PWC/Virginia Democratic Primary – Tuesday, June 11th – REMINDER

June 10, 2013by Staff EditorNo comments

Prince William County Democratic Committee

Greetings PWCDC members and friends!

Please remember to vote tomorrow, June 11th, in the Democratic Primary.  Traditionally voter participation drops dramatically after a presidential race.  State and local primaries and general elections are vital in determining the direction our Commonwealth will take.  Polls are open from 6 AM – 7 PM.  To find out all your voting information from the Virginia Board of Elections website, click here.

The key races are for Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor. (Terry McAuliffe is running unopposed for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.)

For Attorney General, Mark Herring (website) and Justin Fairfax (website) are seeking the Democratic nomination.

For Lieutenant Governor, Aneesh Chopra (website) and Ralph Northam (website) are seeking the Democratic nomination

The Washington Post also has candidate information at:

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/data/politics/elections/guide/2013/VA/

Thank you and please vote,

Harry Wiggins,

Chair, PWCDC

OPINION/George Harris – A letter to Delegates Anderson, Lingamfelter and Miller

June 08, 2013by Staff Editor2 Comments

From George S. Harris

Dear Delegates Anderson, Lingamfelter and Miller:

I am writing to you because I have not noticed any public comments from you regarding the disastrous Bi/Tri County Parkway that Secretary Sean Connaughton and the Commonwealth Transportation Board are attempting to cram down the throats of the citizens of Prince William County.  At least three of your colleagues, Senator Charles Colgan, Delegate Tim Hugo and Delegate Bob Marshall as well as Congressman Frank Wolf have all spoken out against this parkway.  Where do you stand on this issue?  There is a furor going on here in Prince William County; folks are very unhappy about this road, which will bring no good to Prince William County.  We will simply be a pass through for cargo traffic traveling from Dulles to Interstate 95.  This traffic will bring noise, pollution and dangerous traffic conditions to Prince William County citizens traveling on what is now Route 234–a very good 4-lane highway.  And this doesn’t even begin to take into consideration the damage that will be done to the citizens in the Pageland Road area and the Rural Crescent.

It is rumored that Secretary Connaughton has threatened reprisals against those who oppose him on this issue.  He has said that he, the CTB and the NVTA will withhold funds for roads in districts of those who oppose him.  I don’t know if this is true, but if it is, this is a very serious issue that needs to be stopped NOW.

It is already known that developers have bought up all the land along the proposed route of this road, simply waiting to reap a huge harvest through development of properties along the roadway. And it is suspected that at least two members of our Board of County Supervisors are deeply indebted to those developers.

In the meantime, it APPEARS that you are prepared to sit on the sidelines waiting for who knows what.  For it to all blow over?  Somehow I don’t think that is going to happen.

Interested people want to hear from you.

I remain,

Sincerely,

George S. Harris
Captain, U. S. Navy (Retired)

OPINION/Sheriff of Nottingham: The “Cowards” Plan Protest at the Hylton Center On the Tri-County Parkway – TONIGHT June 3rd

June 03, 2013by Staff EditorNo comments

by The Sheriff of Nottingham
in Prince William County

Business Leaders Shill for Developers in Desperate Bid to Save Tri-County Parkway

What do Rob Clapper, PW Chamber of Commerce President; Chairman Corey Stewart; and Supervisor Marty Nohe have in common?

They are all in bed together with the Loudoun County developers who desperately want to have taxpayers fund the Tri-County Parkway so they can cash in on the land they have bought on the cheap for huge new housing developments while they laid their plans for the new highway.

Chairman Stewart punched his ticket to this elite group of big-bucks developers on his way to raising money for his now defunct campaign to be Lt. Governor. Supervisor Nohe got admission to the club in his role as Chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) — and his massive ego drove him to become the lackey of the developers (they whisper in his ear every day how he will be the next BOCS Chairman). And Rob Clapper just brushed his perfectly coiffed hair, polished his $800 cuff links, and gladly jumped into the fray to boost his creds with the big-bucks developers.

As they say down south, this is “high cotton.”

So tonight is the opening act for the new business group that Clapper threw together on the fly to be the shills for the big-bucks developers whose latest ventures are tied to the Tri-County Parkway being built.

