Comments Off

By Marc, November 3, 2011 2:00 pm

In 2008, when Eric Olsen ran for Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney he had the following to say about his residency, “I have lived in the city [of Fredericksburg] my whole life.”

In the voter’s guide that was just published by the Free Lance-Star, he now claims to have lived in Stafford County for “Eight years.”

So what is it Eric, were you lying in 2008 or lying in 2011? With the tangled web he has spun, with regards to his residency this year, it’s possible that he can’t even remember the truth.

I can see it now. In 2015, Olsen will be campaigning for Spotsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney and will claim that he was a resident (in utero this time) there too for several weeks. It’s clear that he will say anything to get elected.

This speaks directly to issues we have raised regarding serious questions about his integrity. Whether it’s infringing on a well-known trademark, accepting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, lying about his residency or not fully disclosing information on his financial disclosure forms, time and time again he fails to live up to the high standards one would expect for someone running to be the chief law enforcement officer in Stafford County.

At the end of the day, one’s integrity and trustworthiness are paramount in defining one’s ability to lead effectively. While the issues are also critically important, it’s those defining characteristics that are at the top people’s minds when evaluating candidates.

In the race for Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney, only one candidate possesses the integrity and trustworthiness to garner our respect and our votes for this critically important position. That candidate is Tim Barbrow!

Comments Off

By Marc, November 3, 2011 6:30 am

We’ve written extensively on various issues (see here, here and here) involving a recent lawsuit filed by Stafford County resident David Johnston challenging Eric “Law & Order” Olsen’s qualification to be on the ballot as a candidate for the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney for Stafford County.

To be able to vote and seek office in Stafford County, Olsen must be a resident of Stafford County.

According to the Virginia State Board of Elections:

Under the Virginia Constitution, a prospective voter must be a resident of the precinct where he seeks to register. In order to establish “residency”, a prospective voter must show that (1) he has an actual physical place of abode in the precinct, and (2) he is domiciled there.

Some have asked us, what does it mean to be “domiciled”? According to the Virginia Administrative Code (1VAC20-40-10), a “domicile”

means a person’s primary home, the place where a person dwells and which he considers to be the center of his domestic, social, and civil life…Once a person has established domicile, establishing a new domicile requires that he intentionally abandon his old domicile.

We’ve spoken quite a bit about his places (see here and here) of abode and whether they were even valid addresses, but let’s make a big assumption that they were valid. The issue then falls to whether or not he is domiciled there.

According to the substantial facts and attendant circumstances presented in Johnston’s legal filing,

(a) Defendant Olsen’s family did not accompany him in his alleged move to Stafford County; and,

(b) Mr. Olsen’s teenage minor child remained in the Fredericksburg City Public Schools during all relevant times addressed herein, including at the present time of the filing of this petition; and,

[…]

(e) Mr. Olsen listed his home as for Sale by Owner, but listed the home at a selling price that upon information and belief was far in excess of its fair market value; and,

(f) Upon information and belief, Mr. Olsen frequently did not stay in said garage at 1257 Poplar Road during the relevant period of time, but instead continued to use his home in the City of Fredericksburg as his principal place of abode and dwelling, in company of his wife and teenage son.

Olsen has readily admitted that his wife and child did not accompany him in his alleged move to Stafford and that his son remains in Fredericksburg City Public Schools. Based on what is known to us at this time, we also believe that there is ample evidence to suggest that Olsen frequently did not stay in his garage apartment and instead continued to use his home in the City of Fredericksburg as his principal place of abode.

It’s clear to us that Olsen considers his home in Fredericksburg to be “the center of his domestic, social and civil life.” I don’t think this is a leap by any stretch of the imagination.

His home is also not listed by any realtor and it is being listed for sale by simply putting a “for Sale by Owner” sign in his front yard. Based on the filing, it suggests that Olsen has priced his home “far in excess of its fair market value.” I think it’s fair to say that he doesn’t intend to “intentionally abandon his old domicile” until the election results are clear. Let’s not forget that he finished dead last in a three-way race when he ran for Commonwealth’s Attorney in the City of Fredericksburg in 2008.

On November 8, we’ll be voting for Stafford County resident Tim Barbrow for Commonwealth’s Attorney. We won’t only be voting for him because of his Stafford residence, but also because he clearly is the better candidate with the best vision for Stafford County. He is well respected within the community for his integrity and trustworthiness – important qualities for this position.

