Parkway foe launches bid against Toscano

An ardent opponent of the Meadowcreek Parkway who describes himself as “liberal/conservative” and wants to abolish homework in schools has filed to run against Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, this fall.

Robert Brandon Smith III — known to many as “RBS-3” — filed petitions Monday and Tuesday with the required number of signatures from registered voters to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, election officials said.

Smith is a Belmont resident who works odd jobs as a carpenter and is considered a bit of a gadfly at City Council meetings. A self-described “mall rat,” he can be found most days hanging out along the Downtown Mall, wearing his trademark suspenders.

Smith previously ran as a write-in candidate for Charlottesville’s council, but was unsuccessful in his bid.

This time around, he will run as an independent. He describes himself alternatively as a “militant green” and a “liberal/conservative.”

He said he views himself as liberal, as he supports greater protection for the environment, wants to limit development and supports abortion rights. He also considers himself conservative, he said, because he wants America to return to the values of an earlier era, in which Americans were better schooled in history and geography, when the environment had not been so damaged, and when passenger rail was more widespread.Smith’s primary goal in challenging Toscano is to draw attention to the debate over the Meadowcreek Parkway, a 2-mile road under construction between Rio Road East and the U.S. 250 Bypass.

“I want to kill it,” Smith said. “Not just stop it. Kill it.”

Smith believes the media have done a poor job of showing what he considers to be widespread opposition to the parkway. By running for the House of Delegates, Smith says he expects to improve the “professionalism” of the media.

He also has ideas that he believes would improve Charlottesville’s school system.

“I’d like to see the kids in this community wear school uniforms,” he said. “I’d like to see homework abolished forever. I’d like to see more reading and field trips. … I’d like to see more foreign-language instruction.”

Smith additionally has criticism of the University of Virginia. “I’m concerned about the curriculum of the university,” he said. “I’m concerned that the university has destroyed affordable housing in our community.”

Smith will have a difficult time unseating Toscano, a former City Council member who is popular among Charlottesville-area Democrats and has nearly $47,000 in his campaign account.

Toscano — who was unopposed for re-election in 2007 and won a two-way race in 2005 by a huge margin — welcomed Smith to the race Wednesday.

“I welcome the competition,” Toscano said. “It’ll help sharpen the issues and make me a stronger candidate. I welcome the debate.”

Toscano, a lawyer, represents the 57th House District, which includes all of Charlottesville and a portion of Albemarle County.

In the past legislative session, Toscano carried bills to subsidize passenger rail service, to allow Charlottesville and Albemarle to form a regional transit authority and to offer new incentives for renewable energy.