Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the 42nd district House of Delegates last night debate between rising star Greg "Rising Star" Werkheiser (D with the Great Life Story and JFK/RFK-like Appeal) and Dave "permanently cap education funding" Albo (R-Friend of Drunk Drivers Everywhere). Luckily, some friends of mine were able to attend. From one friend, here's the wildly enthusiastic report I received:
Ok so Werkheiser and Albo debated a couple of weeks ago. I thought Albo won by a tiny bit, although most people in the Mason Neck civic association seemed to disagree...the debate format was just long winded speeches then a question and answer period. Not too entertaining - no rebuttals or anything.Well tonight was different...
I have never seen someone's clock cleaned like that...
Greg tore him apart.
It's not like Albo's a bad debater - he's a good public speaker (in his own folksy way). It was just that Werkheiser is amazing...he cornered him sooo many times.
This guy, in my opinion, has the potential to become the most talented politician in the state of Virginia.
Nice. Now, here's a fuller, more dispassionate report from my other friend, who has lived in the 42nd District with his three sons for many years.
Yes I did go the debate along with my son Paul. There was a good crowd greatly augmented by West Springfield High School seniors who got credit towad their public service hours for Government class. (Dave Albo had a lot of people at the door handing out literature and t-shirts. Greg's people were handing out his Blueprint, a large two-sided poster laying out his platform.)I wouldn't hazard to say who won the debate as there were no knockout punches or tremendous gaffes. Both candidates seemed to get serious applause for some of their positions. Questions were asked about illegal immigrants, abortion, Dave's law practice, source of campaign contributions, Greg's public safety (i.e. driving) record, etc.
Dave did not back away from his agenda on illegal immigrants that was covered by the Post last week. He clearly said, "Illegal aliens are ruining this country." He then said that evey illegal immigrant going to Fairfax County schools was costing us $12,500 and that medical care for illegals was coting us "tons of dollars." He also defended his gang related legislation He referred to his work with Governor Allen on limiting parole etc. and said similarly of violent gang members that: we should put them in prison and "never let them out'"; and that they should be "taken out of society and locked up forever." (I wonder how many other old, out of touch, folks like me thought that he had made a mistake referring to them as "gangbangers". Afterwards Paul explained to me what a modern day gangbanger is.)
In explaining why he did not get the endorsement of several groups, Albo suggested that they liked his legislative record on their issues but parted ways because he told them he would "never be for collective bargaining" or the right to strike for governmental employees.
The abortion issue was an interesting contrast. Dave answered first and gave the "look at my record and you can see where I stand" answer followed by a litany of his votes on various bills. Greg followed by simply saying "I am pro-choice" followed by a couple of other words and sat down.
Dave did not deny his campaign contributions from PACs and the alcohol industry, (telling people that they were free to look up the contributors on the State Board of Elections internet site), legislation that he had introduced (?) and/or voted for. He then indicated that Greg had gotten $54,000 from one "friend." In his rebuttal, Greg indicated this friend was a very generous woman who serves on the College of William and Mary Board of Visitors and with whom he has worked for 10 years to maintain and improve the quality of public colleges in Virginia. He then added something to the effect that you could be assured that he would be supportive of her cause if elected.
Dave did not shy away from mentioning [Republican Attorney General candidate] Bob McDonnell, noting that McDonnell was a major sponsor of Dave's Drunk Driving Legislation... I did not hear [Albo] mention Jerry Kilgore but Greg, of course, did bring up Mark Warner's name a couple of times and I think that [Greg] mentioned the trio of Kaine, Byrne, and Deeds once.
I would just add a couple of things that my friends didn't mention. Perhaps the issue of transportation (aside from Albo's defense of drunk drivers) didn't come up last night, although I can't believe it didn't. Still, a couple of quotes from Dave Albo perfectly summarize his pitiful record on transportation.
First, Albo has claimed that his record of reducing traffic congestion in NOVA has been nothing short of "miraculous". Well, that's fascinating, given that statistics show we are spending 35% more time stuck in traffic today than we were just a few years ago. Frankly, we don't need any more of THAT kind of "miracle!"
Second, Albo has said that "Fairfax County DEFINITELY gets its fair share of transportation dollars." Huh? I could have sworn that traffic in NOVA was among the worst in the country! I also could have sworn that this was the same Dave Albo who admitted that "Rich Uncle Fairfax" pays everyone else's bills." Finally, I could have sworn that NOVA traffic was all jammed up at least in part thanks to Dave Albo's votes allowing NOVA transportation dollars to slip away, his votes OPPOSING Mark Warner's historic budget reform package in 2004 (which restored our AAA bond rating), and his votes CO-SPONSORING Gov. Gilmore's crazy car tax repeal (which nearly bankrupted our state while sucking hundreds of millions of dollars out of Metro, highways, etc.) With a record like that, we definitely don't want Dave Albo getting behind the wheel of government, that's for sure!
The bottom line here is that, on November 8, voters in the 42nd District will have a clear choice between moving forward with Greg Werkheiser or staying stuck in gridlock with Dave Albo. Go Greg!!