Comments Off

By Marc, November 2, 2011 4:37 pm

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are no doubt already aware of the lawsuit filed this past Friday by Stafford County resident David Johnston challenging Eric “Law & Order” Olsen’s qualification to be on the ballot as a candidate for the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney for Stafford County. The challenge is based on the assertion that Olsen has never established residency in Stafford County.

Yesterday, we wrote about a new wrinkle in the residency challenge. LeavingMyMarc.com first reported that Eric Olsen was registered to vote at 133 Onville Road in Stafford County (at least as of September). This is despite the fact that he has never lived there. As recently as Saturday in the Free-Lance Star, Olsen still maintained that he legally resided at his illegal garage apartment off Poplar Road:

Olsen said the Fredericksburg home is for sale. His wife and their children live in the city home while Olsen is renting an apartment in a home on Poplar Road.

According to the Virginia State Board of Elections:

Under the Virginia Constitution, a prospective voter must be a resident of the precinct where he seeks to register. In order to establish “residency”, a prospective voter must show that (1) he has an actual physical place of abode in the precinct, and (2) he is domiciled there.

He is clearly not domiciled at 133 Onville Road, nor has ever been domiciled there. He has repeatedly claimed to be living at 1257 B Poplar Road in a purported “illegal” garage apartment.

We still maintain that he has never abandoned his domicile in the city of Fredericksburg, despite where he claims to be living right now, and believe that Olsen is not a legal resident of Stafford County; thus, he is not able to run for the Commonwealth’s Attorney position in Stafford County.

Putting all of this aside for a moment, Olsen now claims on his website that his campaign headquarters is now located at 133 Onville Road, Stafford, VA 22556. James and Karen Moncure currently own this home. So what’s the problem? The problem is that none of Olsen’s campaign finance disclosure reports show any expenditure to the Moncure’s for rent. His reports also do not show any sort of In-kind contribution from the Moncure’s for the headquarters. So what is Olsen trying to hide? And, so we have another example of what appears to be him breaking the law!

The reality is that the Moncure’s could sure use some money from Olsen, so they can pay off the taxes that they owe. According to the Treasurer’s Office, they owe $624.23 (which includes interest) in outstanding taxes on this property.

So exactly who are James and Karen Moncure? They’re relatives of Daniel Chichester. Chichester is pulling out all the stops and calling in all of his family connections to ensure that his handpicked successor wins.

For the past 72 years, Chichester and his dad have run the Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. He will stop at nothing to make sure that that his family legacy lives on through Olsen, even if that means helping him to cheat the system in an effort to establish residency in Stafford County.

If this was anyone else pulling this sort of stuff, you could rest assured that Chichester and Olsen would be throwing the book at them. You see there are those with family connections that are “above the law” and there is everyone else. In Stafford County, we call this the good ‘ol boy network.

Is it too much to expect that someone running for Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney, to become the chief law enforcement officer, should be held to the highest of standards? This continued skirting of the law by Olsen raises serious questions on his integrity and trustworthiness (i.e. “Law & Order”-gate, illegal campaign donation from a foreign national, his residency and not reporting his campaign HQs on his campaign finance reports). Olsen should be held to, at least, the same standard as he holds others – which are exceptionally high.

It’s time to put an end to the 72-year-old dynasty and vote for an individual who holds himself to the very highest ethical standards and is respected amongst all citizens, regardless of party, as being fair and having the best interests of the community at heart. That’s why we will be supporting Independent candidate Tim Barbrow for Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney on November 8. The choice couldn’t be any clearer!

Comments (4)

By Marc, November 1, 2011 6:30 am

On Friday, we first reported the fact that Eric “Law & Order” Olsen’s string of thumbing his nose at the law had run out.

Stafford County resident David Johnson formally filed a Petition for a Writ of Quo Warranto pursuant to §8.01-636(A)(4) and §8.01-637 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, to challenge the qualification of Eric L. Olsen to be on the ballot as a candidate for the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney for Stafford County.

Let’s play a fun game of Where’s Eric?

According to Olsen’s Certificate of Candidate Qualification, he swore under oath that he resided at 1257 B Poplar Road. Johnston’s filing also indicated that

• there is no such address on record in Stafford County;
• 1257 Poplar Road is zoned for one residential home;
• zoning ordinances don’t allow for a second address on a residential parcel zoned for one residence; and,
• there has been no occupancy permits issued by Stafford County for a second dwelling.

