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By Marc, October 26, 2011 10:10 am

George Washington Supervisor Harry Crisp has strongly endorsed Charles Latimer for the seat he will be vacating later this year, as he chose not to seek re-election. Per the Free-Lance Star:

It has been my a pleasure to serve the residents of the George Washington District on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for the past four years. The experience has been rewarding; however, I chose not to run for re-election in order to spend more time with my family.

Charles Latimer has my full support in the election for this seat. Mr. Latimer is a retired Marine master gunnery sergeant and is currently employed as a human resources program manager.

He has been an active member of our community as a coach for youth football, as a mentor for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and as president of his homeowners association.

Mr. Latimer will put the well-being of residents above partisan politics. He will work hard to preserve the remaining open spaces in the George Washington District, to invest in our kids through strong support for our schools and parks and recreation programs, to fix our roads, to provide good public safety, and to protect and preserve our natural and cultural resources.

Charles Latimer is the best choice to continue the tradition that the voters of George Washington District have strongly preferred for the past 12 years.

Very well said by Harry. Enough can’t be said about the great job Harry has done representing the George Washington District over the last four years. Thank you, Harry!

Filling Harry’s shoes will be a tall order, but Charles is clearly the right person for the job! On November 8, 2011, let’s continue the “tradition that the voters of George Washington District have strongly preferred for the past 12 years” by voting for Charles Latimer.

You can learn more about Charles by visiting his website.

Comments (3)

By Marc, October 17, 2011 4:30 pm

I think it’s fairly well documented on how Mudslide Mark Dudenhefer has voted to cut millions in funding for Stafford County Public Schools and in 2011 he voted against increasing funds to the school board by $1 million. We’ve previously talked about Mudslide’s chain-sawing of the school’s operating budget and the resulting effects on our school system.

What we haven’t discussed is the self-purported myth that Rock Hill Supervisor Cord “Not So” Sterling has fought to increase funding to our school system. Let me say this very clearly: Cord is no friend of our schools.

As the 7th richest county in America, Stafford County pays its teachers 13% below the national average – according to the U.S. Census Bureau and Stafford County Public Schools. Prince William County, our northern neighbors and the 9th richest county in America, pays its teachers 18% more and the City of Alexandria, the 39th richest county in America, pays its teachers 38% more – according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education. Our other neighbor Spotsylvania County, which isn’t even one of the richest counties in the nation, pays its teachers 4% more. According to Stafford County Public Schools, the average teacher salary is $50,692.

How are we supposed to keep our outstanding teachers, if we can’t even pay them competitive salaries? You know it isn’t cheap to live in the 7th richest county in America.

I’m sure that Sterling and Mudslide will try to further slice and dice the numbers and ask county staff to develop some sort of report to show just how supportive they are of our schools. Maybe they can claim a computer “glitch” like Sheriff Jett.

Just how bad have things gotten for Stafford County Public Schools? Sterling and Mudslide cut school funding back to 2006/7 levels as the percentage of schools making Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) fell from 95% to 33%. That’s what I call results?!

Worse yet, according to Independent Rock Hill Supervisor candidate Dean Fetterolf, the amount of funds transferred to schools as a percentage of total county spending has fallen more than 16% since 2006. Yet, in 4 of the last 6 years schools saved and returned nearly $8 million to the county general fund. During this recession our neighbors increased their funding above their existing required local effort levels by an average of 20%. Stafford cut its by 30%!

These draconian reductions in funding have had a direct impact on our classrooms. Stafford County now sports the 5th highest K-7 student ratio in Virginia.

Sterling and Mudslide are either in denial about our schools or intentionally trying to mislead voters on the state of our schools. It’s an election year and they really want your vote.

It isn’t only our teachers and students that Sterling and Mudslide have turned their backs on, but also critical school support staff that keep our schools running smoothly. Back in December of 2009, they voted to deny salary increases to certain categories of school employees (including bus drivers and cafeteria workers).

