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Stafford supervisors vote against idea of an at-large chairman Date published: 12/18/2008
BY JONAS BEALS
Supervisor Paul Milde believes Stafford County needs an at-large Board of Supervisors chairman--a position that Prince William and Fairfax counties both have. A majority of his colleagues disagree, but Milde isn't giving up. Milde hatched the idea with three or four other concerned citizens. Most Stafford residents didn't learn about it until Election Day, when representatives of the Citizen's Chairman Coalition stood in the rain to collect signatures at every polling place in the county. The effort was billed as a "non-partisan petition" to support the creation of an at-large chairman. According to Milde, the effort netted more than 6,100 signatures that day. He has since collected a few hundred more. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 against creating an at-large chairman in Stafford. "It is arrogant to ignore the will of 7,000 voters," Milde told the board before the vote. "Arrogance is threatening a board member," Chairman George Schwartz responded. Schwartz went on to read from an e-mail Milde sent to fellow Supervisor Joe Brito. In the message, Milde advised that if a supervisor voted against his proposal, he would notify those petition-signers who live in the dissenting supervisor's district. Brito, who did vote against the measure, said he was confronted by Milde after the meeting. Milde said he would contact 1,200 of Brito's constituents because of his vote. The motion may have brought things to a head, but controversy has swirled around the at-large chairman issue since Election Day. Opponents of the idea contend that voters were misled--they did not actually sign an official state petition form, but a slightly doctored look-alike. Additionally, the signatures were not necessarily witnessed by a Stafford resident. Milde has admitted that many of the poll workers were hired, and some came from outside the county. During the meeting Tuesday, Brito and Schwartz suggested the process may have been illegal, although they have no immediate plans to press charges. Milde was undeterred. "If there is a process foul, file charges, please," he said. "Those are unfounded and completely inaccurate assertions. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise."
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 12/18/2008
If the board is always stalemated, then the at-large seat could be benefical.
Someone making THAT a primary issue is not exactly what
most educated voters are looking for. (FYI- I did vote for
her... reluctantly.) Let me re-iterate that I agree with a lot of
Milde's initiatives, but I'm also keeping a close eye on this at
large idea which looks to be a Republican grab for more
power (and probably more power for Milde himself.)
the only reason he won that post was because Candy Hilliard wouldn't drop the "pig debate". He's a criminal, he'll always be a criminal and a con man and has no business being in a position of public authority and responsibility.
time to wake up Stafford
Now is not the time to add extra layers, cost and attention to something that is not at the top of the voters priority list. The BOS should be taking this time to help those who have been affected by the downturn in the economy. People who have lost their jobs, our disabled war veterans who are still required to make personal prop. payments and our schools that are still underfunded. Take some of this "at-large" energy and and help the people you vowed to serve.
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