The Board Loudoun Needs

I've been doing some thinking about the kind of Board of Supervisors Loudoun County needs. I think we should look at what The Board of Supervisors is responsible for doing, and then examine who we should put there to do it.

(The Loudoun County Government Center, in Leesburg)

First, a glance at the County budget shows that the largest expenditures of county funds - our taxes - goes towards the schools. This is as it should be: The most basic requirements of local government are schools and safety. We should elect someone to the board who has relevant experience. We're incredibly lucky to have a candidate who combines experience in special education (the fastest growing portion of our schools budget) with experience in local government. We're incredibly lucky to have Kelly Burk running for Leesburg District Supervisor.

Second, one of the biggest issues facing Loudoun is economic development. Loudoun's future requires growth in local jobs, local businesses and a sustainable local economy. We need someone on the Board of Supervisors who has created jobs, and created businesses, here in Loudoun County. Remarkably enough, we have a candidate who has run two businesses, and combines that experience with decades of experience in taxes and finance. Considering the importance of economics and finance to Loudoun's future, we should elect Jeanne West to the Board of Supervisors.
(Oh, and as an added benefit, if we elect her, Eugene Delgaudio won't be on the Board anymore.)

Loudoun County is a nexus of the technology industry. Our future is being built on science and technology. The past decade has seen remarkable shifts in Loudoun's technology economy, as MCI and AOL launched huges plans for the county, only to see the shifting sands of corruption and greed dash so many of those plans. We would benefit from putting someone on the Board of Supervisors who has expertise in science and technology. There just happens to be such a candidate, Stevens Miller, in the race for Dulles District Supervisor. With degrees in physics and computer science, Stevens has the qualifications to evaluate the state of our technology economy, and plan for its future. And on top of this exprience, Stevens has a law degree, and he has been advising other lawyers on technology issues for seven years. Our Board of Supervisors could use his wisdom.

Many of our neighbors have come to Loudoun county from other places. We have chosen to make Loudoun our home. Susan Klimek Buckley and her family have chosen to make Loudoun County their home. Few new residents make such a deep and expansive commitment to their new community as Susan has. She has founded two citizens action groups, even as she stepped away from her job (as an attorney) to raise her children. And she actively participates in a half-dozen other comunity organizations which are deeply focused on the specific needs of Sugarland Run District. In Susan Klimek Buckley, the Board of Supervisors will have a true representative of the citizens, with an unbending focus on the voters and their interests.

The county government is responsible for the well being of all our citizens. Too often, the well-being of some citizens can be overlooked in the pursuit of short-sighted goals or in the pursuit of quick fixes. It is critical that the Board of Supervisors have a member who is vigilant and passionate in advocacy for our neighbors who may go otherwise overlooked, or ignored. The issues of housing and predatory lending are alive in our area. We need someone on the Board of Supervisors who can understand the local implications of these issues. We have an opportunity to elect a proven advocate for the underserved in the Broad Run district, Phyllis Randall. She has been endorsed by Loudoun's teachers and police, and will ensure that Loudoun county grows its future united and strong.

The greatest issue in any Loudoun election is development. For twenty years, Loudoun has been growing faster and faster. Some of this growth has been good, and well-planned. Other growth has been ill-conceived and even shady. The Campaign for Loudoun's Future has been dedicated to smart growth in Loudoun since its inception. It's membership has been instrumental in informing us about development plans that would otherwise go voted on, but unvoiced, at the Board of Supervisors. Andrea McGimsey founded the Campaign for Loudoun's future. And Andrea McGimsey is running for Potomac District Supervisor. In addition to her success with the Campaign, her life reflects that of so many of our neighbors. She has spent her career in the technology industry, at AOL and running her own company. And just in case you're still not conviced, Andrea graduated from MIT.

On November 6, 2007, the voters of Loudoun County have the opportunity to elect the most qualified, intelligent and dedicated Board of Supervisors ever given the reins of the county government. These candidates can - and will - make a difference in our collective future when they are serving on the Board.