Stafford school cafeteria workers that have been on the job for 10 years are making 11% less per hour (18% for those on the job 20 years) than their counterparts in Spotsylvania County. School bus drivers that have been on the job 10 years are making 8% less per hour compared to their counterparts in Spotsylvania County too.

If I were Sterling and Mudslide, I wouldn’t be sitting down for a school lunch anytime soon.

We need representatives who show their support for our schools through actions and not empty rhetoric. We need representatives who understand that a top-notch education system is an economic incentive for attracting new businesses and families. We need representatives who understand offering competitive salaries to teachers (and those other support personnel) are essential in attracting and retaining them.

We need representatives like Dean Fetterolf (I-Rock Hill) and Esteban Garces (D-2nd VA House District).

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By Marc, October 12, 2011 10:05 am

At a recent NAACP candidate forum, did Mudslide Mark Dudenhefer try to walk back his support for toll lanes by suggesting that he “had no vote on HOT lanes”? Was he now trying to suggest that he didn’t support them? Not quite. What he did was further reaffirm his strong support for them. He now claims that they will be a big boon for jobs.

The only big boon will be for the foreign entities that will now control our “public” roads. That’s right, we will now be paying foreign companies (i.e. Fluor-Transurban) for the privilege to use our “public” road system.

Worse yet, it’s taxpayers that may be left holding the bag. Assuming that the I-95 contract is similar to the Beltway one for HOT lanes, if not enough toll payers use the HOT lanes it will leave Virginia, and taxpayers, on the hook in providing financial compensation to these foreign entities. If carpooling increases, taxpayers will also be on the hook and have to pay.

If only Mudslide Mark afforded the same “safety net” to constituents in his Stafford County supervisory district, maybe those families affected by a recent landslide wouldn’t be left out in the cold. You see there are those who fund his political campaigns and those that do not.

You see Mudslide Mark has no interest in conducting a top-to-bottom investigation of the Stafford County permit office that can’t seem to find the inspection of a retaining wall for homes that have seen the ground below them steadily slide down a hill; or, in the developer who is avoiding answering questions on the construction of these homes.

This should come as no surprise, as Mudslide Mark wouldn’t want any sort of oversight to get in the way of business (or his campaign assets). “Oversight is just a buzzword for more government bureaucracy getting in the way of business,” said Dudenhefer.

Mudslide wouldn’t want oversight of a foreign company running our public road system getting in the way of there profits – would he? I’m sure that he wouldn’t be too concerned with making sure that traffic wasn’t being manipulated in any way to assure that a foreign company wasn’t squeezing every dime out of Virginia taxpayers.

Based on what has been purported, I have serious reservations about HOT lanes in Virginia. According to the Washington Times, “Virginia taxpayers are on the hook once again if, between now and 2087, improvements are made to free, non-tolled roads in the vicinity of the toll lanes. These ‘noncompete’ agreements ensure that the toll-road company will enjoy a monopoly at taxpayer expense because surrounding roads will grow increasingly congested in the ensuing eight decades. In other words, free roads will be neglected and not expanded to create congestion that will force motorists into tolled lanes.”

I suppose Mudslide Mark is ok with foreign companies enjoying a monopoly at taxpayer expense, so long as his campaign assets continue growing. It’s also no wonder why Mudslide has long opposed the indefinite postponement of toll lanes on I-95. Build, baby, build!

It’s bad enough that Stafford County raised the personal property tax on everyone’s vehicles by 25 percent, but now Mudslide is potentially asking a commuter who wants to avoid gridlocked roads to pay upwards of $33,280 each year. Not to mention that commuters who choose to use these lanes during off-peak times will now be charged a toll. Oy vey!

In the end, Mudslide is dead wrong when he categorizes HOT lanes as a “major part” of a solution to eliminate gridlock on our roads. A “major part” of a solution would be to extend rail within our area and bring more high-paying jobs locally. Simply increasing the volume that our roadways can handle will only increase traffic and not ease it.

