Today’s MUST READ is from fellow blogger, Al Alborn, entitled “Supervisor Candland, you are no Corey Stewart.” In his opinion piece, Alborn explains the growth of Chairman Corey Stewart as a seasoned, political conservative who, despite some ideological bumps in the road, has landed on his feet and has guided the county through rough times politically and financially. Alborn points out that Stewart is likeable and listens to everyone regardless of district. Al is right. Corey has become the face of Prince William County.
So why did Alborn attempt to compare and contrast Candland, a 1 term (thus far) supervisor from the Gainesville District to a 2 term chairman? Why not. Candland has made saber-rattling chairman noises since he first came into office, either directly or through his anonymous support blog that mysteriously sprung to life shortly after Pete was inaugurated.
The central theme of Alborn’s piece is that Candland is only 1 of 7–he represents only one District, the elite well-heeled Gainesville District, yet he expects the rest of the county to conform to Pete’s “my way or the highway” modus operandi.
Quoting Alborn from his blog piece, SupervisorCandland, you are no Corey Stewart! | One libertarian’s point of view:
I was an early fan of Pete’s, and even a member of his budget committee.After looking “behind the curtain,” I realized I just couldn’t be part of his organization.Nothing I see “in front of the curtain” has changed my mind.From the beginning, Pete’s strategy has been “my way or the highway.”I know Pete Candland better than most.Supervisor Candland is no Corey Stewart!Rather than recognize that he represents only one of the seven Magisterial Districts, and that perhaps those other six supervisors might just represent different points of view, Pete has continued to hammer away at his particular vision of what Prince William County should look like in the future.While that vision might delight the folks in the Gainesville District, the wealthiest District in Prince William County, Virginia, it doesn’t represent “the rest of us”…the folks who live east of the Brentsville line.That’s a shame.
Thanks for the “shout out” Moon.
The Sheriff is throwing a hissy fit? I wouldn’t know. I stopped reading his blog a long time ago. I just don’t pay attention to blogs when I don’t know who is doing the writing and/or commenting. I suspect its the same person. Everyone knows how and where to find me.
I’m flattered the Sheriff still reads mine. That explains why my hit rate is so high lately.
Any publicity is good publicity!
I appreciate Al’s comments. More should listen…he reminds us that republican doesn’t equal fringe or extreme. And that some republican’s actually THINK and don’t follow the piper.
I won’t comment on the supervisors, still reeling from the horror of last Thursday’s meeting.
SoN and his cadre are bent out of shape because their grand hope that the “firehouse” primary debacle would force the incumbent Republicans to move way to the right is not working out for them. Assuming the board passes the budget that they marked up last Thursday it will be a “fair and balanced” budget. And most of the county’s citizens won’t even notice or care that their taxes have gone up slightly. Al is right – whether it’s political expediency or true maturity, Corey has figured out how to lead from the center – where the bulk of the voters are. Meantime the SoN is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
@Lyssa
Wasn’t that the most horrible spectacle that you have ever seen?
It took almost the entire day to watch it and “reeling in horror” seems to describe it. I couldnt even do a post on it. I was rendered speechless and as people who know me will attest, that’s pretty difficult to do.
@Wombat
SoN is still out there, regardless of what name he goes by. His appearances are more public.
This is downright confusing. For years now, I have seen Corey Stewart get figuratively drawn and quartered on this blog. “Corey, I don’t even know you anymore!” Now he appears to be the flavor of the day. Some strange politics in PWC. Does this mean that the Moonhowlings stalwarts are now ready to vote for Corey in general elections? Hmmmm?
Wolve, I know it is confusing. Corey has grown up a lot and profits from comparison. I don’t know much about his contender. Seems like an OK guy according to my sources. It is how this was all done. There are people in this county who wanted to cut off Stewart, Nohe and Caddigan and seem to be willing to try all sorts of subterfuge to make that happen.
@Wolve – Fringe candidates have that effect. Left and right.
@Moon-howler
As the bumper sticker says – mean people suck.
oh no doubt Moon – SoN is still out there. And still making anonymous, nasty attacks that are mostly half truths or just lies. I just think the board has finally decided they are done letting him influence them. He is mostly talking to himself. And @Lysssa you are so right. I still haven’t gotten through the whole mark-up tape. The whole “water” discussion was so painful! I don’t think anyone on the board, and maybe not even the staff actually understands if there is a problem, what it is or what it would take to solve it. If I had been in the room I think I would’ve run away screaming for mercy!
I definitely wanted to scream mercy during that whiny interlude. I don’t think there is a soccer field problem with water. If the little Gainesville library is closing next fall, then it would be far cheaper to provide bottled water for patrons than to run a sewer line. As I understand it, the new library will be elsewhere.
I guess what really grossed me out was the whining about ” I am being punished and picked on.”
