Stevens R. Miller

Office sought: Dulles Supervisor
Party: Democrat
Age: 51
Residence: Broadlands.
Web site:
http://www.miller4dulles.com
E-mail:
stevens@miller4dulles.com

Occupaton: President and counsel, Data Forensics Labs of Northern Virginia.

Education: BA, physics, Amherst College; MS, computer science, Stevens Institute of Technology; JD, New York Law School.

Elected offices/civic activities: Past member, Broadlands Homeowners Association; member, Loudoun Crime Commission; member, Loudoun Economic Development Commission; past member, Loudoun Zoning Ordinance Review Committee; member, board of advisers, ECPI College of Technology; co-chairman, Broadlands Neighborhood Watch; past volunteer community counselor, Monday Night Lawyers.

Questions & Answers

Q: Did you sign the Board of Supervisors' ethics agreement? Would you sign it if elected? Why or why not?

A: I will sign the county's real pledge and require that any nominee I present for appointment to any county commission promise to sign it as well. Mr. Snow signed an edited version of another county's pledge that he altered to appear as though it were Loudoun County's ethics pledge, when the truth is that he has consistently refused to sign the real county pledge. That's deplorable and almost beyond belief from an elected official.

Q: Do you support the transportation package passed by the General Assembly this year? What other ideas do you have for generating money to pay for road improvements in Loudoun?

A: I would like to investigate the use of impact fees, adequate public facilities ordinances, revenue allocated from the NVTA (assuming it survives the current court challenge to its constitutionality), voluntary contributions from large local employers, sound use of bond sales, and shifting the county tax base away from residential property towards business property, as the latter can generate a net income for the county, while more housing wouldn't. I also believe that Richmond may soon experience a change in a bi-partisan majority based on the regions it represents, leading to more return on our state taxes in this region. One job of the next county board will be to hold the line on housing growth while we work towards making that to happen. The transportation package is a mix and I think the Assembly can work a better version next year.

Q: What is the appropriate role for local government in enforcement of federal immigration laws, and how do you view the current debate in Loudoun on the issue of illegal immigration?

A: Any undocumented resident who is a danger to our community or a significant burden on our resources should be brought to the attention of the federal authorities. But spending lots of local taxpayer dollars enforcing federal laws to compensate for a federal failure, particularly when so many or our residents are calling for road improvements they're not getting, seems like a dubious priority to me. If the United States offered to widen Waxpool Road or Route 50, I might see it differently. Until then, I will continue to view the current debate over undocumented residents as an election-year tactic used to distract the voters by a board majority that is ashamed of its record.

Q: Do you support the county's current comprehensive plan and the notion that Loudoun should be suburban in the east and rural in the west, with a transition area in between? If not, what do you think is a better approach?

A: I favor low housing density, so I oppose the addition of any more residential density to the comprehensive plan. The lowest density must remain in western Loudoun, because of its small road network and reliance on septic and well systems. However, eastern Loudoun should be more than just houses and retail centers. A work-where-you-live community is still possible in the east, if we stop the current irrational housing growth and construction. The transition area south of Leesburg should be preserved and helps maintain the pleasant character of that part of Loudoun.

Q: Do you believe that any additional steps are needed to control the pace of growth in Loudoun? What would you do to create more of a balance between new homes and new jobs in the county?

A: We've been building too many houses, way too fast. I want to limit new housing in Loudoun to a rational rate, much lower than what our current board majority has allowed. A growth of under two percent per year is the most we should absorb. Taxable businesses that can provide local professional employment would be more likely to come to Loudoun if the regulatory climate were simpler and more inviting. While my opponent, Mr. Snow, has approved 15,000 additional houses in his term, and wants to add 37,000 more on top of that (and all in the Dulles district), I would act to limit new houses and put more energy into public transportation, incentives for businesses to use telecommuting and flex-time, and the creation of more employment centers in reverse-commute directions.

Your Thoughts...

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