Alexandria Businessman Mulling GOP Run For State Senate
(Updated at 4:20 p.m.) Alexandria businessman Michael Maibach says he’s thinking about pursuing the GOP nomination for the state Senate seat currently held by Democrat Patsy Ticer.
“I’ve been actively considering this for the past two weeks,” Maibach said in a phone interview. He expects to announce a decision by the end of the month.
Maibach has a long resume that has led him from his native Illinois to California’s Silicon Valley to the Washington region.
As a junior at Northern Illinois University, Maibach was the first American under the age of 21 elected to public office following the passage of the 26th Amendment.
In the 1980s, Maibach worked as an assistant and later an executive with the Intel Corporation. He unsuccessfully ran for congress in California in 1992. He moved to Alexandria in 1997, while serving as head of Intel’s government affairs office.
Maibach now serves as President and CEO of the European-American Business Council.
Citing his “markets and innovation” experience, Maibach says that he would campaign on a pro-growth and pro-business platform, should he decide to run.
“I have a lot of affection for state government,” he said. “States are in charge of the business climate of the country.”
Sen. Ticer is widely expected to retire this year. Three Democrats — Del. Adam Ebbin, Arlington School Board Chair Libby Garvey, and Alexandria City Council member Rob Krupicka — have all said they would seek the seat if Ticer declines to run for another term.
Yesterday former congressional candidate Patrick Murray quashed rumors that he may be interested in running for Ticer’s seat this fall, saying that “it’s too soon” after his last campaign.
Ticer serves Virginia’s 30th Senatorial district, which includes parts of South Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax County. The state’s redistricting process may end up changing the district’s borders this spring.
Crime Report: Colonial Village Grabbings
A man grabbed two women inappropriately at an apartment complex in the Colonial Village area early Saturday morning.
SEXUAL BATTERY 01/29/11, 1800 block of N. Scott Street. On January 29 at 1 am, a woman exited an elevator and an unknown man grabbed her buttocks. When she rebuked him, he pushed her. She screamed and the suspect fled. He is described as an African American male in his 20’s, 6’ and 180 lbs with a goatee. He was wearing dark clothing. This call is similar to the below.
SEXUAL BATTERY 01/29/11, 1800 block of N. Scott Street. On January 29 at 1:30 am, a woman was walking while talking on her cell phone. When she paused to look for her keys, an unknown man grabbed her chest. The victim told the friend on the phone to call the police and the suspect fled. He is described as an African American male in his 20’s wearing dark clothing.
The rest of this week’s Arlington County crime report, after the jump.
Announcing the Winner of Our Alternative Vehicle Decal Contest
After a week of voting, we’re proud to announce a winner in our first annual Alternative Vehicle Decal Contest.
The winner, with just over a 33 percent of the vote, is the “Parking Ticket Instructions” decal by “Planet Moron.” The “Brown Flip Flops” design is our runner-up, with 28 percent of the vote.
More than 750 people voted in the contest, which pitted five user-submitted parking decal designs against one another. The winner will now receive the high honor and distinction of being known as Arlington’s finest alternative parking decal designer.
(Reminder: This contest was not sanctioned by Arlington County or any other governmental body.)
Superintendent Responds to Principal’s Letter to Parents
Arlington Public Schools superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy is responding to a lengthy resignation letter sent to Williamsburg Middle School parents by the school’s principal. The letter, first reported by ARLnow.com, accused Dr. Murphy of harassment and discrimination.
Dr. Murphy’s letter to parents toned back some of the language used by the school system last night, when officials described the letter as “regrettable,” “unfortunate” and “very angry” in a statement to the Washington Post.
“We will continue to respond with a high level of professionalism and cannot discuss Ms. Francis’s actions now or in the future,” Dr. Murphy wrote. “However, we deny that there has been any discrimination.”
APS School Talk – A Letter to the Williamsburg Community
February 2, 2011
Dear Williamsburg Parents:
By now we know that you have heard that Ms. Francis has chosen to resign her position as principal at Williamsburg Middle School. I want to assure you that the students, parents, staff and community have been and will remain my first priority during this period of transition.
While I understand that many parents may have questions, it has always been the practice of the Arlington Public Schools that we do not publicly discuss Personnel issues. Therefore, we will continue to respond with a high level of professionalism and cannot discuss Ms. Francis’s actions now or in the future. However, we deny that there has been any discrimination.
At this time, we are exercising our responsibility to make sure that we provide the best educational learning environment for your student. Our primary focus is to take appropriate and immediate steps to put a highly qualified team of administrative leaders in place at the school to ensure that we provide the best instructional support and leadership for our students, their families and the school staff.
Please know that the students at Williamsburg and their well-being will remain our primary focus as we work to ensure that they receive a high quality education in a positive learning environment.
As this process evolves, we will involve the Williamsburg community and keep you apprised of our deliberations and decisions.
Sincerely,
Patrick K. Murphy, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Suspect Pleads ‘No Contest’ to Langston-Brown Tire Slashings
(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) A 22-year-old man has been arrested and has pleaded no contest to two tire slashing sprees in the Langston-Brown area.
Cameron Scott Fraley, of no fixed address, was arrested on Dec. 19, 2010, four days after allegedly slashing the tires on more than 30 cars near Glebe Elementary School and Virginia Hospital Center.
Fraley was charged with misdemeanor destruction of property for the December tire-slashing spree. He was charged with another count of destruction of property for another tire-slashing spree in the same neighborhood in October, when 15-20 vehicles were hit.
Fraley pleaded no contest to both charges, and was sentenced to 200 days in jail with all but 40 days suspended, according to court records. He was also assessed $356 in court costs.
The tire slashings came at a time when Fraley was facing a felony charge for possession of oxycodone. According to court records, Fraley was indicted by a grand jury on the oxycodone charge on Oct. 18. The first tire slashing was discovered early on the morning of Oct. 20.
The second tire slashing was discovered on Dec. 15, the same morning Fraley entered a plea. A pre-sentence hearing on Fraley’s oxycodone charge is scheduled for Feb. 18.
Boeing To Build Large Office Complex in Crystal City
Boeing will be building a 419,000 square foot office project at the very north end of Crystal City, near the future Long Bridge Park, according to commercial real estate information firm CoStar Group.
According to a site plan submitted to the county, the project will consist of three buildings, each between four and six stories high, built on a 4.7 acre parcel of land along Old Jefferson Davis Highway. The office project is expected to replace a number of dilapidated structures, including the Clark Street Playhouse and the abandoned Crystal City Motel.
(The site is shown to the left, during a rain storm last year.)
Building heights are being kept relatively low, likely due to the fact that the site is along the landing path to Reagan National Airport. Boeing will consolidate its existing Rosslyn and Crystal City offices in the new complex, once it’s complete.
The project is being undertaken by Monument Realty, which has struggled in the wake of the global recession. CoStar reports that construction is expected to begin by the end of this year.
Morning Notes
Punxsutawney Phil Doesn’t See His Shadow — Does that mean there will be an early spring in our area? Meteorologists, as usual, are skeptical. [Capital Weather Gang]
Falls Church Admits Debt to Arlington — Falls Church admits that it does, in fact, owe Arlington $2.2 million for shared use of the Arlington County jail. The city did not say how much of the debt it actually plans to pay. [Washington Examiner]
Complaints About Westover Beer Garden Continue — The Westover Market is moving forward with its plan to build a restaurant and bar, despite the fact that people in the neighborhood continue to complain about everything from noise to smoke coming from fire pits in the market’s outdoor beer garden. [TBD]
