Creating a Culture of Listening

As I travel throughout Fairfax County, people are expressing a consistent message. They do not feel heard.  A shadow of insularity, division and power politics permeates our culture.  The ceremonial head of our local government, the Fairfax County Chairman must work every day with people across political lines during the next four years to create a culture of listening and instill confidence.

We see the insular culture in our public schools up to the School Board with some SB members actually telling private citizens to step aside from voicing their concerns.  I saw it firsthand when I presented the Board of Supervisors a plan, vetted by state and local budget directors, to increase the General Assembly's investment in Fairfax County Public Schools by over $501 million annually without increasing taxes while directly benefitting 135 of 136 localities throughout Virginia.  Now is a time for change!

We can see the challenges.  For example, our Planning Commission recommended the development of a 57,000 square foot facility on mixed zoning parcels in Great Falls.  The immediate neighbors were unaware of the proposal and over 250 local residents signed a petition opposing the development.  The incumbent chairman voted against their interests in favor of developers who helped fund her campaign.  We need to improve the process for greater inclusion.

Now the residents of Great Falls are dealing with commercial development of land within parks owned by the Fairfax County Parks Authority.  The Authority has brazenly stated they do not need to encourage community input; they do not need to listen.

Our present culture does not instill in them the desire to listen.  Some have talked about making changes to force the Authority to hold public hearings.  We do not need more pro forma meetings; we need our public servants to desire the input of our community. That takes a change in culture.

In McLean and areas surrounding Falls Church, residents have been forced for years to pay exorbitant fees for water.  In August, I wrote a commentary for community newspapers asking why the incumbent chairman had done nothing to protect the people and the water rights of Fairfax County.  She had done nothing for years.  As usual, she provided no reply.  Now, a week before the election she scheduled a public hearing for December 6, 2011, exactly one week prior to the inauguration.  Anyone else question her odd timing?

We can go on to show how the people are not heard in Mason and Mount Vernon after BRAC was announced in May 2005, over six years ago.  You're probably already tired of hearing about traffic and poor planning. 

Earlier this week, at a candidates forum where I was excluded from debating, Supervisor Gerry Hyland said the daily congestion on Route 1 is the worst he has ever seen in his decades of serving the community.

After the floods of the first week of September, immediately following the community meeting with the victims residing in Huntington, Sharon Bulova and I spoke with a reporter from the Washington Post.  He asked her what she blames the county's inaction in preventing the damage after the 2006 flood.  She said there was a lawsuit.  I asked, "Are you saying the cause of your inaction in protecting the people and property of Fairfax County is your need for a legal defense?"  She said nothing and left me alone with the Washington Post reporter.

When the Huntington neighborhood met with Hyland to discuss long term solutions, I was the only candidate for Fairfax County Chairman who attended, listened to the concerns, pledged support and sought to instill confidence moving forward.  I listen and will take responsible action.

I am the only Fairfax County Chairman candidate who attended all three forums at Gunston Hall, Sherwood Hall and South County Federation.  Spike Williams and Christopher DeCarlo attended none and Sharon Bulova attended one.  Does anyone wonder why Mt Vernon residents feel ignored?  It's because they are ignored!

I think you can understand why in Thursday's Washington Post, when asked to identify the most urgent problem, I said "People do not feel heard.  As chairman, I will work across political lines to build a culture of listening and instill confidence."

Thank you for letting me share.

A. Will Radle, Jr.

Independent Candidate for Fairfax County Chairman

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