Also according to the filing, the facts suggest that Olsen never intended to abandon his residence in the City of Fredericksburg and establish a new domicile in Stafford County. The filing contends that

• Olsen’s family did not accompany him in his alleged move to Stafford County;
• his teenage minor child remained in Fredericksburg City Public Schools;
• the garage apartment that he was staying in on Poplar Road isn’t one recognized by Stafford County;
• he used the Post Office Box for the Office of the Commonwealth Attorney as his mailing address on his Statement of Candidate Qualifications;
• his home is for Sale by Owner, but it’s selling price is listed way above fair market value; and,
• he continues to use his home in the City of Fredericksburg as his principal place of abode and dwelling.

So where does Eric really live? On a quick side note, is it it even legal to use a county office address as a mailing address for political purposes? Who cares, it’s not like he hasn’t broken the law before (see foreign national donation and his trademark infringement).

Now a new twist for everyone…based on what I’ve been able to piece together from multiple sources last night, Eric Olsen is registered to vote at 133 Onville Road in Stafford County (at least as of September). He now lists this address as his campaign headquarters. A photo of this property doesn’t show a single Olsen campaign sign – some headquarters. From what we can tell and what we’ve been told it looks all but abandoned.

All media reports have indicated that he contends to have been living in the purported illegal garage apartment since March. As recently as Saturday in the Free-Lance Star, Olsen had the following to say about his living situation:

Olsen said the Fredericksburg home is for sale. His wife and their children live in the city home while Olsen is renting an apartment in a home on Poplar Road.

How in the world can Olsen be registered to vote at 133 Onville Road, if he lives at 1257 B Poplar Road? According the Virginia State Board of Elections:

Under the Virginia Constitution, a prospective voter must be a resident of the precinct where he seeks to register. In order to establish “residency”, a prospective voter must show that (1) he has an actual physical place of abode in the precinct, and (2) he is domiciled there.

He is clearly not domiciled at 133 Onville Road, based on reports, and has never been domiciled there. Is this another example of Eric breaking the law?

Stafford voters want to know, where do you live Eric? Are you living in your family home in the City of Fredericksburg, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the purported illegal garage apartment off Poplar Road or your abandoned campaign office off Onville Road?

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.

Comments Off

By Marc, October 28, 2011 7:32 pm

It looks like Eric “Law & Order” Olsen’s string of thumbing his nose at the law has finally caught up with him.

Stafford County resident David Johnston has formally filed a Petition for a Writ of Quo Warranto pursuant to §8.01-636(A)(4) and §8.01-637 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, to challenge the qualification of Eric L. Olsen to be on the ballot as a candidate for the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney for Stafford County.

The press and supporters of his republican primary opponent first raised the question on Olsen’s residency back in July. Press reports, at the time, reported that he had moved out of his house in the City of Fredericksburg and into a garage apartment off Poplar Road in Stafford – while his wife and son remained at the family home in the city.

According to Johnston’s filing today, the garage apartment wasn’t even a valid residence:

(13) On defendant Olsen’s Certificate of Candidate Qualification, Olsen swore under oath that he resided at 1257B Poplar Road, Stafford, VA 22556.

(14) Upon information and belief, the residence otherwise known as and located at 1257 Poplar Road is zoned for one (1) residential home.

(15) Upon information and belief, the zoning ordinance(s) of Stafford County does not allow for a second address on a residential parcel zoned for one residence.

(16) Upon information and belief, there were no occupancy permits issued by Stafford County for a second dwelling at 1257 Poplar Road.

(17) Upon information and belief, there is no address on record in Stafford County known as “1257B Poplar Road.”

(18) Upon information and belief, defendant Olsen purportedly moved into a garage located on the same property as the residence located at 1257 Poplar Road without the requisite or corresponding intent to abandon his usual place of abode and residence in the City of Fredericksburg and without the requisite or corresponding intent to permanently or indefinitely reside at that location on Poplar Road.

Additionally, according to the filing, Olsen “gave as his Post Office address on the Statement of Candidate Qualifications the mailing address of the Office of Commonwealth Attorney in Stafford County which is P.O. Box 66, Stafford, Virginia 22556.” Wowsers!

