PRESS RELEASE: That’s a Lotta Loot for a Local Election

October 14, 2024.

I’m Audrey Clement, the Independent candidate for Arlington County Board on November 5.

I just checked my Democrat opponent’s latest campaign finance report at the Virginia State Board of Elections (SBE) website. It reveals that J.D. Spain amassed over $167,000 in campaign contributions through August 31, 2024. That’s a lotta loot for a local election. Where did it all come from?

50% of $114,800 in itemized contributions (over $100) originated outside Arlington. 21% were donated by PACS, including political and union PACs, and 49% of PAC contributions originated out of state.

So what does this have to do with the election? It means that J.D. Spain will be less accountable to Arlington voters than candidates like me who have no support outside the district.

If J.D. disses the voters, he can rely on a large pool of non-resident supporters with no vested interest in the outcome to get him reelected.

Also insulating J.D. from the effects of his own decisions is that fact that he pays little or no tax on the real estate he owns in Arlington County.

This was evident at a recent Civic Federation forum where according to the then Gazette Leader, J.D. said: “I don’t think [the latest real estate tax increase] was too much.” To which his Republican opponent Juan Carlos Fierro retorted:

“‘It’s very easy not to be bothered by increases in taxes when you don’t pay taxes.’ [Fierro was] circling back to an earlier-in-the-evening dustup when Clement noted that Spain takes a disabled-veteran exemption of nearly $10,000 in real-estate property taxes.“

While I don’t begrudge Spain any tax exemption to which he is entitled, it’s naive to assume that because he is largely exempt from real estate taxes, Spain can fairly represent those who are not. That includes renters like me who absorb tax rate increases in the form of increased rent.

For this reason, if elected I plan to propose an ordinance requiring members of the Board and commissions who do not pay Arlington real estate taxes, either directly or indirectly, to recuse themselves from discussion and votes on taxation matters.

I also pledge to:

• Seek immediate tax relief for residents and businesses.
• Convene a task force of community stakeholders to study reasonable alternatives to Missing Middle up-zoning.

If you share my agenda, then:

• Spread the word about my candidacy.
• Volunteer or donate to my campaign.
• Help make the “Arlington Way” more than an empty phrase.