Before I was elected I used to write for the MJM. Councilman Randolph regularly reminds me of this and I’ve found an interesting (and a little bit funny) article from 2003. It concerns a candidates forum that I participated in back then. Read it through to the end and you’ll get a good belly laugh out of it right near the end:
I was surprised by the turnout at the Candidate’s forum and would like to thank everyone who took the time to attend. I’d also like to thank the Old Town Business Association and Metz for putting on the forum. One of our neighboring towns held a similar forum a couple of days ago and the candidates outnumbered the citizens. Granted, we have more people, but it was still a surprising result. I would guess that there were a couple hundred people there at the start. It will be broadcast on Comcast at some point.
For the most part, I thought the candidates came loaded for bear and stuck to their guns. Yes, there were some struggles, but my deepest fears that some serious infighting would develop never materialized. The candidates stuck mainly to the questions (with a few polite pokes) and left each other alone. Kudos.
In my mind, this forum represents another step in the maturing of Manassas and our institutions. Even though the form and function of the questions and answers went from topic to topic the main thrust of how to deal with static borders and a finite amount of dirt was always present. This problem manifests itself in our tax rate, redevelopment questions and even in our schools. Some pieces of the solution are obvious: more commercial development will result in lower property taxes. However, we cannot afford to think of our problems in such a piecemeal fashion. More commercial development, for instance, may also lead to traffic problems. In a budget as small as ours, Newton’s law of equal and opposite reactions is set in stone. Our problems must always be addressed in a more holistic fashion. Never can we afford a single-minded approach to our budgetary and other problems. Context is crucial. There are no single issues in our City.
Most of the candidates seem to understand this concept. It can, however, be difficult though as we live in the age of the sound bite and many single-issue candidates. On the state and national levels, the issues may be amorphous enough to lend themselves to this kind of thinking but at the local level this simply isn’t the case. The local level is where issues get attached to actual faces and families. Indeed, I would argue that it is harder, on a personal level, to be a City council member than a member of Congress. Arguing with a lobbyist wearing a $1000 suit is a far cry from a single mom with two kids in diapers.
A couple of years ago, I was convinced that I needed to run for City Council. In watching the recent events I can tell you with all certainty that this will never be the case. I simply don’t have the resources to deal with it. I admire those that think they can pull it off, even if I disagree with their politics.
Whatever your convictions, please educate yourself and vote. In the end, I can only give you my viewpoint. Read the paper, educate yourself and take the 15 minutes to cast your ballot. It is important and in a city this small, it can make all of the difference. Florida taught all of us that (on a larger scale) in no uncertain terms.
November 30, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Eating one’s own words…a little better than eating crow, most of the time at least.
November 30, 2010 at 1:18 pm
“A couple of years ago, I was convinced that I needed to run for City Council. In watching the recent events I can tell you with all certainty that this will never be the case.”
Typo?
November 30, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Enjoyed your op/ed pieces in the MJM, even
though we didn’t always agree on every issue.
(Remember you expressed doubts about the Harris
Pavilion the week before the council approved it).
Your articles were always well written, thoughtful,
and locally oriented.
Note: Councilwoman Bass also wrote some good
pieces for the paper in the past and, during the late 1970’s
I was a PT sportswriter for the MJM. Three former
“journalist” on the Manassas City Council – no
wonder we sometimes get in trouble.
November 30, 2010 at 1:57 pm
no, no typo…:)
November 30, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Ah, the undeniable truth of never saying “never”.
Let me say, I for one am sure glad “never” turned out to be so short a time in this case.
November 30, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Talk about choosing bad employment, going from fish wrappers to politicians. Both get low marks for honesty.
Though, I do remember a few of your articles that I agreed with.
December 5, 2010 at 9:11 am
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/269604
A good editoral.
December 5, 2010 at 9:40 am
http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/269714
Another interesting article/editorial.
“Wheeling and dealing show the inforgiving nature
of luring new business”.
At least in Manassas, when we discuss “sinkholes”
it relates to financial issues.
December 6, 2010 at 10:43 am
Reminder:
Town Hall Meeting tonight 7pm
Haydon Elem. School
A great chance to informally meet with council
and city staff – ask questions, offer suggestions.
All citizens are invited to attend.
December 7, 2010 at 9:45 am
Mr Randolph,
I was unable to attend Haydon meeting, as I had planned i.e., sick kid. Anything of special concern going on in the Haydon area?
December 7, 2010 at 12:15 pm
FYI: Dominion Power is holding an open house
at the Manassas Rescue Squad building from
5 to 7 this evening. The company wants to route
another “high line” (like the one along the RR
and PW St. in Old Town) through the city to
service a new business planned in PWC near the
airport. Information is on the Manassas
City website.
1) What impact will this have on the City?
How close do the lines run near homes, parks,
etc. – including, of course, the airport. and
Manassas Landing?
2) The proposed line seems to have major potential
downsides for Manassas City and no upside.
Red flags are waving..
December 7, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Mr. Brown,
There was a fairly good turnout considering
the cold and wind. Several issues were
brought to our attention by citizens, including one
individual unhappy about a recently rented
house next to him having 10-12 vehicles with
most of them parked on the street. This isn’t
a new issue for us although not normally in
the Robnel area.
Marc Aveni also highlighted the power line
meeting tonight.
Hope your child feels better.
December 7, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Dominion Power Open House is Wednesday Night….
December 7, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Wednesday – Dec. 8th – is the correct date.
Ray, thank you for catching that.
December 7, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Mr. Randolph,
Thank you.
I think I know the house, Just what we don’t need as the neighborhood finally shows signs of recovering from the housing bust..
December 7, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Informative article on A5 of today’s N&M headlined
“Localities still ‘play defense’ on cuts”
“Funding cuts from the 2010 General Assembly,
paired with declining revenues, forced cities and
counties to cut services, raise taxes and fees
…. in 2011 it is about avoiding any more losses.”
It is a basic summary of the fiscal status of local
jurisdictions as they await the opening of the
2011 Va GA next month. Not pretty — again.