School funding is main issue at supervisor candidates forum
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| NARFE members packed the room at the Mason Government Center to hear candidates running for the Board of Supervisors. |
The top priorities of Mollie Loeffler, independent candidate
to represent Mason District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, include
alleviating overcrowded schools, bringing more life to the area’s commercial
centers, and giving neighborhoods more of a say in land use decisions.
to represent Mason District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, include
alleviating overcrowded schools, bringing more life to the area’s commercial
centers, and giving neighborhoods more of a say in land use decisions.
Loeffler said Mason District needs “responsive leadership, a
fresh approach, and new ideas.”
fresh approach, and new ideas.”
Penny Gross, the Democratic 19-year incumbent and the board’s
current vice chair, stressed her experience and accomplishments, calling herself
“a workhorse, not a show horse.”
current vice chair, stressed her experience and accomplishments, calling herself
“a workhorse, not a show horse.”
The two candidates faced off at a forum Sept. 2 hosted by
the Annandale chapter of National Active and Retired Federal Employees. The forum also
included the candidates for the Braddock seat on the BoS – the Republican
incumbent John Cook and Democratic challenger Janet Oleszek.
Loeffler, a neighborhood activist who revived and led the
Mason District Council and Parklawn Civic Association, said, “it’s a passion
of mine to give voice to the neighborhoods, which are a backbone of Mason
District.”
Mason District Council and Parklawn Civic Association, said, “it’s a passion
of mine to give voice to the neighborhoods, which are a backbone of Mason
District.”
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| Loeffler |
Loeffler would spotlight the positive features in Mason
District, like its great ethnic restaurants, to attract new people and businesses. She told the audience she supports a new school on the site of the Willston Center
in Seven Corners with some services targeted to children. Other county services, however, should
be housed in existing office buildings with high vacancy rates, she said, rather than
in a new county office building.
District, like its great ethnic restaurants, to attract new people and businesses. She told the audience she supports a new school on the site of the Willston Center
in Seven Corners with some services targeted to children. Other county services, however, should
be housed in existing office buildings with high vacancy rates, she said, rather than
in a new county office building.
Loeffler has been endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association and Tom Davis, a former Mason Supervisor and member of Congress.
Gross cited school funding as a top priority and said
she would work with the school board and community to identify the school
system’s funding needs but also called for more education funding from the state.
she would work with the school board and community to identify the school
system’s funding needs but also called for more education funding from the state.
Among the accomplishments Gross listed during her tenure on
the BoS: the renovation and expansion of all three libraries in Mason; the establishment of two new
parks, Pine Ridge Park and the White Garden; the
county’s first 20-year environmental vision; creation of the Department of Code
Compliance; increased funding for schools; a new compensation plan for county
employees; and the approval of plans “to guide sensible development” in Annandale,
Bailey’s Crossroads, and Seven Corners.
the BoS: the renovation and expansion of all three libraries in Mason; the establishment of two new
parks, Pine Ridge Park and the White Garden; the
county’s first 20-year environmental vision; creation of the Department of Code
Compliance; increased funding for schools; a new compensation plan for county
employees; and the approval of plans “to guide sensible development” in Annandale,
Bailey’s Crossroads, and Seven Corners.
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| Gross |
Oleszek emphasized her experience on the Fairfax County
School Board, where she served during 2004-07. She ran for supervisor against Cook in
2011, losing by just 371 votes.
Oleszek said her top priority is fully funding the schools,
while her second priority is “mitigating any difficulties” from expanding Braddock Road, which she opposes. She vowed to “protect those in the dawn of
life (children), those in the twilight of life (seniors), and those in the
shadows of life (the sick and disabled).”
while her second priority is “mitigating any difficulties” from expanding Braddock Road, which she opposes. She vowed to “protect those in the dawn of
life (children), those in the twilight of life (seniors), and those in the
shadows of life (the sick and disabled).”
Cook talked about the need to find new revenue sources for
the schools to offset declining commercial property tax revenues. One idea, he suggested,
is to repurpose aging, empty office parks for light industry. As an example,
using this space for manufacturing custom furniture would create jobs, he said,
and would fit in with his proposal to expand career and technical education
programs for students not heading to college.
the schools to offset declining commercial property tax revenues. One idea, he suggested,
is to repurpose aging, empty office parks for light industry. As an example,
using this space for manufacturing custom furniture would create jobs, he said,
and would fit in with his proposal to expand career and technical education
programs for students not heading to college.
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| Oleszek |
For Cook, “working with neighborhoods is our first job.” As
supervisor, he formed a “neighborhood college” to train community leaders to
work on code enforcement, neighborhood cleanups, and environmental issues.
supervisor, he formed a “neighborhood college” to train community leaders to
work on code enforcement, neighborhood cleanups, and environmental issues.
For the coming year, Cook said his top priority is
addressing mental health challenges, noting his leadership in the board’s approval
of the Diversion First initiative to address non-violent criminal offenders through
mental health treatment rather than incarceration.
addressing mental health challenges, noting his leadership in the board’s approval
of the Diversion First initiative to address non-violent criminal offenders through
mental health treatment rather than incarceration.
Cook also cited the need to improve training for police
officers in dealing with the mentally ill, providing more services to homeless
families living in cars or the woods, and improved transit.
officers in dealing with the mentally ill, providing more services to homeless
families living in cars or the woods, and improved transit.
When asked by a member of the audience how they would deal with
the projected $100 million school budget shortfall projected for next year, Loeffler
said she would work on increasing funding from the state and would work with
the school board and county to find creative ways to save money in both
budgets.
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| Cook |
“We’ll have to tighten our belts,” Gross responded. “We have
to realize we can’t fund everything.” She invited the public to a BoS meeting
Sept. 11 for the first “lines of business” review to begin setting budget
priorities.
Cook said he supports increasing the amount of money the county transfers to the schools, supports higher teacher pay, and
said he would work on increasing state funding.
said he would work on increasing state funding.
“Cutting more from our schools is not the answer,” said
Oleszek. She noted that teacher compensation is falling behind that of other districts
and that the school system is facing more unfunded state mandates
while the school population keeps growing.
Oleszek. She noted that teacher compensation is falling behind that of other districts
and that the school system is facing more unfunded state mandates
while the school population keeps growing.
Oleszek was the only one who said outright that she supports
a meals tax to raise more county revenue. The others said they don’t oppose a
meals tax but would like to see what the public thinks. A commission appointed
by the BoS last year to determine whether a meals tax should be on a public
referendum failed to reach a consensus.
a meals tax to raise more county revenue. The others said they don’t oppose a
meals tax but would like to see what the public thinks. A commission appointed
by the BoS last year to determine whether a meals tax should be on a public
referendum failed to reach a consensus.
The last time a meals tax was on the ballot, in
1992, it failed by a large margin, but Oleszek said it would have a better
chance if it’s presented to voters during a presidential election. Adjacent
jurisdictions have meals taxes to no ill effect, she said. Cook said, “I’m not going
to shut the door and say ‘no’ to a meals tax” but proposed an increase in the cigarette
and alcohol tax as an alternative.
1992, it failed by a large margin, but Oleszek said it would have a better
chance if it’s presented to voters during a presidential election. Adjacent
jurisdictions have meals taxes to no ill effect, she said. Cook said, “I’m not going
to shut the door and say ‘no’ to a meals tax” but proposed an increase in the cigarette
and alcohol tax as an alternative.
Yay Penny!
Yay Mollie!
Penny is only a workhorse right before campaign season
19 work horse years would be equivalent to 57 human years. Time for Penny to head to the pasture.
Doesn't Mollie support charter schools?