Del. Dave Albo Will Not Seek Re-election to HOD-42

Brian Schoeneman (left) and Delegate Dave Albo.

Republican Delegate Dave Albo (HOD-42) announced to his colleagues Wednesday that, after 24 years serving the citizens of his district, he will not seek re-election to the Virginia General Assembly.

That was not the news expected out of the Veto Session taking place in Richmond. His announcement was also posted on his website along with  a highlight of his accomplishments. It’s a list that is worth a look.

As news of Albo’s retirement spread, political reporter Graham Moomaw with the Richmond Times-Dispatch noted the blue-leaning district created the potential for a Democratic pickup, and added:

Bearing Drift smoked out the competition with their cigar and coffee suite

By Lynn R. Mitchell

If you take the Bearing Drift writers and add cigars and coffee, you get an atmosphere for political discussion and visiting with friends and political allies. Add to that an awesome suite with a porch overlooking The Homestead’s Casino, ice skating rink, and outdoor spa pool all surrounded by magical holiday lights, and you’ve got the makings for an memorable evening in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains.

That’s quite some impressive sponsors. Thanks, Bearing Drift … job well done, and so appropriate.

Aren’t they pretty? They were popular with suite guests, and a couple of them also smoked pipes. Hosts Brian Schoeneman, Shaun Kenney, and Matt Hall mixed it up with familiar faces who began crowding the porch as the evening went on.

Terrence Boulden remembered by LynnRMitchell.com

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Friends gathered Saturday evening in Fairfax to laugh, cry, and remember fellow conservative blogger and activist Terrence Boulden who left this world far too early Friday night at the age of 35.

[Updated below with GoFundMe info on how to help the family.]

A familiar voice for years at Virginia Virtucon, he was friends with many. One of those was Brian Schoeneman who share the memories of his years working with Terrence, writing at Bearing Drift:

Guevara wins Sully primary, moves on to November

By Daniel P. Cortez

John Guevara, the 15-year army veteran, IT professional, Home Owner Association president, former Boy Scout leader, and longtime Sully resident pulled out a squeaker of a primary election victory Saturday in Northern Virginia.

Guevara was supported by Republican Party of Virginia Chairman John Whitbeck who clearly is trying to revitalize Republicans, knows victories of substance will continue to elude them without a better connection to the minority community.  Now they have another one in Guevara, a legitimate proud American veteran businessman who happens to be of Hispanic descent.

Sully supervisor contest illustrates ‘the man in the arena’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The campaign for the Republican nomination for Sully District supervisor in Fairfax County was held Saturday, resulting in a low turnout that saw the winner garner 478 votes. Congratulations to John Guerava who now moves on to the general election against Democratic candidate Kathy Smith.

Thank you to Brian Schoeneman and John Litzenberger and all candidates who step into the arena. For those who do not make it, remember that you play an important part in the political process. We appreciate your service. You are the man in the arena….

Sully Supervisor: Brian Schoeneman has proven leadership – Updated

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In politics, I don’t want to hear what you don’t like about the other candidate. I want to hear what you like about yours.

Brian Schoeneman is running for Sully District supervisor in Fairfax County. A friend and fellow blogger, we were colleagues during my years at Bearing Drift. I have respected his pragmatic Republican leadership at a time when politics has become very polarizing. He is upfront with people and honest, something that has been criticized by supporters of one of his opponents. But isn’t that what we say we want in a candidate?

Saturday, April 25, is the Firehouse Primary at Westfield High School in Chantilly from 10am-4pm. I hope you will consider voting for Brian Schoeneman.

Brian Schoeneman leads Sully candidates in fundraising quarter

By Lynn R. Mitchell

This week’s release of campaign finance reports confirmed that Fairfax County Sully District Republican candidate Brian Schoeneman was the top fundraiser during the quarter that ended March 31 (see Schoeneman ends fundraising quarter with 85% from small donors).

The Schoeneman campaign actually released its numbers on April 1 but results from the other two Republican candidates were unknown until this week when reports showed Brian led not only his fellow Republican candidates but also the Democratic candidate (see Schoeneman leads money race in Republican contest for Fairfax seat):

Schoeneman ends fundraising quarter with 85% from small donors

Brian Schoeneman and Delegate Dave Albo

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Brian Schoeneman’s first quarter fundraising numbers reflect a strong grassroots system with more than 85 percent of contributions from small donors for his Fairfax County Sully supervisor race. Final filing with the State Board of Elections will be April 15 but here are the unofficial results of the period covering January 1 through March 31, 2015, as provided on April 2 by the Schoeneman campaign:

• 161 unique donors $100 and under
• 188 unique donors total
• 85.6% of contributions were of $100 or less
• Average donation was approximately $46.53
• Total raised: $26,871.38
• Cash-on-hand: $12,585.47

Who’s best for Republican outreach, Guevara or Schoeneman, in the Sully District?

