Comments on: The Right Note: Board Watching

By: Clarendon

Clarendon — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:30:51 +0000

Just as classic is that lots of people watch that stuff and are interested ! People in Arlington even go to the library and watch past board meetings on tape (the ones that aren’t online) to get background info. I’ve seen it happen. Does that happen anywhere else in this country ?

By: Quoth the Raven

Quoth the Raven — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:41:58 +0000

So arlnow should publish only left-wing stuff? Perhaps some people are wondering why arlnow is “polluted” by the left wing opinion articles. Is that wrong too? Grow up. If you don’t like the article, don’t read it.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:40:11 +0000

Why is this even here? Why does the right-wing need to polute every news outlet with their opinion? This column should be dropped. And no whining about “free speech” there is PLENTY of right-wing opinion in the Journal and all the freebie rags.

By: Conflict

Conflict — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:04:31 +0000

Take a step back and remove him from the county board but everything else remains the same. What is your answer now…in any other realm that is a conflict of interest.

By: ACDC Hack

ACDC Hack — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:45:55 +0000

“debating the placement of chairs for outdoor cafe seating”

That meeting was a classic……

By: drax

drax — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:31:45 +0000

LEBELE, you are correct – he says he hasn’t broken the law, and the county attorney backs him up. He’s only obligated to follow the law, not some random definition of conflict of interest that someone makes up on the internet.

On the other hand, we can still judge him for doing what appears to be a conflict to us, even if it’s not legally one. The law may just be weak.

By: drax

drax — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:28:38 +0000

The county attorney may not think it looks, acts or walks like a duck.

Or maybe it actually isn’t a duck even though it does. That’s not the definition of duck.

By: LPS4DL

LPS4DL — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:50:51 +0000

Unfortunately, more misinformation from Mr. Kelly. Isn’t there a legitimate conservative voice available in Arlington?

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:54:21 +0000

You are conveniently ignoring the pay they get from serving on other boards etc…….

And you ask who appoints them to these other paying positions…..the board of course !!

By: LEBELE

LEBELE — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:38:18 +0000

Mr. Kelly, Please inform us of what part of the Virginia Conflicts of Interests Act were violated. You’ve made lots of fuzzy accusations.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC02020000031000000000000

Your snide quotes about “part-time” board members should discredit everything else you write. Board members are paid part-time given their responsibilities ($49,000/year). They meet as a group only a few hours/week, although they put in tens of extra hours in preparation. Please describe what you mean by those quotes — what part of their pay and formal work is not part time?

commenter Tom Smart: You are correct that federal congressmen would not be permitted to do this. They are full-time and paid as full time. Their laws and rules are different from those of Virginia for part timers, who are expected to have other sources of income. Before the mid-1970s rules changes, congressmen often did hold outside employment, frequently as attorneys representing people or groups with business before the federal government.