As the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams explains, “if you build it they will come.”

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By Marc, October 1, 2011 8:47 am

Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark “Mudslide” Dudenhefer clearly doesn’t want to deal with the mudslides and sinkholes threatening his constituents’ homes. While these families are about to lose everything they own due to a catastrophe caused by a lack of county government oversight of developers and Stafford’s lax regulations over builders — Mudslide Mark is more focused on his political career advancement trying to grab the newly created 2nd Virginia House District seat.

Here’s a report from WJLA on a recent mudslide that destroyed several families homes in the Austin Ridge community of Stafford County:

At a recent town meeting with county officials, the affected families received few answers on the cause of the mudslide. The responses they received from Dudenhefer and other county officials were useless and the meeting seemed to resemble the late 70s game of Pass the Buck.

So the developer had a permit to build a retaining wall, providing support to what appears to have been a pretty steep slope, and county officials can’t confirm if it was ever inspected. If they can’t confirm it was ever inspected, can they confirm one was ever built?

As we recently tried to explain to Mudslide Mark, regarding our schools, accountability doesn’t come cheap.

As the ground steadily slides down the hill taking all the families assets with it, Mudslide Mark is more concerned with scrambling to cover his own ass(ets) then trying to help the families. Unfortunately for these devastated constituents, the best that Dudenhefer will offer is an anemic off-loading of responsibility. “The board will decide what can or can’t take place,” Dudenhefer said. He went on to say, “any perception that we’re ignoring or not dealing with it are not true. There’s meetings…ways to help.”

Meetings? That’s the best Dudenhefer can offer to these displaced families? How about a top-to-bottom investigation of the permit office that can’t seem to find the inspection of the retaining wall? How about rolling back the lax ordinances that allowed builders to construct homes on such risky sites? Oh right, Mudslide Mark is too busy gunning for a promotion and collecting big developer dollars for his delegate campaign to allow himself to be distracted with the real problems of his current constituents.

Let’s not forget, it was Mudslide Mark who was at the center of helping to overturn several county ordinances that dealt with maximum slope steepness and setback for resource protection areas (see Potomac Resource Protection District).

Mudslide Mark may not care about residents in his district, but he cares about his developer buddies. Someone’s got to fund his campaigns. After all, limiting what a lot yields (20 units vs. 100 units) would seriously dampen developer profits. Screw the homeowners who may one day see their piece of the American dream drift away into the mud.

In general, it is our understanding, that current county development ordinances prohibit building on slopes 35% or greater. As we just explained-due to the fact that most of the stable land in the county has already been developed-slope steepness is of great interest to developers trying to maximize profits in the county.

Other issues that arise from slope steepness are environmental (e.g. runoff) and safety concerns (e.g. mudslides).

In addition to the angle of the slope, ordinances must consider soil types when determining suitability for development. Ever try building a sand castle and then dumping water on it? Sandy soils are typically less stable then dense clay. Generally sandy soils on steep slopes require extensive engineering to assure stability of construction. Of course, this safety factor adds to the cost of construction and cuts into builder’s profits. When builders complained about this to Dudenhefer, his door and campaign war chest were wide open.

An issue of safety should never be subject to political back-scratching and pocket-filling. Common sense — and common decency — are needed. Mudslide Mark Dudenhefer is far too concerned with filling his campaign coffers versus finding a balanced approach that allows for future development, but also keeps residents safe and our environment clean.

It’s time to hold Mudslide Mark accountable!

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By Marc, September 28, 2011 1:10 pm

We’ve addressed the #BananaMan incident in great length. We’ve also raised serious questions on the process followed by Stafford County Public Schools in recruiting, vetting and hiring administrators (see Dr. Karen Spillman). Of course, we strongly believe that the Board of Supervisors chainsaw approach to the school’s operational budget didn’t help matters.

