsed Chris Crawford.

    I guess I still have the same feelings I did. Except now war has been declared on Marty.

    It just looks like rebellion in the ranks and sends a bad message. These are 8 people who were sent by the people of Prince William County to provide governance of our county. They guide and direct those who actually carry out the business of the county. I want them to pretend to get along and compromise towards that we want for the county. I don’t like open warfare amongst the ranks.

  7. BS Detector

    Moon,

    Are you referring to the email that the Sheriff sent to a citizen in the community from the Nottingham address and signed his real name by accident?

    I wish that person would release that email and be done with all this stupid cloak and dagger behavior.

    1. Are you related to the other BS on here?

      I doubt if that email will ever be released.

  8. El Guapo

    What was the real name? That would stop a lot of silliness.

    I understand there is still a sizable reward for the Sheriff’s identity.

    1. It isn’t up to me to release that email, in the essence of fairness. It was not sent to me originally. I just got a forward of it.

  9. Pat.Herve

    BS Detector :
    Moon,
    Are you referring to the email that the Sheriff sent to a citizen in the community from the Nottingham address and signed his real name by accident?
    I wish that person would release that email and be done with all this stupid cloak and dagger behavior.

    If that is true, the receiver of the email just release it in its entirety. I have a bet and I want to collect.

  10. El Guapo

    The receiver of that email would do the community a favor if he simply forwarded it to insidenova, potomaclocal, the Gainesville Times, and the Board of County Supervisors.

    An anonymous comment revealing the real name here would be another way.

    We could use a break from the nastiness we saw in the Lawson campaign.

  11. Sheesh, I guess I have sat on the sidelines of this recently called love-fest long enough, its time to call BS.

    Al “I’m anti-Candland tax policy” Alborn, would you be the same Al Alborn who on Dec. 24 (64 days ago) wrote that Pete Candland’s budget “was an excellent start”. Or the Al Alborn who on the same day wrote that “I hope you (Jeanine Lawson) and Pete Candlland collaborate to shut the machinery that has nothing to do with core services down”.

    If not, perhaps you are the Al Alborn who gave Pete a “hand salute” three days earlier for his budget guidance or the guy who wrote on Dec. 10 that Pete and Jeanine would give “balance” to the Board.

    If I’m wrong then you must be the Al Alborn who suggested Eric Young was the perfect candidate to “jam up the machine”, a posting about a candidate outside your magisterial district on October 17.

    Perhaps, if we go all the way back to March 16, you are the Al Alborn that suggested Earnie Porta was the perfect candidate to come in an take away people’s seats and break the china.

    It gives me a rather “creepy” feeling to find someone who puts his own name on his postings and purports to stand behind what he says, change directions with more frequency than a drunken sailor. Is it because today is Thursday, your day to be a small “l” libertarian. Which days of the week are reserved for your membership in the Coffee, Tea, or Republican parties and which days are you Independent.

    If you are going to put your name to things and stand behind what you right, the first thing you might want to adopt is a little bit of consistency. At present you seem to flit with the wind giving some the impression that your “support” is little more than a commodity available to the highest bidder.

    Sorry Moon, you may Keel-Haul me at your convenience.

    1. Why is it the men seem to want to fight here instead of on other blogs?

      Now why are you picking at Al and why here? Everyone today has come on here pointing at Al when it is not he who told me anything about endorsements. If he did, I sure don’t remember. I do know other people for God’s sake. In fact, I just got an entire earful end of last week. It’s a Gainesville thing. Al was not present.

      You might have your issues with Al. It has nothing to do with me or my post. The only thing Al did is tell me that Pete told him he didn’t endorse Candidate Crawford. If indeed Pete did endorse him, then I guess someone can correct me on that issue also.

      We have all been known to change our minds on things. I do it sometimes although it is usually very begrudgingly. When you get old and grouchy, you don’t like to change your mind. I do try to be consistent.

  12. Mom

    Stupid auto-correct “Write” not “right”

  13. Mom

    BTW, because I know which direction Moon is going to generally go, despite whether I generally agree (land use) or disagree (tax policy), I still tune in and occasionally comment because the debate is usually genuine and I know she will “stand behind” what she writes. It’s that little consistency thing.

  14. Mom

    @Moon-howler
    “Why is it the men seem to want to fight here instead of on other blogs?”
    You don’t recall the first rule of the Hook, never shit in your own yard.

    “Now why are you picking at Al and why here?”
    Because he brought it on himself, here.

    “Everyone today has come on here pointing at Al”
    Speaks volumes given that I am in general disagreement with most.

    “When you get old and grouchy, you don’t like to change your mind”
    I’ll drink to that.

    “I do try to be consistent”
    And you generally succeed.

