Donations/Recusals

Chair (At-Large)

• Tom Bellanca (D)
• Scott York (R)

Algonkian

• Denise Moore Pierce (D)
• Suzanne Volpe (R)

Ashburn

• Ralph Buona (R)
• Valdis Ronis (D)
  (Posted on his Face Book page)
  
  As a Planning Commissioner and candidate for Supervisor, my campaign contributions are limited by The Code of Virginia § 15.2-2287.1 demanding mandatory recusal in certain instances when contributions are over $100.
  
  There is no such code that restricts my opponent from repeatedly taking THOUSANDS of dollars in campaign contributions from:
  1. A corporation (and associated individuals and entities) with current business before the Board which is unlikely to be concluded before the next Board is elected, and
  2. The current Board has referred the matter to the Attorney General for investigation, and
  3. Our constituents have filed multiple suits against that corporation.
  
  

Blue Ridge

• Jim Burton (I)
  
  What will you do when one of your donors has business before the Board?
  
  I will recuse myself from both the discussion and the vote, as I have always done in the past 16 years.
  
  On several occasions in the past I voted on a project only to discover, after the fact, that one of my donors had a financial interest in the project. In each of these instances I returned the money to the donor. These instances led me to write and sponsor the Loudoun County Transparency in Government Initiative to prevent such occurrences in the future. Under this Initiative, the top 100 investors in every project, whether they be developers, engineers, attorneys, consultants or whatever, must be revealed by affidavit. This gives each supervisor the opportunity to check the list to see if any donor is involved in the project and recuse himself or herself, if so inclined.
  
  Jim Burton
  
• Janet Clark (R)

Broad Run

• Cliff Keirce (I)
• Andrea McGimsey (D)
• Shawn Williams (R)

Catoctin

• Malcolm Baldwin (D)
  Hello, Elizabeth,
  My short answer to your query is that I'll disclose any donations above $100 from a party with "business before the Board." What constitutes "business" should be construed broadly. As for recusal, although I personally do not foresee, or now imagine, my receiving a donation from a supporter of such magnitude or with such likely future business interest, as to require such a step, there are circumstances where recusal is certainly appropriate for any Supervisor.
  
  I can conceive of circumstances where a citizens group supporting and donating to me might have a position on an issue coming before the Board for a vote. In that case I would disclose the donation before any vote.
  
  Thanks for the question, Malcolm
• Geary Higgins (R)

Dulles

• Matt Letourneau (R)
• Larry Roeder (D)
  
  Deciding in the abstract to recuse oneself because someone else made a donation assumes we are all corruptable or that donors of large amounts of money are also corrupt, not simply people who believe in a cause or a person. The system we have encourages donations, makes them legal, recommends them, so simply speaking in the abstract, recusal from actions related to donors isn't a practical option. Otherwise, you potentially cripple good people. What should matter is the amount of the donation in question and whether it could be reasonably assumed that the amount was an abuse or an undue influence. But that is a very subjective call, so my solution is to handle this in an objective way, have the Board pass a rule saying that donations in elections are limited to some particular amount for any entity, without exception. Anyone can give money; but not beyond the limit. That will reduce the need for recusals; but it also avoids the current situation in Virginia, which is that for local elections there is NO limit on donations. Having said all of that, don't forget that we are a Dillon State, so we can't do what isn't authorized by Richmond. To go for what I am calling for would require a major, coordinated lobbying effort.

Leesburg

• Kelly Burk (D)
• Ken Reid (R)

Sterling

• Eugene Delgaudio (R)
• Al Nevarez (D)
• L. Ali Shahriari (I)
  
  Being committed to our community means 100% commitment. As a candidate for the Sterling District, I declared at the start of my campaigning that I would not accept so much as one dollar from any person or entity for my campaign. I cannot be influenced by money, small or big. I am among the people and the decisions of the people are my decisions. My only influence is the collective voice of all people.
  
  - Ali