Scott K. York*

Occupaton: Executive vice president, mid-Atlantic region, ServiceStar Development Co.; chairman, Loudoun Board of Supervisors.

Education: Course work, construction management, Northern Virginia Community College.

Elected offices/civic activities: Chairman, Board of Supervisors, 2000-present; Sterling District supervisor, 1996-99; chairman, N.Va. Regional Commission, 2002-03; treasurer, N.Va. Transportation Authority, 2002-present; board of directors, Virginia Association of Counties, 2000-present; chairman, Virginia Coalition of High Growth Communities, 1999-2002.

Questions & Answers

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: There is no denying that we have a transportation crisis because of over development and the lack of funding by the state to meet the transportation infrastructure needs. However, instead of the state legislature doing its job and providing the appropriate funding, they have shirked their responsibility and gave taxing authority to a non-elected body known as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. So the answer to the question is that I have had several issues regarding the package passed by the General Assembly, but unless their actions are overturned by the State Supreme Court or the General Assembly rewrites the bill, it will remain in effect and the various taxes will start being collected January 2008. One of the greatest success stories both Loudoun and Fairfax counties share is the interchange improvements to Rt. 28. In less than two years, all the interchanges on the Loudoun side will be constructed, and we will celebrate having no more lights on Rt. 28. These improvements have been made possible because of the Rt. 28 tax district. This tax district is comprised of the business community and landowners along the Rt. 28 corridor in Loudoun and Fairfax. These business and landowners are contributing up to 75 percent of the cost of construction for these improvements. Should the courts uphold the NVTA’s taxing authority, the revenue generated for Loudoun County on an annual basis will help to allow for a similar public/private partnership that has worked for Rt. 28 to help plan for and construct improvements to Rt. 7, Rt. 50, and Rt. 606. As tolls on the Greenway continue to “ROB” its users, these corridors become much more critical to providing an alternative to commuters and get the traffic flowing again.

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: It’s unfortunate and troubling that our federal government is not enforcing the immigration laws and protecting the borders as they should. This lack of enforcement of the laws on the books has left states and localities taking action because of the Feds inaction. I support our law enforcement officers taking appropriate actions to participate in the ICE program to remove those criminals that do not have legal status removed from our community. I also support Senators Herring’s bill (SB 1421) that he introduced last session that would have denied bail to anyone who has committed a felony that is an illegal alien. We need to rectify the situation of homes being turned into boarding houses. I support a proactive approach to zoning enforcement as apposed to being complaint based only. I also would like to see stiffer fines, as much as three times the current $2,500, for landlords who have multi-overcrowding violations. As a county government, we should always comply with laws regarding employment and procurement. I also support limiting services, except where health and safety are a concern, to those who have no legal status.

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

A: Yes! I also proposed an amendment that passed stating that Board members should not take any contributions from any applicant before the county from the time an application was submitted to staff to six months following action by the Board of Supervisors. I will be asking our state delegation to introduce a bill into the legislative process to try and get it codified into law.

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: Yes, I support the current Comprehensive Plan. Not opening up the transition zone and the western zone helps to keep the cost to us as taxpayers down. We also need to stop packing the east similar to what has been done by this current Board majority by rezoning over 15,000 new houses. Not only as Chairman but as a citizen of the Sterling District, I was dismayed when Supervisors Eugene Delgaudio and Mick Staton led the charge to approve a redevelopment plan on 19.7 acres that will replace about 4 homes and build about 22.3 units to the acre for a total of 440 units. We cannot and should not accept this kind of density packing of our communities here in the east.

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: As far as balance of new homes and new jobs, we currently have a pipeline of around 70,000 of rezoned and by-right houses that can be built and over 3,700 houses for sale in the county. Current projections show that we have a current supply of homes to last us to 2030. First, we need to say no to Comprehensive Plan Amendments that would add tens of thousands of new homes like what was proposed by the majority of this Board. Secondly, we need to just say “NO” to rezonings when there is not the infrastructure in place like schools and roads to handle the additional impacts. Furthermore, we should simply say no when a rezoning project adds more tax burden to the taxpayer. We also need to implement the transportation impact fees so that every house constructed help pays for road infrastructure improvements. Third, I will continue to work with our Economic Development Commission and business community to increase our non-residential tax base to help relieve the burden of growth of the shoulders of the taxpayers. The Republican led Board should have supported and approved the BRMC project that would have added good jobs, given the county 8 million dollars for transportation improvements, added to the tax rolls, and provided additional health care.

Your Thoughts...

Results of a county survey indicate 92 percent of Loudoun residents think highly of the county's quality of life. How do you rank it?