    1. Well don’t do that in mine either. Several people did that last week. Same topic, little different take.

      I must have missed what he said that brought out the brass knuckles. I thought he was telling me I was incorrect in a nice way. Shrug.

      But people do have a right to change their minds, even if their minds are changed because everything is relative. I can think of a couple things you and I have both changed our minds about. (not the same thing, I might add) I don’t like to admit it when I do. Sigh…

      I think I need a scotch or some Devils Cut.

  15. MoM, just like you do on your blog. I see you connect the dots to tell the story you want with no accountability.

    We are judged by our enemies. Thanks for that. You’re not a friend many people want (which speaks volumes about your friends).

    See you Saturday.

  16. Mom

    @Al Alborn
    I’m comfortable with my consistency, friends and enemies. As a result I sleep very well at night. Lastly, I suspect that I have considerably more experience with public accountability than you, I just Saturday isn’t another complete waste of time.

  17. Wolve

    This is much better than Neil Patrick Harris in his Y-front undies. I won’t be casting any votes though. Both Mom and Al have the spirit and the chutzpah. I kinda like both those fellers, even though I don’t always agree with them.

    Now, pass the popcorn.

  18. Wolve, since you are a viewer, I am just going to ignore them. Maybe they can clear the air.

    Enjoy the show. I agree with you. I don’t always agree but I like them.

  19. Leveleer

    It’s over. The Sheriff did Candland in. His attempt to scare the public backfired. Candland could have bullied the board into a tax rate close to 1.3% if the Sheriff had simply kept quiet and let the process move forward.

    Candland is damaged goods thanks to the Sheriff. It takes more than two votes to get anything done, and those other six votes just aren’t scared of him any more. The Prince William County will probably pay the price. I predict a tax rate of 4%, maybe higher. The Sheriff of Nottingham of Prince William County did an excellent job of scaring people that Candland wanted to take away their stuff.

    They like their stuff. Candland was wrong on this one. The Sheriff made sure everybody knew about it.

  20. El Guapo

    I’m waiting for bubblehead Marty to come back, or for comparisons of Principi to the Mayor of Toronto. I’ll bet that Derecho and the Sheriff already have lots of photoshop pics of everyone they don’t like ready to go. What fun! I hope they are at least a little tasteful with Caddigan. She’s a very nice lady.

    It’s no secret Derecho is on the Lawson/Candland budget committee. That makes things a little more interesting. It’s safe to assume he’s also on their campaign committees. I’ll bet those are combined. I”ll bet the Sheriff is on both too.

    The direct connection of these bloggers to Lawson and Candland make it impossible for either of them to avoid responsibility for what Derecho and the Sheriff publish. It also makes the idea that Derecho and maybe the Sheriff actually walk around their offices as a members of their budget committee amusing. Who would take budget advice from such people?

    I wonder how long Derecho has been on the Candland/Lawson budget committee? It makes me wonder just how deep Candland and Lawson’s hands were in those attacks on anyone they didn’t agree with them? Who really sat around dreaming up those vicious attacks on Jacobs and Young?

    Food for thought.

  21. Leveleer

    @El Guapo

    Derecho on the Candland/Lawson Budget Committee? Tell me you are kidding?

    I thought Candland and Lawson were bright people. They just couldn’t be that stupid. That puts their fingerprints all over Derecho’s blog.

    He is the most consistent blogger in Prince William County. Consistently offensive. Consistently insulting. Consistently setting new lows in his attacks. Consistently ignoring inconvenient facts. Consistently only writing posts supporting Candland and Lawson. Consistently attacking anyone who might be against Candland and Lawson. Consistently mean spirited. His blog reads like the work of a sociopath.

    Candland and Lawson just can’t be that stupid. Or can they? Please. Tell me it isn’t so.

  22. Derecho, for all of his “eccentricities”, does excellent technical analysis. I may not agree with his more personal stuff; however, he does have more experience in public policy than I, and he does the math.

    I’m “sorta” a fan. He would probably be an asset on any budget committee willing to accept his “eccentricities” and backstory.

    I am not devoted to a single candidate, cause, or party; therefore, I’m free to let my posts wander and change my mind. In the free market of ideas, readers are free to go elsewhere if I offend them.

  23. Mom

    @Al Alborn
    From one who does the math to another, thanks. Although I may disagree with your analysis, as you’re fond of noting, if you want to have an impact or make your views known, you have to play the game. That means a lot of time spent outside of the electronic world reviewing and analyzing what are often tedious documents. It easy to say the budget is either bloated or lean but it takes a lot of work to prove either viewpoint.

  24. @Mom
    On that, and a few other things, we agree.

  25. El Guapo

    I like you guys better when you are arguing. Get a room!

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