November 11, 2015 
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

Congratulations to my new colleague, Jennifer Boysko, who was elected Delegate representing the 86th District.

Commentary  

Bumper Sticker Politics      
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
Experts on communications in political campaigns advise that a message needs to be expressed in a matter of seconds--not minutes--if it is to be effective. The best political message should be able to be printed on a bumper sticker. In a world of complexities and over-loaded communications channels, only the simply-stated message stands a chance of getting through to voters.
 
Simple messages about complex issues can be misleading and can lead to bad policies. About a million dollars was spent in the most recent cycle to convince voters that certain candidates were part of a plan to put $17 tolls on I-66. In this instance, voters saw through the falsehoods and re-elected Delegate Kathleen Murphy and elected Jennifer Boysko to the House of Delegates. Republican incumbents who jumped on "no $17 tolls" won re-election, but all incumbents in both parties were re-elected. The damage done with this campaign message is that it is likely to take off the table a reasonable alternative that could be considered to relieve the massive traffic congestion on I-66. The fact of the matter is that there are $17 tolls on the express lanes on I-95, but they are only imposed as they were proposed for I-66 as part of traffic demand management to keep people off the roads during the worst of the congestion. What the plan would have done was to allow single-occupant vehicles on I-66 during the morning commute time for a lesser toll that would reduce congestion on other streets and generate funds for improvements in the corridor. The proposal was developed by VDOT and had been discussed extensively with the community. To listen to the campaign rhetoric one could be led to believe that Democratic candidates had proposed it and every driver would have to pay it. Interestingly, those who ran on the no tolls issue did not offer any alternatives for relieving traffic congestion.
 
This, of course, is not the first time that simple messages have been used to confuse and mislead voters in Virginia elections. Unfortunately, some of the messages of the past have won elections but with disastrous policy outcomes. The clever "no car tax" slogan won the governorship for Jim Gilmore many years ago, but the policy impact of the state paying part of the local taxes for persons with the biggest cars cost the state nearly a billion dollars every year since that campaign. The car tax got too high in some suburban communities that faced the expenses of growing school populations and other services, but under the Dillon Rule they had no other options for raising revenue. The Gilmore proposal had the policy effect of taking from the poor and giving to the rich. The state's share of school funding went down because of the gimmick to end the car tax. It was a simple message to a complex problem that led to unfortunate results. The campaign to "end parole" that got George Allen elected has led to jails and prisons being overcrowded with persons who should have alternatives to incarceration. Somehow "use tolling to ease traffic," "reform the tax structure," or "reform parole" did not have the same ring to them as the bumper-sticker messages that win elections but can lead to unfortunate consequences.
 

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference.

TONIGHT- Wednesday, November 11 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Joanna and Janelle Grove of Kneaded Nourishment Bakery

Tuesday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 18 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Susan Miranda and Kelley Organek of the UpCycle Creative Reuse Center
 
Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266.


Bulletin Board 


Services for Our Veterans and Their Families
There are an estimated 77,000 military veterans who live in Fairfax County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Their service to our nation ranges from World War II to the conflicts in today's news. Fairfax County provides and supports a number of veterans services and programs. Details are at Services for Veterans. 
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Congratulations to Patty Nicoson, President of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association (DCRA), on receiving the Tower of Dulles Award from the Committee for Dulles for her tireless work advocating for the Silver Line.
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Flu season is here!

The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. Visit 5 Reasons (achoo!) to Get a Flu Shot for information and a flu shot finder.

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Fairfax County has created a new website with all kinds of resources for mature drivers and their families. Visit Mature Driving Safety for tips, resources, and driving alternatives.  
   

Calendar of Events  
   
Now through Friday, November 20, Thanksgiving Food Drive. In support of the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for local families and individuals served by Cornerstones and in partnership with Reston Community Center, Reston Town Center is collecting donations of non-perishable food in building lobby boxes. More is at restoncommunitycenter.com.
 
Friday, November 13, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., TGIF - Free Fridays at Greater Reston Arts Center. An evening of family art-making and storytelling. For more information, call 703.471.9242 or visit TGIF.

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m., Monthly Vigil for Gun Violence Prevention at the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters to remember the Newtown, CT shootings that killed 26 children and adults. Meet at 11250 Waples Mill Road in Fairfax (where Waples Mill Road crosses I-66). Signs provided.  
 
Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Congressman Gerry Connolly's Open Season Workshop for Federal Employees and Retirees, at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Representatives of various health plans, OPM, and Medicare will be available to discuss their programs with participants. Call 703-256-3071 for more information.

Sunday, November 15, 4:00 p.m., Salute to Pavarotti, Reston Community Orchestra opens its 28th season with a tribute to the opera legend. This family-friendly concert features pianist-tenor Carlos Alberto Ibay. Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free Admission. Please bring canned goods for Thanksgiving Food Drive. For more information, visit www.restoncommunityorchestra.org or call 571-449-7095.

Monday, November 16, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Public Meeting with Commonwealth Transportation Board, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. Find out more at Public Meeting.

Monday and Tuesday, November 16 and 17, Solar Focus 2015: Resiliency for the Future conference, at Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, 999 Ninth Street NW. Details and ticket prices at Solar Focus 2015.

Tuesday, November 24, noon to 7:00 p.m., INOVA Blood Drive, beside the Pavilion in Reston Town Center. Schedule an appointment by calling 866.256.6372, visit inova.org/donateblood or register on site.   

Wednesday, November 25, 7:30 p.m., Annual Ecumenical-Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Eve Service, at United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive in Reston. Call 703-620-3065 for more information. 

Friday, November 27, 11:00 a.m., "Home Sweet Home," 25th Annual Reston Holiday Parade, Market Street, Reston Town Center. See Macy's-style balloons, marching bands, dancers, antique cars, community groups, costume characters and more welcoming the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. Visit restontowncenter.com/events/signature-events/ for details on the parade and other holiday events.  

Saturday, December 5, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Alternative Gift Market, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Avenue, Reston. Visit over 30 booths of socially conscious gift ideas from local and international charitable organizations. Check out the Shopping List on the website to see the 60+ gift options available. 100% of all donations and proceeds go directly to the charity of your choice. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, visit uureston.org/agm. Download a flyer here.
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
Click here to learn more about donating for Reston's families in need.

In This Issue
Commentary..."Bumper Sticker Politics"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


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