Candidates square off over issues
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

About 100 people attended a candidate's forum for Midlothian supervisor last week.

It wasn't a debate, but it was probably the best opportunity for citizens to hear the candidates for Midlothian supervisor discuss county issues. Even so, fewer than 100 people attended the Chesterfield Business Council's (CBC) breakfast meeting last week where Democrat Dan Gecker and Republican Don Sowder gave their positions during a candidate's forum.

Though Gecker has been on the planning commission for six years, he was far more critical of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors and the status quo. Several times, he referred to "political pressure" when explaining how the board made a decision.

Sowder stayed away from political comments. If elected, he would join an all Republican board.

Gecker wants to increase the number of supervisors from five to seven. Sowder prefers five, saying it keeps government smaller.

When asked what the most important issue in the county is, Sowder emphasized lowering property taxes by growing business and commercial growth like Henrico County has. He wants the county to achieve 30 percent of its property tax revenue from commercial properties. Currently, about 20 percent of property taxes comes from business and retail development.

Gecker

Gecker replied that "wasn't realistic," noting that even county officials are targeting 20-25 percent. He is calling for changes on growth policies, saying "growth can't pay for itself."

Sowder wants the real estate property tax rate, currently the highest of any county in central Virginia, to be reduced. He is calling for Chesterfield to do a better job of attracting and retaining businesses to offset any revenue loss from a lower property tax rate.

Gecker opposes reducing the property tax rate. He noted that a reduction primarily impacts school spending, adding, "[Reducing the property tax rate] may be popular, but it doesn't make good economic sense."

Even though he doesn't like paying tolls, Sowder called it "critical" to extend the Powhite Parkway as a toll road to Route 360. That would reduce the high traffic counts that affect commuters and shoppers alike on Route 360.

Gecker opposes extending the Powhite. "Our infrastructure is already stretched," he argued, and extending the Powhite would "open new residential [opportunities] and increase demands for new schools."

Sowder

To better manage growth in the county and in the Midlothian District specifically, Gecker said the board needs "the political will," and he wants to use roads and schools as a growth management tool. Sowder said each zoning case should be decided on its own merits with comprehensive plans kept current.

Even when they agreed, Gecker and Sowder tended to arrive at the solution differently. Both opposed increasing the maximum cash proffer from the current $15,600 per unit to $22,500.

"Proffers are a broken tool," said Gecker. He wants to eliminate "transportation proffers entirely," and have developers pay for roads within their developments "and offsite impact." Chesterfield expects to receive less funding for new road construction in the future.

A higher proffer "places an undue burden on new homeowners...particularly on middle income families...and whether they can qualify for a mortgage," said Sowder. "We can have differential proffers to encourage growth or, conversely, discourage growth." The county discussed differential proffers last year, but chose to increase the proffer maximum.

The decision to locate a new middle school at Centerpointe "was wrong," claimed Gecker. "It was politics over planning." He said the data supported a new school in the western 360 corridor or near Courthouse Road and Route 360. He supported the latter, because "it wouldn't spur growth."

"I don't want to speculate on the decision," Sowder responded. "We need to get on [with other matters]." He is calling for more coordination and community meetings on school sites.

Gecker referred to the new Clover Hill High School as "fulfilling a political promise." He thought the county board should not "micromanage school resources," but complained that the school planners "did not give us the necessary data" for planning purposes.

Sowder agreed that school location was "a primary function of the School Board," and wanted "more cooperation and coordination" with the county board. He also wants more parental input in decisions.

The candidate forum was sponsored by the CBC and the Western Chesterfield Business Alliance. By agreement, both candidates were provided with a list of questions in advance, and they alternated who would answer those 15 questions first.

Endorsements

Gecker has been endorsed by the Chesterfield Education Association Political Action Committee whose association emphasizes issues of teacher pay, benefits and working conditions. In a press release, PAC Chair Linda Boggs said Gecker's "vision for the future places public education and those who work in schools first and foremost."

State Senator John Watkins did battle with Gecker over the provisions of the Watkins Centre, but Gecker ultimately voted for the Watkins Centre rezoning. Watkins, a Republican, is squarely in Sowder's corner. Despite the Republican advantage in the Midlothian District, he thinks the race will be close.

"I think it will come down to the wire," Watkins said. "Dan knows a lot of people and the issues while Don is on a learning curve. I don't like the problems [Senator] George Allen is having, but I do think that will bring Republicans out, which will help Don."