Clement praises Arlington County Board

Tonight's Radnor/Ft. Myer Civic Association (RAFOM) meeting featured candidates running in the upcoming election on Nov. 5.  The candidates' statements brought some shocking news:

1. Audrey Clement, Green Party candidate for the Arlington County Board, praised the Arlington County Board for its work in implement bike lanes in Arlington.  Clement declared that Arlington County is way ahead of Fairfax County in making streets inclusive of cyclists.
2. Bob Brink, a Democratic candidate running for re-election as 48th District Delegate, stated the Virginia government had successful enacted an omnibus transportation bill.  This is the first Virginia legislation to include new, long-term transportation funding since 1986.
3. School Board and the County Board seem to have different understandings of what's going on with Wilson School.  The School Board has entered into negotiations with the developer Penzance concerning Wilson School.  School Board member and current School Board candidate Jim Lander stated that the School Board hasn't discussed selling Wilson School.  County Board member and current County Board candidate Jay Fisette observed that entering into negotiations with Penzance suggests that the School Board is interested in selling Wilson School.  Fisette said that the County Board has established development requirements of 60,000 square feet of open space, a new fire station, and a substantial contribution to affordable housing.

Here are links to the candidates' websites and to videos of the candidates' opening statements:

• Bob Brink, Democratic Party candidate for the 48th District, VA House of Delegates (video of statement)
• Audrey Clement, Green Party candidate for the the Arlington County Board (video of statement)
• Jay Fisette, Democratic Party candidate for the the Arlington County Board (video of statement)
• James Lander, candidate for the Arlington School Board (video of statement)

 Other items from the meeting:

• Stephen W.C. Holbrook was handing out fliers at the entrance of the meeting.  He is a write-in candidate for the Arlington County Board.  Based on the information in his flier, he favors reducing Arlington taxes and closing all County-run homeless shelters.
• Another public meeting for the Rosslyn Sector Plan Update will occur before the end of the year
• A proposed redevelopment of 1401 Wilson Blvd is in site plan review.  It includes space for a grocery store.

The Ode Street Tribune's election forecasting bureau has predicted the winners of these elections with near certainty.  However, in order not to unduly influence the democratic process, the Tribune's Editorial Board has decided not to publish those predictions.