The Sheriff sees considerable irony in the selection of the Hylton Center for the Performing Arts as the venue for this charade by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) and VDOT. The Hylton is the poster child of PWC taxpayer’s ripoff schemes.

What better place to plot the new massive rip-off of PWC taxpayers than the Hylton?

This was supposed to be a cakewalk. The CTB greased the skids for the road that encroaches on the National Manassas Battlefield Park by guaranteeing the Park Director they would close Rt. 234 and Rt. 29 to commuter traffic — and they gave the Park a cool $3 million on top of that. It is something the Park officials have wanted for a very long time, and they jumped at the sweet deal offered by the CTB.

The Virginia Secretary of Transportation, Sean Connaughton, serving as the mastermind of the Tri-County Parkway scheme, authorized all sorts of unusual and unprecedented deals to get the deal done. Chairman Stewart started preaching the critical need for the cargo road; Supervisor Nohe started beating the drum about how it is about improving commutes; and Rob the Clapper worked in cahoots with Jeff Kaczmarek, PWC Economic Development Director, to create a completely false story about the road being the salvation for economic growth in Prince William County.

The cakewalk has turned into a complete and utter disaster.

The proverbial “fly in the ointment” are three women who have masterminded a brilliant grass-roots effort opposing the Tri-County Parkway that is mushrooming in size every day. While the proponents of the Tri-County Parkway have to concoct their stories, this rag-tag group of three advocates have the truth on their side.

And the commoners are responding.

Mary Ann Ghadban, Page Snyder, and Philomena Hefter all live on Pageland Lane, and all three will have their properties negatively impacted by the planned road. But the encroachment on the Civil War battlefield that their land sits on is only a small part of the story.

The bigger story is what the Tri-County Parkway will do to all of Prince William County. And these ladies have proved to be more than able warriors in taking the fight to the big-bucks developers, and all of those on their list of supporters. The Coalition is growing daily, and it is far more that what Rob Clapper tried to claim it is — Clapper called it a “small group” of opponents.

That is not even close.

The opponents now number in the thousands, and the more people are learning about it, the more their numbers increase.

Oh, and then there are those “COWARDS” — Delegate Tim Hugo & Delegate Bob Marshall — they are leading the charge to convince the government leaders they have made a mistake.

Senator Colgan has joined the group of “COWARDS” in questioning the wisdom of the closure of Rt. 234 and Rt. 29.

And, of course, Congressman Frank Wolf is already on record saying NO! to the whole mess.

This group of politicians can be called many things, but “COWARDS” describes none of them. Sorry Chairman Stewart.

So come join the party at the Hylton tonight (the business meetings starts at 7 pm) from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Enjoy the fancy digs at the Hylton — you’re paying for it.

Read the original article on The Sheriff of Nottingham in Prince William County

Become a Sheriff of Nottingham Deputy or Birdie. Just send the information you have to sheriffofnottinghampw@gmail.com and the Sheriff will check it out.

Your anonymity is guaranteed. We must weed out the corruption and fraud that rules the land and punishes the common people. We must hold the Board of County Supervisors and the School Board to account.

Birdies and Deputies need not fear. The Sheriff will defend your identities at all costs.

PWC Comprehensive Plan – Transportation Plan Update – Purcell Road

May 29, 2013by Staff Editor1 Comment

Attached is the latest chapter update for the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan – Transportation Plan

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved (attached) Comprehensive Plan Amendment #PLN2013-00089, Purcell Road and Purcell Road (East), – This is a Map and Text amendment to the Transportation Plan chapter to keep Purcell Road in the Comprehensive Plan as a two (2) lane Major Collector with no Class Trails and remove Purcell Road East from the Comprehensive Plan.

You may view the latest version of the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan by following the Transportation Plan link or by opening the attachments to this enotification.

Contact the Planning Office for additional information by either phone at planning.

Revised Transportation Text0359.pdf

Transportation Maps0136.pdf

Scott Lingamfelter decides to run again for Delegate, 31st House District

May 29, 2013by Staff Editor3 Comments

Scott Lingamfelter announced this morning in email that he would again run for Delegate, 31st House District.

