November 11, 2024.
First, I want to thank those of you who voted for me for your support in my recent campaign for Arlington County Board. I got 13 percent of the vote in a runoff election that ended with the first round due to the fact that J.D. Spain got 58 percent of the first ranked votes.
Evidently Arlington voters rejected my argument that since Spain, who claims a veteran’s disability, pays little or no real estate tax in the county, he cannot fairly represent those who do.
By their vote for Spain, a solid majority endorsed the principle of taxation without representation. They will likely pay the price either directly through their real estate taxes or indirectly through their rent.
No doubt a lot of residents. who opposed the County’s recently overturned Missing Middle ordinance that up-zoned single family neighborhoods for multi-family development, also voted for Spain.
As usual they voted a straight Democrat ticket, oblivious to the fact that Spain supported Missing Middle. County Board is also promoting a new scheme to densify the County, which Spain is likely to support going forward.
Under these circumstances, I regret that I have but one opportunity a year to challenge the all Democrat County Board and hope that ranked choice voting promoted by a coalition of like minded candidates will someday turn the situation around.