Economic parallels emerge in Connolly, Davis ascendancy

Comments

 SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED

EMAIL STORY

PRINT STORY

» 163 days ago: Economic parallels emerge in Connolly, Davis ascendancy «

Fairfax County (Map, News) - Fairfax County was suffering through a sharp real estate downturn and county revenues were bleeding. The county chairman - and eventual 11th District congressional hopeful - advocated raising taxes a few cents to maintain millions of dollars worth of services.

That situation is playing out for a second time in less than two decades. Now, it's Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly at the helm, considering a 3-cent property tax increase. In 1992, it was Chairman Tom Davis, under whom the board approved a 5 cent increase two years before he won a seat in the U.S. House.

Connolly, who is seeking the 11th District seat to replace the retiring Davis, has come under fire for supporting consideration of the local tax increase. But Davis' example shows the move isn't necessarily a career killer.

And it won't be a big factor in a Democratic primary, said Davis, whose general election opponent in 1994 - one-term congresswoman Leslie Byrne - is facing Connolly in a bitter June 10 nomination battle.

"I don't think it'll hurt him," Davis said. "The problem Leslie has is the people who benefit the most from county services are Democrats. His alternative is to cut his base [by cutting spending], these are basically Democratic base votes. In a primary you don't want to be perceived as doing that."

The political parallel between longtime rivals Connolly and Davis is well established, but the economic woes that struck during each of their chairmanships offer a new similarity. The situations were not identical, however. In the early 1990s, the county's real estate crash was largely a commercial one. Under Connolly, the slump has hit home values hardest.

Two other Democrats also are running in the primary, the winner of which will likely face Republican businessman Keith Fimian.

The GOP nominee will blame Connolly for raising taxes, said University of Virginia politics professor Larry Sabato. But just as Davis attacked President Bill Clinton to secure the victory, Sabato expects Connolly to deflect criticism by attacking President Bush.

"How did Tom Davis beat Leslie Byrne?" Sabato said. "Tom Davis said Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton, over and over and over again, and it worked. People forget just how local the White House is in Northern Virginia."

Connolly, Byrne and Fimian could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

wflook@dcexaminer.com

SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED

EMAIL STORY

PRINT STORY

» 163 days ago: Economic parallels emerge in Connolly, Davis ascendancy «