Falmouth opponents don't have much of a record
My Falmouth opponents don't have much of a record
Date published: 10/16/2009
Falmouth opponents don't have much of a record
Falmouth District voters will soon elect a new Stafford County supervisor.
In this, my first campaign for public office, I have spoken with many residents, knocking on the doors of well over 3,500 homes.
This campaign has confirmed my deeply held belief that our vibrant participatory democracy is a unique strength of this wonderful country that cannot be taken for granted.
Mark Osborn, one of my two Republican opponents (running this time as an independent), lauded his prior experience as a supervisor. Let's examine his rec-ord:
He never submitted a Falmouth Economic Redevelopment Plan, which our current supervisor has done and which I vigorously support.
He supported a 51 percent increase in real estate taxes between 2002 and 2005, versus a relatively modest 18 percent increase under the current board.
He failed to support construction of the new England Run library, a project championed and implemented by George Schwartz. He made no effort to initiate reconstruction of the Falmouth intersection, again achieved by the current board.
In this campaign, Mark and my other Republican opponent both strongly advocated reversing the board's recently enacted business tax. However, they haven't addressed how we would replace the $4 million already allocated in next year's budget (whether by again increasing real estate taxes or sharply reducing essential county services).
The responsibilities of our next supervisor are simply too crucial to consider returning to the discredited practices of the previous board. A campaign must be more than merely erecting huge signs with the candidate's name throughout the district.
Doug Filler
Stafford
Date published: 10/16/2009
Most recent reader comments:
Hopeful
(posted by
Halos24
, Oct. 17, 2009 12:53 pm)  
It's politics... EVERYBODY gets picked on. Don't worry, his opponents will get heat from every angle too.
Why does the new kid always get picked on
(posted by
hopeful12
, Oct. 16, 2009 5:30 pm)  
Stafford county should be embarrassed. Doug is someone who came south to retire and enjoy life. Not to be under fire for stepping up to make a difference in his new home. When was the last time you made a difference in your community? There are no magic wands out there to fix all the traffic and tax issues. These are problems that 30 + years of good old boy politics didn't fix either. When the loudest argument I hear is someone is new to the community it brings back images of the playground bully.
Title
(posted by
Halos24
, Oct. 16, 2009 10:49 am)  
When I read the title, I thought Mark Osborn had wrote this due to the lack of record by Mr. Filler and Ms. Stimpson, neither of which has held office. So the title and the body of the letter are completely contradictory, much like the tone of Filler's mentor, George Schwartz. Stafford needs a new direction, not the same direction of the current Chairman's hand picked boy.
Hey Doug
(posted by
usa2009
, Oct. 16, 2009 10:00 am)  
Are you still getting your boxes outta the U-Haul? I dont think you were even here when Osborn was on the Board! And I would NEVER support anything Schwartz puts his greedy little business killin' hands on. EVER.
what is Mr. Filler's record in Stafford?
(posted by
Stafford21
, Oct. 16, 2009 9:20 am)  
I cannot find anything on him before a few months ago. If he is going to criticize others, he should at least explain what he has done for our community
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