The purpose of this blog is to explain why it's time to replace Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) with Democratic candidate Judy Feder. Frank Wolf has been in office a long time, and it's time for a change. Judy Feder will bring that change. Nothing against Rep. Wolf, but it's long past time to say "Farewell Frank!"
House Speaker William J. Howell made it clear yesterday that he is looking to Loudoun County to help Republicans keep control of the House of Delegates in the 2009 elections.
"I know this sounds self-serving, the presidential stuff is important, but next year we've got House of Delegates seats, and there's a couple that are representing Loudoun and parts of Loudoun County that I know we can win back," Howell told a meeting of the Loudoun County Republican Committee.
Yeah, after Tim Kaine won Loudoun County (52%-46%) in 2005, Jim Webb won it (50%-49%) in 2006, and Karen Schultz won it (52%-44%) in 2007, that's really likely to happen. Maybe after Judy Feder beats Frank Wolf in Loudoun County this November, then Bill Howell can start his great comeback? Or not. :)
The LCDC JJ dinner on Friday evening was great. The turnout was incredible, and our Governors (Warner and Kaine) gave stirring speeches about the mission of Democrats in 2008 and beyond. We need to recover the strength and dignity of our county, and Virginia can lead the way.
I completely agree with Leesburg Tomorrow that "We've come a long way in Loudoun County (a point which each speaker repeated) and we have just as much work to do to keep our majority and keep Loudoun on the right track." Keep it up!
Loudoun County officials pledged Tuesday to help reduce the region's greenhouse gas emissions and encourage more environmentally friendly buildings, which they said probably will save taxpayers money and cut the county's contribution to global warming.
The Board of Supervisors voted to join three regional environmental initiatives. One of them provides tools and guidelines to help the county adopt green building standards. A second would grant Loudoun the label of "green county" if it meets certain requirements.
The third measure signs up Loudoun for the Cool Capital Challenge, which aims to reduce the Washington region's carbon dioxide emissions by a billion pounds by next April...
Good for Loudoun County's (majority Democratic) supervisors -- with the major exception of right-wing Republican Eugene Delgaudio, who "mocked fears related to global warming." Which reminds me, where's Frank Wolf on global warming? Last I checked, he was busy giving big tax breaks to oil companies while voting against energy efficiency, renewable energy, serious measures to cap greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental protection in general. I'm pretty sure that Eugene Delgaudio approves, but what about he rest of us? And what about the planet, as Earth Day approaches?
The Loudoun County Democratic Committee (LCDC) will hold its annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner this Friday evening. The keynote address will be delivered by former Gov. Mark Warner, and other Democratic luminaries -- Gov. Tim Kaine, Del. Brian Moran, Sen. Creigh Deeds, Mark Sen. Herring -- will be there. The chair of the event is Supervisor Kelly Burk (Leesburg). Last but not least, the 10th CD's next representative in Congress, Judy Feder, will be at the event. Details below are from the LCDC website. Definitely check out this event if you can make it, you'll be supporting the Democratic Party's ongoing growth in Loudoun County!
Jefferson Jackson Dinner Friday, April 18, 2008
6:00 PM – Reception 7:30 PM – Dinner Grand Ballroom Lansdowne Resort and Conference Center 44050 Woodridge Parkway Lansdowne, Virginia
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Special Guests Senate Candidate: Former Governor Mark R. Warner Governor Tim Kaine
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Honorary Chairperson The Honorable Kelly Burk Loudoun County Board of Supervisors – Leesburg District
The Economist magazine takes a look at Loudoun County's rapid political change in the Democratic direction with an article called "Paint them blue." Here's the conclusion (bolding added for emphasis):
...A rapid influx of voters has thrown Loudoun county's politics into disarray. The county narrowly plumped for Jim Webb, now Virginia's Democratic senator, in 2006 after years of Republican domination in the area. Tim Buchholz, Loudoun's Democratic committee chairman, says his party held just three of 29 elected county offices in 2003. Now they are running even with the Republicans.
Not only have more Democrats moved in from bluer cities but, critically, more independents have come, too. Now Loudoun politicos say the county comprises roughly one-third Democrats, one-third Republicans and one-third independents. Voting in Loudoun now closely mirrors that of the state at large, which is increasingly competitive because of the population spike around Washington: the Republicans, in other words, can no longer depend on what was once a solid vote for them. Fast-growing exurbs are particularly exposed to the subprime crisis, which will focus minds on economic matters rather than security—John McCain's strength.
If the eventual Democratic nominee is able to appeal to Loudoun's swing voters, he or she has a good shot at taking once deep-red Virginia. Repeat that in exurbs across the country, and the Democrats' chances look good.
In short, rapid change - and rapid growth - in Loudoun County means that Democrats now have an excellent shot at winning the county, the congressional district, and the commonwealth. This bodes well not only for the presidential race, but potentially also for Judy Feder against Frank Wolf in November.
