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."
Supervisor Cord Sterling supports the concept, but not the addition of another board member.
"I believe that it's not only reasonable, but essential that the chairman is accountable to every citizen of Stafford," he said. "This does not mean we need to add an eighth member and the expense that goes with it."
Between 1985 and 2000, Stafford elected an at-large supervisor, although not specifically as chairman. The position was eliminated after redistricting created the Garrisonville District. Prior to 1985, the county had an at-large "tiebreaker" supervisor who would cast the deciding vote in the case of a 3-3 tie.
Literature distributed by the Citizen's Chairman Coalition states that with eight board members, a 4-4 tie would be a failing vote.
Adding an at-large chairman by 2010, as the coalition wishes, would require more than signatures. County Attorney Joe Howard explained that the General Assembly would need to pass special legislation allowing a referendum. It could then be placed on a ballot for voters to decide.
Loudoun County followed that path when adding an at-large chairman to its board. A petition is not necessary to start the process, but the bill does need a sponsor and support to be crafted and passed at the state level.
Ferris Belman served as the county's at-large supervisor for 16 years.
"I think it would be a good thing to have people elect a chairman," he said. "It gives people two representatives, in a sense."
Belman said it would be prudent to go back to the previous system with six district supervisors and an at-large chairman.
"I would hope they wouldn't have eight supervisors," he said.
Sterling also suggested a return to the arrangement Stafford had before 2000.
He thinks it's something the board should pursue during the next redistricting in 2010.
Milde hopes his efforts provide proof that voters are in favor of an at-large chairman.
"Where there's a will, there's a way," Milde said. "There's certainly a will to do this."
Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com
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Virginia counties vary widely in the way their supervisors are elected. Most represent specific districts, but at-large positions are common, and a few counties have an even number of supervisors.
In Northern Virginia, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties all elect an at-large chairman. Spotsylvania, Albemarle, Hanover and Fauquier counties, which are often compared to Stafford, do not. Many Virginia counties elect one or more at-large supervisors, although not always as chairman. For example, Arlington County's five supervisors are elected at-large. King George elects one at-large supervisor, but not as chairman. |