Slutzky, Thomas debate land use
They took different philosophical paths to get there, but the contenders for the Rio District seat on Albemarle County’s Board of Supervisors supported similar goals at a Thursday forum, sounding off on topics from the area’s water supply to the strategic land use plan.
Board Chairman David L. Slutzky, the incumbent Democrat, and his Republican challenger, Rodney S. Thomas, answered a series of questions from forum organizers Charlottesville Tomorrow and the Free Enterprise Forum. The questions primarily focused on economic development, land use and the region’s contentious water supply plan.
Philosophy marked the biggest difference between the two as they discussed how a supervisor should make decisions when faced with emotional issues hotly debated by the public.
Slutzky said listening to public comments at a public hearing is an important part of the process, but said other considerations should play into any final decision.
“We need to listen, think about what they’re saying and balance it against our knowledge of the facts through our research and staff,” Slutzky told the Hollymead Elementary School audience. “Then we need to make a decision on our best information and our best guess.”
Thomas said discerning the public’s will is paramount to any decision.
“It’s not about balancing competing interests but about the will of the people,” Thomas said. “If I’m elected, I’m elected to represent the will of the people. As long as I do that, I will support the best decision for the people.”
The two reflected their party affiliations when discussing additional taxes, with Thomas opposing any new tax and Slutzky disinclined to vote for them. Both said they favored property rights and tax credits for landowners who dedicate their property to remain undeveloped, while Slutzky expressed more support for county land use planning.
On other topics, both candidates supported building the Ragged Mountain Dam as currently proposed, pending the outcome of a water study being conducted by the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority.
Both agreed that the county’s identified development growth zones should be modified to allow for a proposed Berkmar Drive extension to Airport Road. Both agreed that grade-separated interchanges along U.S. 29 would damage local businesses.
Thomas opposed the interchanges and criticized the Places29 study, which espoused the interchange idea, as being too expensive. Slutzky supported the Places29 concept and voiced support for a possible freeway-style interchange at Rio Road and U.S. 29, but not others along the rest of the corridor.
The competitors also agreed that the county’s strategic land use plan should receive regular reviews to make sure it reflects the will of the people and the way the county is growing.
“If the plan is just a bunch of words with no power, then it’s not worthwhile,” Slutzky said. “We need to develop a formal process of evaluating our implementation of our strategic plan.”
“We need to consider whether the current plan makes sense in this [economic] environment,” Thomas said. “The plan needs to be reevaluated, just like you’d evaluate a plan in business, to make sure that it makes sense.”
The two candidates are expected to meet again Tuesday at the Earlysville Volunteer Fire Company community room for a 7 p.m. forum sponsored by the Earlysville Area Residents’ League.
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Reader Reactions
I have known Rodney Thomas for over 30 years and I know he has the intellect and the dedication to be an outstanding Supervisor for Albemarle County. He will always seek what is best for the people of Albemarle County as he casts votes. The County needs a new direction and Rodney can provide it.
I attended and thoroughly enjoyed the debate and I found Rodney to be a pleasant, friendly man. However, I would like to make several points.
At one point, the candidates were asked to give themselves a letter grade on their constituent services. David gave a genuine answer that acknowledged both the weaknesses we all have as human beings staying on top of the thousands of letters and calls our elected officials get monthly and how it takes a while to become accustomed to the job once you’re in it, whereas Rodney served us with the easy answer - A+, despite never having held an office where he was actually required to have any real measure of interaction with a broad base of constituents. I found this disingenuous and “easy.“
The above point brings me to a more general point, which was that Rodney seemed to - for about 95% of the debate - be reading directly from a very small number of “talking point” bullet points. Simply: when the question is one about, say, job creation; when one candidate gives a complex, measured, reasoned, and careful answer about the many problems facing our job and real estate markets while also giving specific, concrete examples of strategies and initiatives he has and is pursuing to fix the problem; and the other serves us the same old political lines and empty promises about keeping taxes low while at the same promising to fund the moon ... well, all I will say is that a contrast is drawn.
All this is by way of saying, yes, there are differences between the two candidates. But regardless of one’s position on the issues, I think there is a lot to be said for a candidate who gives thoughtful, intelligent answers, shows clear commitment and dedication to tackling the tough problems we’re facing in Albemarle, and has the experience, leadership, and vision to actually solve some of these problems. My two cents.
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