By Daniel P. Cortez

John Whitbeck, the newly elected head of the RPV, has made an unprecedented move “endorsing” and that’s what it is regardless of the language used in his recent statement of support for John Guevara for Supervisor of the Sully District in Fairfax County.

In this, the first genuine move by Whitbeck towards outreach to the minority community for conservatives, he states, “Growing the Republican Party is essential to our winning elections in Northern Virginia.  John Guevara is exactly the kind of Republican we need to accomplish just that. His military and private sector experience in project management makes him uniquely qualified to serve on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.”

Brian Schoeneman endorsed by Steve Hunt

Brian Schoeneman

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Brian Schoeneman, running for the Republican nomination for Sully District supervisor in Fairfax County, received the endorsement of Steve Hunt, Fairfax County Electoral Board Chairman, former State Senate candidate, and former At-Large School Board Member.

Brian noted that “there are few people in Fairfax politics who know me better than Steve — we spent two years in the trenches on the Electoral Board together.”

Del. Dave Albo endorses Brian Schoeneman for Fairfax Sully District supervisor

 

Brian Schoeneman, Dave Albo

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Brian Schoeneman picked up another big endorsement this week when Delegate Dave Albo endorsed him for Fairfax County Sully District supervisor.

Brian Schoeneman for Sully Supervisor released the following:

Brian Schoeneman reception at Capitol Hill Club tonight

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Schoeneman would donate BOS pay increase to 4 community organizations

Brian Schoeneman

By Lynn R. Mitchell

When Fairfax County supervisors voted themselves a pay increase on March 3, Sully District Republican candidate Brian Schoeneman responded:

On March 3, 2015, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to raise their salary from $75,000 to $95,000 a year. As The Washington Post reports, “The increase, which will take effect in January, comes in a tough budget year for Fairfax, where county officials are working to balance a budget after projecting a revenue gap of nearly $90 million”. Read more of The Washington Post’s article here.

At a time when we are cutting services and seeing tax increases through rising property tax assessments, it is hard to justify to the taxpayers in Fairfax County raising Supervisor salaries – especially since the raises have more fiscal impact than just the increased pay itself. There are pension and benefit implications as well.

Elections matter. This was a 6-4 vote, and one additional vote would have been sufficient to block the raise. If I had been on the Board, I would have voted no on this pay increase and it would have failed.

Today Brian announced that if elected to the board he will donate the additional $20,000 pay increase to four Fairfax County community organizations, commenting:

Schoeneman campaign updates

Brian Schoeneman

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Brian Schoeneman, Republican candidate for Sully District’s supervisor seat in Fairfax County, announced an upcoming Campaign Open House and other events as well as a response to a recent supervisor vote.

After supervisors voted for a salary increase earlier this week, Brian responded:

On March 3, 2015, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to raise their salary from $75,000 to $95,000 a year. As The Washington Post reports, “The increase, which will take effect in January, comes in a tough budget year for Fairfax, where county officials are working to balance a budget after projecting a revenue gap of nearly $90 million”. Read more of The Washington Post’s article here.

At a time when we are cutting services and seeing tax increases through rising property tax assessments, it is hard to justify to the taxpayers in Fairfax County raising Supervisor salaries – especially since the raises have more fiscal impact than just the increased pay itself. There are pension and benefit implications as well.

Elections matter. This was a 6-4 vote, and one additional vote would have been sufficient to block the raise. If I had been on the Board, I would have voted no on this pay increase and it would have failed.

Brian Schoeneman’s big campaign kick-off for Fairfax supervisor

By Deborah Bornstein Munoz
Guest Post

Brian Schoeneman kicked off his campaign for Fairfax County Sully District supervisor Tuesday night with a big crowd of supporters at Backyard Grill in Chantilly. Here Brian addresses the crowd while Supervisor Pat Herrity and former school board member Steve Hunt, who have both endorsed him, listen to his remarks. Brian gave an excellent speech about growing business and strengthening the tax base in Sully and, for business owners, it was good to hear he would continue the tradition of a business-friendly board of supervisors since many consider Sully to be the Tysons Corner for site construction products and other industries.