Today's article in the Post describes a familiar refrain from our County officials, namely the inability of Fairfax County to enjoy powers delegated to cities under Virginia law  

Virginia's counties first formed by the House of Burgesses as subdivisions of the Commonwealth centered around a county seat where citizens could have access to a courthouse and sheriff. 

These local courthouses obviated a long, arduous trip to Williamsburg every time your neighbor's cow trampled your tobacco crop.  Up through the Civil War, new counties were formed anytime the residents of an existing county found themselves more than a day's carriage ride from the county seat.  The sole purpose was ...<< MORE >>

I'm on my way to Richmond this a.m. for an Energy Commission meeting.  Last night, I spoke (along with Steve Shannon) to the Pakistani-American Congress which is having its annual meeting in D.C. 

Of course, the major issue the past 36 hours has been the horrific accident on the Red Line where a trailing Metro train hit another and caused at least seven deaths. 

I've been catching the reports on the news.  Since Virginia is one-third of the MWAA compact and supports the system financially, I expect we'll get a briefing from our staff.  As I understand right now, the automatic ...<< MORE >>

Now that I'm past forty and have three kids at home, "Father's Day" is more than just calling my Dad.  It's a special day away from the trials and tribulations of politics and law practice. 

This year Sharon and the kids gave me a chance to be outdoors, experience history and spend time with the family.  We drove to the Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland (or "the Battle of Sharpsburg" as we Virginians call it). 

It was my oldest daughter's idea.  I had taken all three children to Manassas a couple years ago and made them walk the battlefield while I described the history ...<< MORE >>

A couple days ago I received the monthly revenue report from Finance Secretary Richard Brown.  In a nutshell, the economic numbers for the state continue to be bleak.

General fund collections in May 2009 fell 15.6% compared with May 2008.  Most of this is due to (i) drop-offs in non-withholding payments and (ii) increase in refunds owed.  Each factor occurs when there is a recession.

Monthly revenues commonly fluctuate.  This is due to a number of reasons, including deadlines for paying taxes or giving refunds or the number of "deposit days" in each month.  However, after several months are aggregate, it's possible to read the trend.

To date, after ...<< MORE >>

Today the Wash Post finally gave us some real news!

It's a well-deserved profile of our favorite campaign operative.  For those not here in 2007, Joe was my campaign manager in the State Senate race and did a great, great job under some very hectic circumstances.

Of course, he couldn't beat me in the 5K or 10K races we had every Saturday.  Nor will he anytime soon.

But he translated that winning experience into his current gig as Creigh Deeds' campaign manager where he shocked the world with last week's smashing victory in the Democratic primary. 

By now the story is Virginia legend -- how Joe and Creigh conserved ...<< MORE >>

Today my family crossed the Wilson Bridge in our 1999 Dodge Caravan and drove due south through Calvert County to the sunny banks of the Patuxent River. 

Destination?  The 23rd annual Chesapeake Bay "Wade In" sponsored by Calvert's own Bernie Fowler, former Maryland state senator, member of the Bay Commission and institutional expert of all things Chesapeake.

Senator Fowler's brother-in-law is a long-time constituent  who invited me.  That was all the Petersens needed to pack our swim suits and goggles and head over. 

The actual event was held on Broome's Island near the confluence of the Bay and Patuxent.  It's farm country.  Hand-painted signs on the road advertise fresh produce ...<< MORE >>

While the big Unity Rally was occurring in Williamsburg, I was back home in NoVA today. 

First, it was a lunch meeting with the Shouse Village Civic Association, where I joined Delegate Margy Vanderhye and Supervisor John Fourst to discuss local and state issues.

Then it was the retirement party of Vienna Town Councilwoman Maud Robinson at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (where Repub Governor candidate Bob McDonnell made a surprise appearance with former Congressman Davis and former Senator Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis).

I finished the day hitting doors in the Windsong neighborhood of Oakton, just off Miller Road.  The day was hot but I benefitted from ...<< MORE >>

Yesterday saw the historic triumph of Creigh Deeds, the barefoot lawyer from Bath County, who surged from "worst to first" to win the Democratic primary in an unexpected and unprecedented landslide.

I'm in my law office this morning reviewing the State Board results.  I've been campaigning  for Senator Deeds since 2008.  In the last few weeks, I was hitting doors, making phone calls and working the METRO.  But even I didn't see this landslide coming.

Late last week I told Joe Abbey that Creigh would get "a solid third" of the vote in the 34th Senate District.  I based that on the Post endorsement (huge) and my ...<< MORE >>

Tomorrow, after the polls close, the Deeds folks in Northern Virgina will gather at the Firehouse Grill, 3988 University Drive in downtown Fairfax City to watch the results and have a beer. 

Firehouse Grill is across the street from Old Town Hall.  It's a two minute walk from the union hall for IUPA Local #5000, our local police and deputy sheriffs, where Deeds volunteers have the phone lines humming right now.

I'll be working the polls in Vienna tomorrow.  Was at the Metro all this a.m.  Looking OK but taking no chances.  No time to go to C'ville for the official party as I'll be at the polls til 7 pm.  ...<< MORE >>

It's the weekend before the election date.  My experience is you hit your opponent hard the last few weeks (if you have to) but close on a positive for yourself. 

Apparently not everyone agrees.

This weekend I received a couple flyers attacking C. Deeds for the first time on gun issues and then a television clip where Brian Moran calls Creigh "an extremist" on 2nd Amendment issues.   Moran even notes that Creigh "voted twice to overturn a veto of Governor Kaine" on a particular concealed carry issue.

Heaven Forfend!

Our democracy is based on the independence of the legislative branch from the executive.  Legislators don't take orders from ...<< MORE >>