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Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde is pushing to add an at-large chairman to the Board of Supervisors Date published: 11/16/2008
BY JONAS BEALS
Stafford voters may have noticed a petition circulating at polling places last week. The Citizen's Chairman Coalition collected 6,300 signatures as a first step in a process that could eventually add an at-large chairman as the eighth member of the Board of Supervisors. The petition is not intended as a way to place the issue on the ballot, or as a legal means to pursue the idea. Rather, the coalition wants to use the signatures to show the Virginia General Assembly that Stafford voters support the proposal. Aquia District Supervisor Paul Milde is the leading proponent of the idea, and acknowledges that he made up the form being used to collect signatures. It is an altered version of the official state petition form. Instead of the standard field for Social Security number, it asks for an e-mail address. "This is me getting signatures to appeal to the Board of Supervisors and the General Assembly," he said. "It is undisputed that 6,300 voters want to see this question on the ballot." Milde would like Stafford to follow the example of other Virginia counties that elect an at-large representative to be chairman of the board of supervisors. Although the coalition's effort is touted by supporters as nonpartisan, some supervisors believe it is anything but. "No countywide chair can be nonpartisan," current board Chairman George Schwartz said. "It's an attempt by Republicans and developers to take control of the board." The coalition used a mix of hired staff and volunteers to collect signatures at all 24 county polling places on Election Day. "There are pros and cons to an at-large chair," Supervisor Joe Brito said. "But this appears to be an attempt by people with big money to influence the election process in Stafford. I think the ultimate goal was to collect e-mail addresses and have them ready for the next election. "It was misleading to say it was nonpartisan, and it was misleading to say it would be put on a ballot. Having thousands of signatures does send a message, but how those signatures were gathered really destroys their credibility." Milde is undeterred. He hopes to collect 7,480 signatures--10 percent of the county's registered voters--before he approaches state officials. "We're asking the General Assembly to allow us to let the voters decide," Milde said. "I'm hoping to get the Board of Supervisors to support me."
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 11/16/2008
Then ask Mr Milde those questions. They may in fact be legitimate, so ask the one who can BEST answer. MR ZORRO Scwartz a saint?? He is at best an obstructionest- NOTHING Has been accomplished in the 3 years he has been on the BOS. WIth the cast of 3 Dems he has now, NOTHING will be accomplished.
Prince William has a at large chairman -- it keeps the system more organized. The voters choose the candidate and his political leaning. Right now, PW chairman is notoriously against growth and votes against pretty much every development application submitted. I can't see any objective reason why anyone would say this proposal is to put developers in power in Stafford -- it could just as easy produce an opposite result.
Milde:"Where there is a will there is a way"...regardless of means? After reading that Milde is personally sponsoring this ..(why?) and it was promoted as "non partisan" (obviously not) raises more questions. He collected email addresses under the faux "save crows nest.com" to "feather" his nest. Red Light.
I was happy to see the democrats take over the local supervisors until I saw how they are actually making progress in Stafford more difficult. For that reason, I support dems in the state and federal level, but republicans on the local level. That being said, though the idea of an at large supervisor is a really good one, having an even number of supervisors is not. There would be 4-4 votes, then what? Only option would be to redistrict to make an even number plus an at large.
I posed legitimate questions. Is someones campaign or a political party funding this? If so where are the public documents of their expenses. The signature collectors (volunteers or paid?) at my polling place did not know anyting about the CCC qroup, its purpose or organizers. I did not sign for that reason.
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