This is a great move by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and a huge shift from what life was like when Republicans controlled the board:
Loudoun County's new anti-growth Board of Supervisors made its first big decision on new housing, rejecting a development of 500 new homes.
"The winds have definitely shifted. This is a Board of Supervisors who promised to keep the focus on our existing communities," says Loudoun Supervisor Andrea McGimsey, one of eight supervisors to vote against the plan.
The developer who wanted to build the Braddock Village development in Arcola had offered $20 million to the county for schools, roads and other amenities.
McGimsey says the supervisors just don't want more housing in what is called the transition area, a buffer between the dense eastern and the rural western parts of the county.
What a change from December 2007, when the (then) Republican-controlled board acted like this:
Supervisors Stephen J. Snow (R-Dulles) and Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling) had sought to push through the project, called Braddock Village, even though county planners and lawyers had told the board that they did not have enough time to review the latest version of the development. Snow and Delgaudio later changed their minds, saying they favored voting on the project on another date to give county staff more time to study it.
During the discussion, Delgaudio asked county attorney John R. "Jack" Roberts whether it would be appropriate to vote for the project "subject to the attorney's review. Couldn't we do that?"
The request prompted a sharp response from Board Chairman Scott K. York (I), who was reelected last month.
"It concerns me that we just want to push this thing through," he said. "Doggone it. If you are going to approve a subdivision, make sure at least the county attorney has reviewed the document."
Fortunately, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is now under Democratic control, and is operating in the people's interests not just the powerful/wealthy. Hmmmm...you think this could apply to Congress as well? Hint: Farewell Frank!
A better Congress means electing more and better democrats. Holding the line on civil liberties and passing SCHIP are just two examples of issues that directly impact our way of life which are at risk because our Democratic majorities in Congress are thinner than they might appear. A union of Republicans and conservative Democrats can, and has, blocked progress for the past year on a variety of issues. The logical response is to expand our majority where we can in order to dilute the strength and influence of those members of the Democratic caucus who defect to the Republican side of critical votes from time to time.
Furthermore, in districts which are overwhelmingly Democratic (MD-04, for example), we need to make sure that they are represented by truly progressive and dedicated Democrats, since they are "safe" seats for our party. This is the reason so many people in the netroots are supporting Donna Edwards against Al Wynn, for example, or Mark Pera against Dan Lipinski.
What this means for Virginia, and the 10th District, is that we need to alter the make-up of our state delegation by supporting and electing strong Democrats to Congress. That will give our next President the support he or she needs to fix the problems of the past seven years. We have a unique opportunity this year to make great inroads in Virginia. We have no fewer than five great candidates challenging for seats held by Republicans in Virginia.
VA-02: Glenn Nye is challenging Congresswoman Drake. Glenn has stepped up to challenge one of hte most Bush-friendly Republicans in Virginia. His experience providing development assistance in Iraq, along with his wealth of diplomatic experience would bring a consensus builder to Congress to replace the bomb-thrower that is Thelma Drake.
VA-06: Sam Rasoul is challenging Congressman Goodlatte. Sam Rasoul is one of the youngest candidates for Congress in America, but do not confuse youth for inexperience. He is a highly successful entrepreneur who has done more than talk about bringing jobs to the valley, he has actually created them himself.
VA-10: Judy Feder is challenging Congressman Wolf. Judy is the definition of a good Democrat. She is driven, dedicated and passionate, with name recognition from her previous campaign in 2006 and unmatched expertise in one of the most important issues of the coming year: healthcare.
VA-11: Leslie Byrne is fighting for the open seat of retiring Congressman Davis. Leslie brings a unique skill to the only open seat race in Virginia, previous experience in Congress. During her service in the early 1990s, she was a leader of her Congressional class, and serve Virginia well on many committees. Returning that experience to Congress will help our next president.
Each of these five would represent a strong addition to the Democratic governing majority in the House. Here in Leesburg, we have the privilege of supporting Judy Feder. Considering the importance of the healthcare issue in Loudoun (the new Board of Supervisors made it one of their first priorities), Congresswoman Feder would establish leadership on this issue for the 10th District. To make that happen, though, she needs our support, so do what you can, if you can, to send Judy Feder to Congress!
Frank Wolf does love the ceremonial. From swearing-in firefighters to speaking on Martin Luther King day, our Congressman makes the rounds being seen in the community, doing ceremonial things. He is a master of the photo op and the three-line blurb. His skill in this area allows him to maintain a strong level of mild approval and name recognition. However, a rational look at both his record and his influence demonstrates that Frank Wolf is all style, and no substance. He is a ceremonial Congressman, with only the efficacy of a figurehead.
We could start with SCHIP. On this important issue, Frank Wolf was against it before he was for it. Like a figurehead, he only points in the direction other people turn him. As the dean of the Virginia delegation to Congress, it should be his responsibility to not only vote for SCHIP, but to convince his Virginia colleagues to do so as well. If it is good enough to vote for, it should be good enough to fight for. But Frank Wolf has done no fighting on behalf of Virginia's uninsured kids. His silence stands in sharp contrast with his claim to be one of the most important Republicans in Congress (he's a member of the Appropriations Committee, after all).