From Scott Lingamfelter’s email announcement:

When I began my campaign for Lieutenant Governor, this was my vision: A Virginia focused on protecting the Constitutional rights of all of our citizens, the vitality and prosperity of our families, and the growth and success of all businesses.

While I wanted very much to lead the fight as your Lieutenant Governor nominee, our Party looked to another solid leader, E.W. Jackson, who I am proud to support. I did not expect to return to the House of Delegates in 2014, but many friends and patriots devoted to the conservative cause have asked me to run for re-election to the House.

After giving this a lot of thought and prayer since the Convention concluded, I have decided that I will seek re-election this year to the Virginia House of Delegates. The fight must continue for a Virginia that respects our Constitutional rights, understands that the family is the basis of our civilization as a state and nation, and that small business, not the government, is the engine of our economy.

Many of you already know my record as a leader in the Army for 28 years and in the House for 13 years. You know me as an authentic conservative with an A+ from the NRA, 100% ratings from the Family Foundation, and 100% ratings from the National Federation of Independent Business, (NFIB). And while I may not have been your top candidate for Lieutenant Governor, I hope that I can gain your support for re-election to the House.

If you can support me with a donation of $50, $100, $250, or even $500, this will help us launch the campaign, which I must do immediately to be successful. You can do that by going to my Lieutenant Governor’s site (which is being transitioned to the new campaign shortly) and donating today. Please click here!

It is time to join the fight. The battle has begun, victory is at hand, and we are the Army summoned to the task. As the old cavalry commander summoned his troops, “Ride to the sound of the guns!”

Ride on!

TOWN HALL Dale City – Delegate Rich Anderson and Congressman Rob Wittman Hold Military & Veteran Town Hall Today, May 28th, 4pm

May 28, 2013by Staff EditorNo comments

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Del. Richard L. Anderson

Delegate Rich Anderson and Congressman Rob Wittman to Hold Military & Veteran Town Hall

~ Event starts at 4pm, Tuesday, May 28th

~ Hosted by Prince William Veterans Council at Dale City Volunteer Fire Department~

Delegate Anderson (chair, General Assembly Military and Veteran Caucus) and Congressman Wittman (member, House Armed Services Committee) will conduct a military and veteran town hall today, Tuesday, May 28th, in Dale City. Focus will be on military and veteran issues, sequestration, and potential BRAC rounds in 2015 and 2017.

Delegate Rich Anderson and Congressman Rob Wittman Hold Military & Veteran Town Hall

Hosted by the Prince William Veterans Council

When: 4pm / Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Where: Dale City Volunteer Fire Department, 13511 Hillendale Dr., Dale City, VA

OPINION / Michael Ragland: Gun Control

May 05, 2013by Staff Editor6 Comments

Although I’ve never before taken a public position on gun control I have personal experience of relatives committing suicide by guns. Both my father and aunt ended their lives using guns but gun control legislation wouldn’t have stopped them. My father had no documented history of mental illness and the gun my aunt used was registered to a family member. There is no doubt, however, stricter gun laws requiring limited expansion of background checks online and at gun shows and the banning of semiautomatic “assault” weapons would save countless lives. The argument of gun control activists has never been to ban guns (aside from semiautomatic assault weapons) or that gun control would prevent all homicides, suicides and accidental deaths by guns. The goal has always been to limit the extent of gun deaths. This has not been effectively communicated to much of America’s gun and ammo purchasing public where shortly after the Sandy Hook massacre both guns and ammo sold like hotcakes.

There is a public perception that the federal government is going to take away their right to own guns or at least make it extremely difficult for them to do so. Much of this perception is influenced by NRA propaganda and conspiracy “black helicopter” crowd.

Not only did hopes for gun control fail on Capitol Hill they also recently failed at the local level. The Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG) March adoption of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) platform on gun control was rescinded by that body. Had the March adoption remained it would have been cause to celebrate by gun control activists. It would have possibly signaled a regional political atmosphere where gun control is taken more seriously. The scrapping of the March adoption of the IACP gun control platform by the COG represents a “symbolic victory” of various (largely Republican) members of it who threatened to not pay their 2014 dues.

