On Saturday, Oct. 25, political candidates were invited to participate in our community Halloween Parade and Party so they could meet and speak with community members in a one-on-one setting. Each candidate received a letter of invitation, which included a request not to distribute campaign materials or solicit votes, since the focus of the event was on the children of our community.
Of the candidates who attended, only Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-37th) and Mychele Brickner (R, candidate, chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors) and their staff ignored this request and chose to make our community parade their personal political forum by carrying signs and banners during the parade. Not only was this extremely rude, distasteful and inconsiderate, but it was an insult to our community and the civic association.
I feel that the behavior of the other candidates, some of whom brought their children and participated as parents and community members, should be applauded for respecting the wishes of our civic association. These candidates — that I am aware of — included Del. Chap Petersen (D-37th), U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-11th), David Bulova (candidate, Northern Virginia Soil and Conservation District Board) and Jack Rust (R, candidate, 37th State Delegate seat).
As a community member and registered voter, I know Mrs. Brickner and Mr. Cuccinelli have lost my vote and that of others in our community. If they can’t respect our interests in a small community event, how can we trust them to respect our interests on the Board of Supervisors and in Richmond, respectively?
Rosanne Jones
Fairfax