It’s time for Delegate Joe May (R-33) to come clean. My mailbox is stuffed with his post cards touting how conservative and fiscally responsible he is and how he’s resolving transportation; that is not the reality. He recently voted for the historically large $6 billion tax increase in the name of transportation. This has raised taxes on an extensive list from property to general sales tax, to internet sales, many of which you will have no choice but to engage in the transaction that taxes you. The genesis of this tax increase was a simple transportation bill, but somewhere along the way, it …

Dear Editor, I am responding to the letter from Michael Turner claiming Del. Joe May is a fiscally conservative cost cutter. It appears these comments were taken word for word from one of the numerous mail pieces May has sent out. On the subject of Joe’s Family Foundation rating, it is deceptive for him to imply that rating is a pro-life indicator, given it did not weigh in on pro-life votes; only on an array of handpicked votes on a wide range of issues. In contrast, his 75 percent pro-abortion score from NARAL is specific to that one issue. During Joe May’s 20-year reign, the population of …

Dear Editor, Who is David LaRock? I’ve been asking that question for a couple of months now that he is running against our Delegate Joe May. What is his background, his education, his public service, his military service? I don’t believe you’ll find it on his website. His staunch anti-abortion platform appears to be his main interest and what he will work on if elected. He is also apparently in favor of sitting in gridlock and driving on unsafe roadways as he is against funding for transportation, which I find inconsistent, as he is a developer. Do you want an ultra-conservative whose …

Dear Editor, I have yet to see one concrete idea from David LaRock on any issue of importance to our state. David seems content only to attack Delegate Joe May by taking parts of his record out of context and weakly asserting he hasn’t always been there for conservatives. We need to defend men of character like Joe May who make the hard choices for us and bring conservative results home. The last thing we need in Richmond is someone like Mr. LaRock with no positive ideas. Preston BlackPurcellville, VA [Editor's note: Mr. Black is an intern for Del. May's campaign, according to his Linked In …

Dear Editor, While I have supported Delegate Joe May's run for office in previous years, I am supporting Dave LaRock this primary.  Dave is running for office out of conviction and a desire to accurately represent the desires of his constituents. Dave LaRock has chosen to run for the House of Delegates not because he desires power or control, but because he became aware of Delegate Joe May's appalling voting record. Delegate May's voting record includes: voting for the $6 billion tax increase (which includes an internet sales tax); voting to earn a 75 percent pro-abortion rating from NARAL …

Dear Editor, When Republicans consider who to cast a vote for in the June 11 primary, they should check the facts to make sure they are voting for a true conservative.  A true conservative Republican ought to adhere closely to the principles of put forth in the Republican Party platform. They are, “lower taxes, less government, personal responsibility, creating opportunities for anyone, protection of life, empowering families, and defending freedom and liberty.” Joe May has supported four huge tax and fee increases since he began his 20-year career as a delegate. He broke ranks with …

To The Editor: As Northern Virginia braces for the economic effects of the Sequester, some Virginians from both parties are feeling jaded about the ability of Congress to come together on big issues. But anyone looking for signs of encouragement should consider the bipartisan support brewing in Congress for the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013, commonly known as “I Squared.” This legislation addresses America's critical need for highly skilled people in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) in order to compete in a high-tech world. U.S. Senator Mark Warner has shown …

Letter to the editor, The escalating cost of living combined with the loss of higher paying jobs has put many people in our area in a financial dilemma. Lower wage jobs appear to be a larger share of our community’s total employment. The surge in population and rising cost of housing in our community have added stress on resources and make it much harder for lower wage earners to make ends meet. Those with modest income struggle to pay for housing, groceries, childcare, health care and education, among other essentials.  Imagine the difficulty of choosing whether your family eats or has …

Dear Editor, I am happy to see the bill eliminating the outdated “Kings Dominion Law” has passed the Virginia House of Delegates with bipartisan support. And I appreciate that my delegate, Barbara Comstock (R-34), introduced legislation to do this along with other Northern Virginia Delegates. This out of date law prevents schools in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties from starting before Labor Day and consequently forces students to stay in school until June when most academic learning has ceased following the SOL exams. Currently, 77 of the 132 school districts in Virginia have been given waivers …

Dear Editor, I was thrilled to read in the Leesburg Patch that the Telework Tax Credit Bill, led by Delegates David Ramadan (Chief Patron) and Barbara Comstock (Co-Patron) was passed by the Virginia House of Delegates Monday with bi-partisan support. The bill will provide a $250 tax credit to employees who telecommute at least 25 hours a week, 45 weeks a year. This tax credit would certainly be an added bonus to the existing benefits I receive in working from home, which cast an incredibly wide net. These benefits include more time with family, greater output for my employer and the ability …

