The State of Northern Virginia
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
        There have been many calls for Northern Virginia to secede and become the 51st state since Supervisor Martha Pennino first suggested the idea in the 1970's.  An article, "So Long, Virginia," in the November issue of Washingtonian contains the latest proposal.  "Northern Virginia sends millions to Richmond - and gets pennies back," the article opens.  "It's one of the world's most dynamic regions, while other parts of the state are still fighting the Civil War.  Why not secede and become the 51st state?"
 
        As one who has dealt with the challenges presented by the diversity of the Commonwealth for many decades, I understand the frustrations and concerns that lead to suggestions of secession.  The problem is not unique to Virginia, however.  Many states have an upstate-downstate, a suburban vs. rural, a have and have-nots problem.  There is not likely to be a move to make rich states and poor states any time soon across the country.  As with any problem, we need to carefully review a proposed solution to see if it brings the expected relief.
 
        The Washingtonian article defines the new state as including the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and Stafford and the City of Alexandria and other cities contained within the region.  Currently those jurisdictions send the most progressive and the most conservative representatives to the Virginia General Assembly.  If those persons were elected to the legislature of the new State of Northern Virginia, we would potentially have the same stalemate on issues like transportation as we have now.  The present delegation from the region includes the strongest proponents of regional transportation solutions and the biggest obstructionists.  After the legislature meets a few times in the proposed new state there may well be calls for a further secession to have a Middle Virginia.
 
        The new state may not prove to be the bargain that some have suggested.  Although counties under current law can take over control of their own roads, only Arlington County in the region has chosen to do so.  The others have found the alternative to state control of roadways to be too expensive.  Starting a Northern Virginia Department of Transportation would be a costly undertaking.  And we will need to add a few more colleges.  No way that George Mason University could meet the demand for a region that has the highest percentage of any region of students in colleges throughout Virginia.  Some of the dollars that go south and do not come back educate our children at UVA, Virginia Tech, JMU, and all the rest.  Speaking of our dollars that go to the State Capital and do not come back, some are used for the prisoners that we send to the state system for incarceration.  We need to figure in prison costs and the location of prisons for the new state as well.  A major loss of revenue for the new state would be the 70 percent of the car tax that the current Commonwealth government pays for car owners in Northern Virginia.
 
        Northern Virginia is not going to become a new state and as one of the wealthiest regions in the country will continue to subsidize the schools of southern Virginia.  According to Washingtonian the per capita income of Northern Virginia is $55,600 compared to the rest of the state's $33,300.  We need to build alliances across the state based on common interests and needs.  With such an approach, life will be better for everyone in every region of the state.  And the Commonwealth will be saved from ideas of secession.