The 2nd debate in a series of 10 (!) between Republican John Cook and Democrat Janet Oleszek for Braddock District Supervisor in Fairfax County is scheduled for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to this debate since rebuttals will be allowed, unlike the first debate. That rule certainly benefited the Oleszek campaign and the many wrong things she said (non-NoVa readers may remember Oleszek as the candidate who lost to then-Sen. Cuccinelli after the Washington Post called her “embarrassingly short on substance”).
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like local media is interested in the facts, either. Check out this terribly written article from Connection Newspapers:
A squabble erupted when Cook, answering question about congestion on Braddock Road, said he would push for “local control for local roads.”
“We have a task force working on Danbury and Wake Forest. We’ve got three ongoing projects at George Mason. We are adding a lane to Braddock Road near Guinea Road,” he said.
Oleszek said his plan amounted to privatizing roadways. “I am amazed that someone would privatize our roadways at a time when our transportation issues are so much more complex,” Oleszek said.
This is reporting is so wrong its absurd. Oleszek never said Cook’s plan “amounts to privatization”. She thinks Cook’s plan actually IS privatization! She thinks local control of local roads, the same arrangement that independent cities in Virginia has, the same arrangement Arlington and Henrico County have, is the same thing as privatizing them because she doesn’t understand what “local control” means.
Fortunately, the Cook campaign doesn’t seem to be letting Oleszek’s ineptitude slow them down. Yesterday, they issued a release on the County Pension system responding to Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova, who stepped in and bailed Oleszek out after she didn’t know that the County had a pension fund that wasn’t the statewide VRS (Chris has more details here).
And today, they issued another press release touting Supervisor Cook’s plan to strengthen neighborhoods, with local control of local roads receiving prominent attention:
Improving our Neighborhoods Through Local Control of Local Roads
A relic of a bygone era, Virginia is one of only three states where the state, not localities, owns and maintains local roads. “This is not a system that is benefiting Braddock District,” said Cook. “Grass in the medians is high, potholes mark our streets and little hope for change is in sight.”…
County staff has followed through and interviewed each Virginia locality that owns and maintains its own roads. All reported that they are happy they do and, in fact, many expressed their disbelief that Fairfax has not yet followed suit.
Also mentioned in the news release is Governor McDonnell’s (who won Braddock in 2009) support for the campaign, including a fundraiser he’s holding tonight here in Fairfax. The Governor’s support joins that of the environmental lobby (from the Northern Virginia LCV), from labor (Fairfax County Government Employee’s Union), and businesses (Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce), despite objections from the far left and the far right.
All of this leads to tomorrow’s debate, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the front yard of Denny and Suzie D’Alelio’s home, 4811 Woodland Way in Annandale. I’ll be there, so if you’re anxious to know what Janet Oleszek will get wrong this time, you won’t have to wait very long. Or you can just show up!
In the meantime, the full text of Cook’s release is below, and you can check out Chris’s link for the full text of the one he sent yesterday.
Supervisor Cook Releases Three-Part Plan to Strengthen Our NeighborhoodsPlan Comes in Advance of Governor McDonnell Visit, on Heels of Local Endorsements
Continuing his commitment to engaged communities and strong neighborhoods, Supervisor Cook today released a plan that stands in stark contrast to his opponent’s emphasis on partisan politics. The plan for stronger neighborhoods focuses on the Citizen Governance Initiative, improving our roadways with local control and keeping residents informed and involved.
“The job of the District Supervisor is to take care of our neighborhoods,” said Supervisor Cook. “My opponent can spend all the time she likes pointing out all the elected Democrats who support her, but at the end of the day, there is no Republican or Democrat solution to Kings West Swim Club, and there is no Republican or Democrat solution to ensuring people can park safely in their neighborhoods. The only solution that matters is doing what is best for the community. And on that front, my opponent has offered nothing.”
Cook hones in on three key issues essential to strengthening our neighborhoods:
Enhancing the Community Engagement Initiative
Hundreds of residents have participated in the Community Engagement Initiative, the Environmental Leadership Institute and Coffee Connections, efforts geared toward bringing people together. “It is important for the District Supervisor to reach out to all communities, to be inclusive and get everyone involved. That is what I have done,” said Supervisor Cook. In keeping with a tag-line adopted by his office – ‘you don’t need to move in order to live in a better neighborhood’ – Cook added “We have given people the tools to improve their own communities and they have responded.”Moving forward, Cook plans to launch a Citizen Governance Initiative. A citizen Land Use and Environmental Management Committee would review and comment on all Braddock land use applications and develop expertise in storm water management and additional environmental issues as a complement to land use policy. The Supervisor’s current citizen budget committee would be reconstituted to continually examine long-term county policies relating to the budget. A new School-Community task force would be formed in conjunction with our Braddock School Board member, to work towards greater community involvement in our schools. “This is the next step in giving the residents of Braddock District a greater say in the future of their community,” commented Cook.
Improving our Neighborhoods Through Local Control of Local Roads
A relic of a bygone era, Virginia is one of only three states where the state, not localities, owns and maintains local roads. “This is not a system that is benefiting Braddock District,” said Cook. “Grass in the medians is high, potholes mark our streets and little hope for change is in sight.”Controlled by rural counties that do not need more road funding, the General Assembly has eliminated construction funding for secondary (local) roads and significantly reduced maintenance funding. Recognizing this reality almost two years ago, the Fairfax County Executive recommended that Fairfax consider negotiating with the state for a local takeover of at least some roads. County staff has followed through and interviewed each Virginia locality that owns and maintains its own roads. All reported that they are happy they do and, in fact, many expressed their disbelief that Fairfax has not yet followed suit.
Cook stated that he “realizes funding is an issue and any transfer of responsibility would have to come with state funding and a new state formula for roads.” He added “Further enhancements to our transportation system would likely require local dollars, but a local system means all our local dollars stay right here in Fairfax, instead of Fairfax dollars going to Richmond where only a fraction return.” “This is not a simple issue by any means,” said Supervisor Cook. “But Fairfax County and the Braddock District would be better served by a system focused on our neighborhoods, a system where decision-making authority rests here, not in Richmond.”
Keeping you Informed and Involved
Since taking office, keeping people informed has been a top priority for Supervisor Cook. “An open dialogue between the Supervisor and the residents of Braddock District is a must. I am proud of the positive comments I have received about my office communications: the Braddock Beacon and the Cook Advisory.”
In addition to keeping people informed, Supervisor Cook has actively sought citizen input. “On issues ranging from the County Budget, to Transportation, to Land Use cases, I have reached out to people at the beginning of the process, not the end, so that they can have a real role in the decision making process,” said Cook.
A successful democracy does not rely on government to come up with every answer. Citizens must be actively involved in their community and in their government.
The plan to strengthen our neighborhoods is being released in advance of Saturday’s debate, the second of ten, and on the same day Governor McDonnell headlines a key fundraiser for the Supervisor. Recently, Cook announced the endorsements of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, the Fairfax League of Conservation Voters and the Fairfax County Government Employees Union. “I’m honored to receive such widespread support,” said Supervisor Cook, “and I believe it’s a reflection of the momentum this campaign is building and my dedication to solving problems cooperatively and doing what’s right for Braddock District and Fairfax County.”
(Photo Credit: Rachael Dickson, Burke Patch link: http://burke.patch.com/articles/profile-john-cook-supervisor-braddock-district)