To the editor: I was deeply disappointed by the December 4 BoS public comment. Supervisors Reid and Delgaudio didn't have to rally apologists to fuel the "war on Christmas" narrative. They could have sincerely listened to the citizens targeted by Supervisor Reid’s thoughtless remarks, and responded as their hearts and consciences lead them.  Instead, Supervisor Delgaudio, with or without Supervisor Reid's consent, issued a call to his list of "persecuted Christians," one of whom wore a pin from another anti-gay hate group, the American Family Association. I know that's what happened because I…

Dear Editor, As a Virginian, the Trans Pacific Partnership is of particular interest to me and to our Commonwealth. With an annual economic input of $13.7 billion, the biopharmaceutical sector in Virginia is important to our economic stability and success. Virginia’s economy can be bolstered through increases in exporting in this sector.  It is important to note that Virginia’s success in this industry comes as a result of the hard-work of the researchers and innovators in the biopharmaceutical sector. Negotiators must protect these researchers in order to ensure a future for the bioscience …

Dear Editor, With another round of negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership just days away, I wanted to express my support for this trade agreement as long as our researchers are protected. The Trans Pacific Partnership will bring great opportunities for the biopharmaceuticals industry by allowing for trade with countries such as Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. But even with an increased ability for trade, the biopharmaceuticals industry would be endangered without the necessary precautions. These precautions include securing a high-standards agreement that protects intellectual …

Dear Editor,  A week prior to the Board of Supervisors' Metro vote, I called Supervisor Ken Reid to ask him where he stood. While not verbatim, I think I am really close.   Ken Reid's response: "John, I know this project has always been a piece of crap, and it still is, but the tax district has legs".   In other words, he knew something was a major waste of tax dollars, but he was going to vote for it anyways. I was dumbstruck. How does that work?  I asked how he could possibly say that the tax district had "legs", as most landowners couldn't possibly know about it yet (Supervisor Williams …

Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, I see two kinds of people in Loudoun County, those that do not want rail and do not want to pay for it, and those that want rail and do not want to pay for it. As a transportation system, the value of Metrorail is mostly inspirational, once you break down the subsidized cost per rider. But think back a few weeks to the thousands of people who parked their cars in the middle of the highway to watch the Space Shuttle land at Dulles. That’s a highly inspirational transportation system. Sometimes the value equation goes beyond a simple return on investment …

It's funny reading all the panic and paranoia from opponents of Metro when it comes to connecting us with the city and "urban" people. Funny, that is, in the absurdity of it all. They apparently believe that the Metro will lead Loudoun down the road to rampant crime and poverty. Their misguided views fly in the face of facts. For instance, despite having eleven Metro stations and a population density more than thirteen times greater than Loudoun's, Arlington County has not had a single homicide in well over two years. Can we say as much? Here's an example from abroad: In Bogota, Colombia, …

Dear Editor:Rick Wingrove, CEO of the Beltway Atheists is currently in the process of rounding up his members in a last ditch effort to persuade the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (BOS) during its next business meeting, to rule against the inclusion of a creche as part of this year's so-called seasonal display, before the boards' final decision is reached, which is scheduled for vote by the end of June. In an effort to give the proper balance to Wingrove and company's sabre rattling encore performance I encourage those who are in favor of the inclusion of the display of the creche (as …

The Selling of Metro The hard battle to inform the public on the costs and risks of Metro to Loudoun is being fought. In this complicated mix of opinions and messages there is cause to doubt that enough attention has been given to very basic considerations. At the top of that list is the question of whether or not a heavy rail commuter line that is a match for the transit needs of the Washington Metropolitan area is also a fit for shuttling a few hundred passengers a day back and forth to catch a flight out of Dulles Airport. Here in Loudoun there is a massive effort to sell the train as a …

Emotions, politics, and stubborn pride are getting ahead of public interest in the debate over the Silver Line. The rail makes economic sense as we’ve read time and time again; no, Loudoun won’t collapse without it, but we won’t go anywhere either. We’ll be a bedroom community for a long time while the rest of Northern Virginia enjoys economic growth.  The (exaggerated) arguments leveled against the project due to its costs often completely ignore the expected benefit and show a complete lack of understanding of infrastructure investment.  They also go on about how much tolls will rise while …

Dear Editor, I live in Country Club. Do you know the area? When we moved here, five years ago, it was lovely and clean. Since then things have been gradually changing. The dog owners have decided that it is no longer necessary to clean up after their animals. There are some owners who do pick up after their dogs and God bless them, every one.  There are those who pick up, and leave the stinking bag on the sidewalk, or someone's lawn. Then we have the ultimate disgusting characters, who just leave the heaping mounds. I have to say that there is enough excrement on the sidewalks, lawns and …