But, what we haven’t discussed are the tools of the trade—the poorly conceived and onerous rules put in place for our public school children to follow. The same rules that allowed Dr. Spillman the latitude to respond to BananaMan as if he committed high-treason on school property.

It would be a safe to say that most parents haven’t read the Stafford County Schools Code of Conduct, a voluminous set of easily breakable rules and regulations put in place to assure “zero tolerance.” Surely, parents want their children to learn in a safe and secure environment, free of drug-dealing, bullying, and other things.

But a casual reading of Stafford County Schools Code of Conduct may cause a lot of parents’ jaws to drop for many of the punishable offenses seem harmless. To prove our point, we’ve come up with our very own Top Ten list of suspension-worthy offenses:

1. Playing Yahtzee [10 to 180 day suspension]




2. Selling Raffle Tickets [10 to 180 day suspension]




3. Sharing a newspaper with friends [10 days or less suspension]




4. Buying an apple from the cafeteria and sticking it in your backpack to eat later [10 days or less suspension or warning]




5. Running in the halls [180 days or less suspension or warning]




6. Failure to return tray in cafeteria [3 days or less suspension or warning]




7. Farting [expulsion, suspension or warning]




8. Sleeping in class [10 days or less suspension or warning]




9. Drinking non-dairy (Hemp) milk (lactose intolerant students) [expulsion, suspension or warning]




10. Eating bananas in support of BananMan (disruption of school) [expulsion, suspension or warning]

Zero-tolerance policies became prevalent in the 90s in response to drugs, gun violence and other violent acts; however, “over time, zero tolerance has come to refer to school or district-wide policies that mandate predetermined, typically harsh consequences or punishments (such as a suspension and expulsion) for a wide degree of rule violation,” says the National Association of School Psychologists.

They go on to note the following problems associated with broad zero tolerance policies:

Zero tolerance policies are complex, costly and generally ineffective. Suspension and expulsion may set individuals who already display antisocial behavior on an accelerated course to delinquency by putting them in a situation in which there is a lack of parental supervision and a greater opportunity to socialize with other deviant peers. Further, expulsion results in the denial of educational services, presenting specific legal as well as ethical dilemmas for students with disabilities. Finally, there is no evidence that removing students from school makes a positive contribution to school safety.

A recent published report in the Journal of School Psychology also suggests, “little correlation exists between zero-tolerance discipline policies and well-behaved students.

Not to mention that these policies are often applied in a disproportional manner towards minorities and more negatively impact students with disabilities.

Our schools are becoming “school to prison pipelines,” which is the direct result of these broad-based zero tolerance policies. The broad-based implementation of these policies by school districts are essentially taking the ability out of the hands of school officials to resolve minor offenses. This is helping to push more children into the juvenile justice system.

Every day these policies remain in place, children are being denied educational opportunities and are instead beset with juvenile criminal records.

Stafford County Schools, Virginia and the country need to find a better balance on these zero tolerance policies. Clearly, serious offenses need to have serious consequences; however, minor offenses can be better dealt with using alternative strategies (such as counseling, family involvement, early intervention strategies, etc…).

Reforms to “zero tolerance” policies in Fairfax are at the forefront of School Board races there and the focus of a group of concerned citizens who are determined to reform the disciplinary process (FairfaxZeroToleranceReform.org).

You all may recall, in March 2009, a 17-year-old football player in Fairfax County committed suicide – facing possible expulsion from Fairfax County Schools over carrying marijuana on school property (he wasn’t selling it or using it). Per FairfaxZeroToleranceReform.org, “[he] committed suicide just one day before a second hearing that very likely would have kicked him out of any Fairfax – and therefore any Virginia – public school. He was an extraordinarily well-liked young man, a good student, involved in his community. He had already experienced initiation into the disciplinary process and a hearing that shredded him and his family by using tactics like humiliation and false accusations to get him to acquiesce, and to get his family to keep silent about it.”