So I assume for you, Lyssa. But what of the others? Embrace Corey or follow the other pied piper name Wiggins regardless of any alleged “Stewart Reformation”?
Not sure about your question about Wiggins. Rephrase por favor.
Who among you has been convinced to vote in the future for the newly “reformed” Corey Stewart as opposed to voting Democrat regardless of Corey’s apparent “reformation”? Just curious.
I don’t think that has been determined yet. I want to see what emerges from the ashes of this primary before I start making up my mind.
You might want to consider that very little anti Corey rhetoric has been generated by this blog since the last election. I would say you probably read more positive than negative if you were keeping score.
Politics makes strange bed fellows. Our main beef with Corey was over immigration and not just immigration–the tone he took while he and his blogger buddy tried to stomp out illegal immigration. (See Elena address Corey in 2007). He toned it down, we toned it down.
Like I said, I want to see what shakes down after the fire house primary. That will determine my direction. Right now Corey is strutting his conservative cred.
Corey knows what direction this county has to take to survive as the 2nd wealthiest county in Virginia. He also knows how to control some of the more ….aggressive, nasty elements in the county. That’s reason enough right there to vote for him.
Al gives us the numbers—exactly how many people will be determining the “winners” of the firehouse primaries. Talk about your 1%.
Come on Harry, shake out some Democrats to run.
People I have talked to don’t want to run because they don’t want to subject their friends and families to some of the truly hateful crap generated by some of the blogs. I don’t blame them. But of course, that is what some of the “king-makers” want.
Do you think I’m in the minority here? Why would anyone “follow Wiggins”. Wouldn’t most look at the two candidates and decide? Wiggins has a job to do, but he’s not running.
I am REALLY enjoying my retirement from politics. This is one of the strangest cycles I can recall. “Messy” is the word that comes to mind. I like my politics like my bourbon…neat. It has been interesting to watch, and I will be voting in the party canvass for sheriff and clerk of court, but have had no desire to jump into this scrum, discussions or active campaigning.
I feel the same way but feel I must jump in. I feel like it is a battle over the future of PWC.
I listened to a portion of the meeting – are they for real – $1.5 Million to bring water and sewer to Long Park – really?? The mini-library where the water problem mainly exists will be no more soon. Could they not try digging a new well on all that acreage that exists out there? And $160K in annual costs… really. Why sewer? do they need both – and the ultimate spending cutter is trying to force it. I would wonder if there is an alternative reason. Is there a new development that will be able to tap into the water/sewer once it is run?
Turn off the water to the little library except for the toilets. Provide bottled water.
Long Park. Dig a new well. Or…bring your own water. Why must government do everything for people?
If I went over to Silver Lake which I have been bitching about for 5 years, I couldn’t get potable water. I should bring my own.
Waaahhhhhhhhh!!!!! Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
What I do not get, is that this type of spending ($1.5 Million for water AND sewer) is exactly the type of spending that Candland complains about. He complains about the hidden on going costs. And this is exactly what he wants – why do the need sewer to fix a problem with the water. Why do they need the water when the library is leaving (the new library is almost finished).
If Principi were the one requesting the money, I am sure that Candland would be against it. My conspiracy theory antenna is up.
@Lyssa
Purely poetic license, Lyssa. Wiggins….Democratic chair….Democratic ticket.
@Pat.Herve
How many parks have potable water coming out of fountains? The county says nothing is wrong with the athletic field water fountains. Dig a well, its cheaper.
Ben Lomond sure doesn’t have water fountains. Those players and their families haul their own water down to the fields. They don’t expect government to provide for them. On the other hand, Ben Lomond isn’t in the golden zip code.
That old library will close soon. Buy bottled water for the patrons or they could do things the Ben Lomond way and bring their own. there should be no consideration about hauling water in to that building.
Candland is not really a conservative. He would be more than willing for everyone to have to pay higher taxes, just not his constituents out in REAL Gainesville.
He and his handler have played the people of PWC like a rented mule.
I actually see little difference between Corey and bvbl.net and Pete and SoN. Both blogs excoriate perceived enemies. Both blogs played loosey goosey with the truth. The difference is, we knew who Greg was/is. I respect him for that. Corey didn’t hide behind some anonymous little wizard pulling the strings and pushing the buttons. Corey also jumped off the train before it wrecked.
Corey has matured as a politician and right now is seen as the only one who can effectively steer things in the right direction. I think his opponent is a good man also but this isn’t his time. I hope he will stick around for other challenges. I plan to support Corey and yes, I never thought I would say it. We have had our ups and downs. Right now I am looking at the good he has done in this county.
Marty is the peacemaker. Corey is the director. Things need to stay that way.
Greg had one clear objective and wanted to bring everyone down who didn’t agree. These other guys have NO clear objective except to bring everyone down they simply don’t like. No focus, just hate and ridicule.