Writer bemoans lack of constituent service

Bryanna Altman
Published: April 21, 2008

As a Coles District resident, I supported Marty Nohe for supervisor when he ran for office more than four years ago and again last November. Since his election to office, my household has never received a newsletter via email or by mail, an invitation to a town hall meeting or a survey. Mr. Nohe’s lack of constituent services makes it hard for him to know what his constituents would want him to do, though he probably believes they would want him spending a lot of time on his regional activities as the vice chairman of the NVTA. 

Since the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled the taxing authority unconstitutional, it now appears that the NVTA is old news and his role as the incoming chairman of NVTA has lost its rock star appeal.
The public should know that since the taxing authority has been rescinded, Mr. Nohe’s statements to the press might be fueled by irritation of this ruling, as well as a deliberate attempt to gather support to reinstate the taxing authority to the NVTA. Of course, that will not happen because it would be unconstitutional for a non-elected body to impose taxes.

His recent statements have suggested that the illegal alien resolution not be funded, yet he participated in drafting the final resolution, voted for it and is now claiming that it may have damaged the image of the county! Is he speaking on behalf of the developer community and not his constituents when he suggests that Prince William has become an unfriendly place to do business? 

It is unfortunate that a Virginia Supreme Court ruling to uphold the Constitution of Virginia would annoy an elected official.  As for the image problem that he believes may have been influenced by the illegal alien resolution, perhaps the time to be concerned about it was before he helped draft the final resolution and voted for it. Why would any public servant draft and vote for an unfunded mandate?
Perhaps the poor image he should be worried about is his own. 

Here is an idea for Supervisor Nohe: Perhaps he should request an independent study be done by a biased liberal who already believes the county has a poor image. Then he can give a reporter the results and his constituents can read about it in the Washington Post! 

BRYANNA ALTMAN

Lake Ridge