The National Association of School Psychologists have rightfully concluded that “although zero tolerance policies were developed to assure consistent and firm consequences for dangerous behaviors, broad application of these policies have resulted in a range of negative outcomes with few if any benefits to students or the community…more effective alternative strategies are available. Systemic school-wide violence prevention programs, social curricula and positive behavioral supports lead to improved learning for all students and safer school communities.”

Ultimately, rules cannot replace common sense. It’s clear to me (and should be to everyone) that Stafford County Schools “zero tolerance” policy needs a dose of common sense.

We believe there is a causal relationship between the Stafford County Board of Supervisors tightening school budgets and zero-tolerance policies. The School Board is pressured by the BOS to produce more with less, and in turn the School Board imposes on its principals the requirement to maximize instructional time and make it free of distraction. Surely, it is not a bad thing to try to get the most out of instructional time.

But kids are not perfect, and adolescents can sometimes be impulsive or forgetful. And…THEY FART A LOT IN CLASS!

As we know from politics, the Law of Unintended Consequences looms large. A zero-tolerance policy starts off being a good thing, helping to protect kids from drugs or bullying or gangs. But sometimes the policy grows in size and scope to become a tool for administrative overreach—and for an authority-craving principal to use as a battering ram to instill fear and lay down the law.

Fear, as a result of a zero-tolerance policy, is an interesting motivator. But, in the end it doesn’t command lasting respect.

Luckily, not all Stafford County Schools principals take the low road. In fact, most try first to mitigate behavioral problems [or pranks] before they turn into full-fledged crises.

It’s time for all of us to read the Stafford County Schools Code of Conduct, and to make sure School Board candidates promise to dial back the many draconian punishments in it.

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By Marc, September 26, 2011 5:39 pm

Today, LeavingMyMarc.com decided to submit a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code Section 22-3700 et seq.) request to get to the bottom of what was actually known when Dr. Karen Spillman was originally hired as an assistant principal in March 2011 and quickly elevated to principal in August 2011 of Colonial Forge High School.

Date: 09/26/11

Stafford County Public Schools
RE: FOIA Request
31 Stafford Avenue
Stafford, VA 22554

To Whom It May Concern:

LeavingMyMarc.com has reported publicly available information, this weekend, on the July 2007 arrest of Karen C. Spillman in Prince William County for public intoxication. The arrest preceded Dr. Spillman’s (2008) acceptance of the Strasburg High School principal post as well as her resignation from the job, fifteen days later for “health reasons.” So, we-like so many Colonial Forge parents, would like to know:

• When Dr. Spillman applied for employment to Stafford County Schools-to be an Assistant Principal-was she forthcoming about her July 2007 arrest in Prince William County for public intoxication?
• At the time of her recruitment for the Assistant Principal assignment, did Stafford County Public Schools run the proper [criminal and professional reference] background checks? Did they conduct thorough due-diligence?
• And this summer, when the principal’s position opened up, did the Stafford County Public Schools re-evaluate Dr. Spillman’s background to replace Colonial Forge High School principal Dr. Lisa Martin, or, did they just rubber stamp Dr. Spillman’s promotion to that role?

Per the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code Section 2.2-3700 et seq.), we request the following information be provided: (1) Any and all correspondence and documentation related to Dr. Spillman’s hiring for positions within Stafford County Public Schools – including, but not limited to, any pre-employment questionnaires and employment applications, (2) Information regarding who else may have applied for these positions and any consideration given to those other applicants, and (3) any and all employment contract(s) entered into with Dr. Spillman.

This information has a direct bearing on her public duties and therefore should be disclosed.

Thanks and I look forward to a speedy response.

The BananaMan incident and the subsequent fallout has brought quite a bit of attention to how Stafford County Public Schools recruit, vet and hire senior administrators and whether or not the chainsaw approach, led by Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Dudenhefer, to the school system’s current operating budget may have forced folks to take time-saving shortcuts to complete critical hiring. This year, Chairman Dudenhefer gleefully reduced the school system’s budgets to the point of utter absurdity. Accountability doesn’t come cheap.