This raises the question of Frank Wolf's influence and effectiveness as a Representative. While Wolf has railed against tolls on the Greenway and tried to fund rail to Dulles, his record of success in these signature areas is remarkably slim. He took credit for adding money to the Dulles Rail project in 2007, when he also spoke out strongly against a tunnel, so surely he must also take blame for the near-collapse of the project today. For a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and a twenty-six year veteran of Congress to have a Federal agency controlled by his own party thwart the most important project in his district, without his advanced knowledge is a demonstration of irrelevance, not influence. It is as if the President of his own party knows that Frank Wolf has no real power, and can thus be ignored.
If Frank Wolf is not showing leadership in his caucus or among the Virginia delegation, and there is little recent evidence of any kind of influence he may wield over issues that are important to Loudoun and the 10th District, is he at least looking out for us in Congress?
On the Iraq issue, Wolf's lack of effectiveness is incredibly stark. He was a major sponsor of the legislation creating the Iraq Study Group, but when the time came to implement the Group's recommendations, Frank Wolf abandoned his own solution and voted against the recommendations.
So yes, Frank Wolf attends many ceremonies, memorials, celebrations and parades in Loudoun. But that is all he does - show up and be seen. We neither want nor need a ceremonial Congressman, but someone who will fight for the citizens of the 10th in Congress. We need a Congressperson who will help effect change in our Iraq policy, who will help fix our healthcare system, and who will take action on our behalf.
The 10th District should not stand on ceremony. The 10th District should elect Judy Feder.
The Washington Post writes that it's a "New Day in Loudoun," and "time for a middle course."
...Upon taking office four years ago, the Republicans who then controlled the Board of Supervisors immediately launched what amounted to a coup d'etat, stripping Chairman Scott K. York (I) -- the board's only member elected countywide -- of most of his powers. They then embarked on a growth-at-all-costs policy that bore little relation to either their campaign promises or the stated desires of most county residents. So much for the will of the people.
Thus it was gratifying the other day to see a newly elected board take office, shorn now of the Republican majority that was defeated at the polls. And it was heartening to watch it take up, as its first official business, the restoration of Mr. York's albeit mostly symbolic powers. That alone will not heal the wounds caused by the last board's arrogance, but it was a start.
Right, "it was a start" in Loudoun County. And, come November, it can be a "start" in Washington, DC as well, with a new president and a new representative for the 10th district. Go Judy!
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, led by a freshly minted Democratic majority, took a sharp turn at its first meeting yesterday, reversing course on several of the previous Republican-led board's efforts.
As one of its first acts, the board gave Chairman Scott K. York (I) a host of powers that the previous board had stripped from him four years ago. In November, voters ousted four Republicans who had been supportive of growth and development and often clashed with York because of his slow-growth stance.
The board, now made up of five Democrats, two Republicans and two independents, voted unanimously and without comment yesterday to restore York's powers, including the right to set the board's agenda.
"A return to normalcy doesn't require a lot of comment," said James G. Burton (I-Blue Ridge).
This is more like Democracy's supposed to work, as opposed to the "power plays" used by the Republicans when they were in charge. And this -- a "return to normalcy" in our Democracy -- is exactly why we need more Democrats at all levels of government, including Congress. Go Judy Feder!
Elections in November brought big changes to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and they're good ones. For starters, as the Examiner writes, "The sweeping election of four new Democrats to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has dramatically reshaped the government's approach to growth, the dominant issue in what was the nation's fastest growing county in recent years."
As the Washington Post wrote on Christmas eve, the Republican-controlled board had "moved forward with its [development] plans, mocking those who tried to stand in its way." That's right, it was "my way or the highway" - almost literally -- when the Republicans were in charge. Not anymore.
In addition, the Examiner reports that the Board of Supervisors "will open its 2008 agenda Thursday with a slate of ethics proposals designed to upgrade the reputation of the beleaguered county board." This comes in reaction to improper activity (possibly worse, as authorities announced a federal probe into possible corruption) when Republicans were in charge. Now, with Democrats in control, the situation is improving rapidly.
The initiatives include restrictions on last-minute adjustments to development applications and new financial disclosure requirements for members of all citizen advisory committees and many county staffers. The plan also proposes some restrictions on former county officials and employees and better disclosure of board meeting information and archives.
This is what happens when Democrats take charge, whether at the county level or the national level. And this is exactly why we need people like Judy Feder in Congress -- to continue the progress made over the past year in purging Washington, DC of the rampant corruption and arrogant disregard for the rule of law seen during the Tom DeLay/Dick Cheney years.
Is this a joke or what?
This is 
The Loudoun County Democratic Committee (LCDC) 
The Economist magazine takes a look at Loudoun County's rapid political change in the Democratic direction with an article called 
The 
Elections in November brought big changes to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and they're good ones. For starters, as the 