The directors of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments should have realized adopting such a nonbinding resolution would encounter fierce resistance from many (largely Republican) members of it. In the face of staunch opposition they should have taken the moral position and stood their ground. Instead they decided to scrap the March adoption.

Democratic Woodbridge representative Frank Principi resubmitted back to the COG committee the original March resolution to instead do a study on gun violence on related issues of school safety and mental illness. Principi has basically punted the issue from a legislative priority to a discussion group topic and proven himself a shill for the NRA

Michael Ragland

OUR SCHOOLS blasts PWC School Board Chairman — are concerns just political?

April 29, 2013by Staff Editor1 Comment

InsideNova ran the following story: Politics fuel funding the Prince William school budget on Monday, April 29th.

Some took the article, and comments by PWC’s School Board Chairman Milt Johns, as implying that concerns of many of  the critics is  just a case of playing politics and less about really wanting to improve the schools …

>>> OUR SCHOOLS on Facebook, a popular PWC education discussion zone, says:

Despite what Mr. Johns may think, our complaints and concerns are not political. Mr. Johns needs to stop belittling the concerns of the taxpayers.

To Milt: Every dime counts, when will you learn this? Please stop bragging about how PWC spends less per student than most surrounding school systems; it is painfully obvious. Why would anyone brag about this? Do you think this makes anyone feel better? Our class sizes are the largest in the state and our educators are underpaid and yet you, our Chairman of Education, brags! Ugh.

When is the next election?!!! We need to get the true politician off the School Board.

Your News and Views wanted: Send your news, notes and thoughts to Bill Golden at WGolden@PWCPolitics.com or join us on Facebook at Facebook.com/PWCPoliticscom — Your commentary is always welcome. PWCPolitics.com is nonpartisan and wants news and information about all political views.

Do we need another highway? Or are we just creating jobs for those that build them?

April 29, 2013by Staff EditorNo comments

Do we need another highway?

Prince William’s Committee of 100 recently held a public panel discussion on this issue — with involvement by some very well informed panelists.

At least one person that I know attended and their opinion came away somewhat different than when they went in.

So is there a clear winner on this debate? Do we need another highway?

From the Committee of 100

Prince William County Committee of One Hundred May 2013 Program, Bi-County Prince William — Loudoun Parkway — Love It or Hate It

Traffic!

According to some surveys, the greater Washington, DC area is now the worst in the nation for traffic congestion. The recently concluded 2013 session of the Virginia General Assembly agreed to sweeping new measures to address the traffic mess in Northern Virginia.

But are more roads the solution? With the new transportation proposals, the long discussed Bi-County Parkway is once again a possibility. The Prince William Committee of 100 is please to host a discussion on this matter with a panel of experts who will offer their views on both sides of this issue.

Moderator
Jim Young, PWC 100 Member

Panelists
Bob Chase, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance
Gary Garcynski, Member, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Charlie Grymes, Member, Prince William Conversation Alliance
Jim Rich, Former Member, Commonwealth Transportation Board

Your News and Views wanted: Send your news, notes and thoughts to Bill Golden at WGolden@PWCPolitics.com or join us on Facebook at Facebook.com/PWCPoliticscom — Your commentary is always welcome. PWCPolitics.com is nonpartisan and wants news and information about all political views.

PWC Young Republicans John Trent and Robert Miller — some thoughts and opinions

April 26, 2013by Staff EditorNo comments

PWC young Republicans John Trent and Robert Miller — some thoughts and opinions

Bill Golden, senior editor of PWCPolitics.com and blogger for Bill4DogCatcher.com, interviews two local young Republicans John Trent and Robert Miller — two libertarian-leaning GOP members that offer up their thoughts on local and national politics, issues, and the current GOP is and is going.

Some of the topics covered: social conservatism, corporatism, gay marriage.

Am always looking for Prince William citizens interested in issues, ideas and debate. If this interests you please contact Bill Golden at WGolden@PWCPolitics.com — and please leave the talking points at home.

=^)

Your News and Views wanted: Send your news, notes and thoughts to Bill Golden at WGolden@PWCPolitics.com or join us on Facebook at Facebook.com/PWCPoliticscom — Your commentary is always welcome. PWCPolitics.com is nonpartisan and wants news and information about all political views.

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