We think Stafford Superintendent Randy Bridges acted properly in bringing an end to the BananaMan controversy, but serious questions remain (we’ve documented them here) – which we have yet to receive answers.

If you have a child at Colonial Forge High School and think this is being overblown, you may be singing a different tune when it is your child facing suspension or expulsion over an expression of free speech or an innocent prank. Do you really want to take that chance?

In our just completed poll, we asked the community whether “Colonial Forge HS Principal Karen Spillman [was] capable of serving effectively, given revelations about her past and her handling of the BananaMan incident”? An overwhelming number of respondents believe the answer is No (94% No, 6% Yes – 215 respondents).

Taxpayers deserve answers and demand accountability. Our children’s futures depend on it.

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By Marc, September 25, 2011 11:49 am

I don’t know about you, but here in the Fredericksburg area—during the early autumn months of odd-numbered years—I am struck by how state roads that for two years prior remained pockmarked with Buick-sized potholes suddenly are milled and expertly paved. All of this, courtesy of our munificent Speaker of the House of Delegates Bill Howell. Of course, Bill’s up for re-election…and he really wants your vote!

Nuthin’ happens around here for no reason.

In Stafford County, it is always about politics. And, the overly aggressive arrest and handcuffing of #BananaMan by Deputies of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Department was no accident. That is because this year, Sheriff Charlie Jett is up for re-election…and he really wants your vote!

If the Colonial Forge High School sophomore Bryan Thompson’s antics hadn’t been captured by a mobile device camera—and replayed on YouTube more than 66,000 times—the BananaMan episode would never have made national or international news.

And none of us would be asking the deep and troubling questions about how a funny, good-natured, high-functioning autistic kid could be punished so severely for a high school prank so benign.

But thanks to social media, Stafford County and the world have gotten a sobering view of how Sheriff Charlie Jett’s burning desire for re-election got in the way of common decency…and common sense.

A Colonial Forge parent working the food concessions told us that she wasn’t in the stands to see BananaMan’s on-the-field brouhaha. But, she witnessed—beforehand—sheriff’s deputies acting overly aggressive with some kids buying refreshments.

What is going on here? Are Sheriff Charlie’s recent visions of flash mobs looting Stafford County convenience stores affecting his policing strategy? Or, is it just politics as usual for Stafford County—where the winning strategy for re-election as sheriff is to show how tough you are on crime by having your deputies rough up a nice kid in a store-bought banana costume before a large crowd of onlookers?

Stafford Sheriff Candidate Chuck Feldbush (I) thinks it is all of these things and more. “This is the latest example of a department going bananas over harmless kid stuff while real crime – violent crime – is threatening the peace and safety of Stafford County,” said Mr. Feldbush.

“Slapping cuffs on a kid – who has a disability – for running down the sidelines at a high school football game in a banana suit is a complete overreach of the authority of the sheriff’s department.” Mr. Feldbush continued, “It’s a disturbing sign that Sheriff Jett has lost control of his deputies – and this is placing our kids at risk.”

According to the Virginia State Police, violent crime is up 66% in Stafford.

Where has the Free-Lance Star been on reporting about this brouhaha with law enforcement? The overlords of your hometown newspaper are probably too distracted by thoughts of cashing the $1.3M check they stand to collect for hosting Sheriff Charlie’s overpriced $40M public safety communication system on their broadcast towers.

After all, what are friends for?

And where does Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney candidate Eric Olsen figure in all of this? The overzealous “Law & Order” [intellectual property-stealing] prosecutor is probably fuming that BananaMan’s ten-day suspension has ended early and that he won’t be able to put the kid on the stand in a jury trial.

But Eric, have no fear. We hear that there was a Grape running amok around Stafford this week, too. (Times a waistin’ and you and the Man in the Yellow Hat need to go find him!)

What has BananaMan taught us all? It’s politics, stupid!