The illegal apartment notwithstanding, it’s also clear from the filing that Olsen has no intention in abandoning his long established domicile in the City of Fredericksburg until after the results of the election are clear.

To show just how serious he is about selling his home, according to the filing, it is currently for sale by owner and listed well in excess of its fair market value. He clearly doesn’t want to sell it until he sees if he wins. I’d hedge my bets if I were him too. After all in 2008, he ran for Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney and lost in a three-way race – finishing dead last.

According to the filing, the facts are clear in this case that Olsen never intended to abandon his residence in the City of Fredericksburg and establish a new domicile in Stafford County:

(24) There are substantial facts and attendant circumstances present in the instant case which show that candidate Olsen never intended to abandon his residence in the City of Fredericksburg and establish a new domicile in Stafford County, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Defendant Olsen’s family did not accompany him in his alleged move to Stafford County; and,

(b) Mr. Olsen’s teenage minor child remained in the Fredericksburg City Public Schools during all relevant times addressed herein, including at the present time of the filing of this petition; and,

(c) Mr. Olsen purportedly was staying above a garage that was not zoned for occupancy and the address given by candidate Olsen on his Statement of Qualifications was not an address recognized by Stafford County; and,

(d) That candidate Olsen used as his mailing address the Post Office Box for the Office of the Commonwealth Attorney; and,

(e) Mr. Olsen listed his home as for Sale by Owner, but listed the home at a selling price that upon information and belief was far in excess of its fair market value; and,

(f) Upon information and belief, Mr. Olsen frequently did not stay in said garage at 1257 Poplar Road during the relevant period of time, but instead continued to use his home in the City of Fredericksburg as his principal place of abode and dwelling, in company of his wife and teenage son.

I’m sure that Olsen never knew that he actually has to live in Stafford County to run for office in Stafford County. Just like he never knew that he couldn’t infringe on a well-known trademark or that he couldn’t accept campaign contributions from foreign nationals. You’d think that someone running for Commonwealth’s Attorney would pay particular attention to the law and not continuously run afoul of it?!

Given the facts of this case, things are not looking too good for Olsen’s candidacy. On the bright side, he has four whole years to establish permanent residency in Spotsylvania County. As the old adage goes, “If at first [or second] you don’t succeed, try, try and try again.”

You can read the full petition here.

Comments Off

By Marc, August 22, 2011 12:42 pm

Republicans in Stafford County will head to the polls tomorrow to nominate a candidate for Commonwealth’s Attorney. The former chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, George Schwartz, recently weighed in on the race and strongly endorsed Eric Olsen.

In an August 18 letter to the editor, in the Free-Lance Star, Schwartz had the following to say:

I am writing to express my support for Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen.

The Aug. 23 Republican primary for commonwealth’s attorney presents all Stafford voters with an opportunity to vote for a man of demonstrated integrity and one who will not bring personal bias to this extremely important criminal justice position.

I urge all voters to move Eric Olsen to the Nov. 8 general election.

I’ve long known Schwartz and the fact that he has endorsed Olsen puts some serious doubts in my mind about Olsen. For those that need a refresher course on Schwartz, please click here.

Being on the receiving end of Schwartz’s poor temperament, me first attitude and his unmistakable yearning for power, I’d have some serious doubts about anyone he chooses for any office.

Unfortunately, Democrats have failed to recruit any candidates for this office in Stafford, so the winner of this race will likely become the next Commonwealth‘s Attorney.

Oy vey!

Comments (1)

By Marc, August 22, 2011 12:32 pm

In case you missed it, on Saturday, the Free-Lance Star covered “Law & Order-gate.” A spokesman for Universal Media Studio said,

We have contacted the campaign and asked them to stop using the logo.

As of this morning, these sorts of campaign signs remain up  – with one prominently displayed in front of the GOP headquarters in south Stafford (click on photo for a larger view):

Apparently, Olsen and Jett have failed to receive the message; and, the GOP is now an accessory to this “Unlawful & Disorderly” behavior.

If Universal Studios were up in arms over the campaign signs, wait until they see Olsen’s campaign mailer:

Since when did the show and the show’s producers endorse Jett and Olsen? It’s clear that Universal hasn’t authorized the usage of the logo. This mailer is something I’d expect from a legal novice, not someone running for Commonwealth Attorney.

I love the line “…Law & Order is Eric Olsen’s record.” It would appear that this couldn’t be furthest from the truth.