FLCV Endorses Mike McLanahan

FAIRFAX – The Fairfax League of Conservation Voters (FLCV) today endorsed Mike McClanahan, the Democratic nominee for the open Springfield District Supervisor seat. “Mike has shown a profound understanding of the environmental problems and solutions for his District as well as the entire County. His grasp of the intricacies of growth and transportation issues match his equally deep-seated understanding of the health of the County’s streams and rivers, our severe air quality condition, and the need for open space for our citizens’ will being,” said Harry Glasgow, FLCV Board Member. As an enthusiastic and well-informed steward of conservation, Mike McClanahan will be a welcome addition to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Examiner on Connolly Endorsement

The Examiner covered our press conference, here's the story on Examiner.com. If that link shall ever fail, you can view the PDF version of the story located here.

2007 Board of Supervisors Endorsements

FAIRFAX – The Fairfax League of Conservation Voters (FLCV) today announced their Board of Supervisor Endorsements for 2007.

District	Endorsed	Party
Lee	Jeff McKay	Democrat
Mason	Penny Gross	Democrat
Dranesville	Joan Dubois	Republican
Braddock	Sharon Bulova	Democrat
Hunter Mill	Cathy Hudgins	Democrat
Providence	Linda Smyth	Democrat
Chairman	Gerry Connolly	Democrat

When the Fairfax Board of Supervisors committed to a 20 Year Environmental Agenda in 2004 they set the standard for progressive environmental leadership. The slate endorsed by the FLCV recognizes that leadership.

“Endorsing Chairman Gerry Connolly was an exceptionally easy choice for the Fairfax League of Conservation Voters as his record is exemplary" says Stella Koch, long time resident of Fairfax County and Board member of the FairfaxLCV. During his four years as Chairman he has led the county to adopt an Environmental Vision, written at his urging; created a program to implement and fund those initiatives, added additional funding for stream restoration and protection, and guided the County in creating a national Cool Counties program that now has counties representing 25 million people signed on. “The Chairman has as shown initiative and leadership at the county, regional and national level. We could not ask for a better candidate."

Penny Gross, the Chairman of the Boards Environmental Committee, has become the patron of Clean Water and Clean Air in the County. She has led the County commitment to protect the Chesapeake Bay and to better manage stormwater runoff. “Penny understands the complexity of Environmental issues and how they are directly related to our quality of life and economic vitality” said George Lamb, President of the FLCV.

Joan DuBois, a current member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, has consistently supported Low Impact Development measures aimed at mitigating storm water run off as well as the current Fairfax County Watershed restoration studies. She has been an active volunteer in stream and trail clean-ups; the removal of invasive species and the planting of riparian buffers. She supports the building of hiking/biking trails as alternative transportation to reduce air pollution.

In the Open Lee District race, where Dana Kaufman is stepping aside, the Fairfax League of Conservation Voters endorsed Democrat Jeff McKay. “We were impressed with McKay‘s clear view on issues such as Smart Growth, the Cool Counties initiative, the County’s Tree Action Plan, and Transit Oriented Development,” said Harry Glasgow, FLCV Board Member. “Jeff has a clear grasp on these complex issues and the progress we’ve already made.” McKay has the endorsement of incumbent Dana Kauffmann whose environmental record is peerless. If Jeff McKay is half as good, he will still be superb.

The endorsements were decided by volunteer members who serve on the Fairfax League of Conservation Voter’s Board of Directors (www.fairfaxlcv.org/about.php). FLCV is actively campaigning for our candidates, mobilizing volunteers, providing financial support and communicating with voters.

Letter to the Editor

To: The Falls Church New Press

From: George Lamb
President, Fairfax League of Conservation Voters
Vice Chair / At Large Appointee Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC)
Providence District Appointee, Tysons Corner Coordinating Committee

(703) 538-6065
3060 Cedarwood Lane
Falls Church VA, 22042

Dear Editor,

Fairfax County’s Providence district surrounds Falls Church to the south and west and stretches across Fairfax County. It includes most of Tysons Corner, part of Seven Corners, all of Merrifield, and the Vienna Metro Station. On Tuesday Providence district voters will elect the Democratic nominee for Supervisor. Supervisor Linda Smyth has led the District and County through several tumultuous changes. She has encouraged public participation, built consensus between organizations, and focused on smart growth principles such as concentrating development near transportation and building sidewalks. Her opponent has portrayed development as the problem and wants to implement policies, such as adequate public facilities, that the County has repeatedly requested and been denied by the Virginia legislature.

Linda Smyth has represented the district for 4 years as Supervisor and prior as Planning Commissioner. She has shepherded the district through the Metro West plan amendment around the Vienna Metro and the Merrifield redevelopment. She instituted Transportation Demand Management with associated penalties to make sure traffic at Metro West matches projections. She also has regular community workshops on topics such as Planning, Transportation, and the Environment. She had the foresight to create the Tysons Corner Coordinating Committee to make sure the community has insight and input into planning the future of Tysons Corner as a transit oriented urban community.

Anyone who has driven through Merrifield recently can see change happening. There are new citizens moving into the area, the town center is under construction, and if you look carefully there are future green roofs, sidewalks connecting people and places, and a new street grid that will help alleviate traffic congestion at Gallows and Lee Highway. Supervisor Smyth has been a champion of solutions that make a difference. When developers complained that green roofs and pervious parking areas were too difficult and expensive to build she said “Let me show you how” and built an award winning rain garden and green roof at her County office. She then pushed the County to incorporate these practices into the Public Facilities Manual.

Linda also demonstrated foresight into protecting our streams. During her tenure the County remapped all perennial streams and protected 330 miles of new streams. Linda then faced the first Developer challenge to the new streams. Instead of going into a battle over procedures, Linda seized the initiative and set a precedent to protect intermittent streams. The developer reclassification was approved, with a precedent for 50’ buffers (versus 100’ for perennial) and to provide remediation above and below the stream. She is now working on protecting all intermittent streams, not just down-zoned ones.

We’ve seen four years of progressive leadership. Linda makes Fairfax work, she does what others say is too hard, and she builds consensus around great projects. If we don’t get out and vote on Tuesday, then we’ll lose that leadership. In a primary, a few voters have inordinate say over a content electorate. Please encourage your neighbors to vote for Linda Smyth to continue the progress in Providence district.

FLCV endorses Linda Smyth for Providence District Supervisor Primary

We are officially endorsing Linda Smyth in the Providence District Supervisor Primary. You may reach Linda at this address.

P.O. Box 1574
Fairfax, VA 22038
703-485-2990
linda.smyth@gmail.com

Get ready to vote - the primary election is on Tuesday, June 12, 2007. To keep up to date on all upcoming events, visit our calendar of events.