Real estate dollars flood board candidates’ war chests

Fairfax County (Map, News) - Developers, property managers and homebuilders stuffed the campaign chests of Fairfax County’s supervisors and some of their opponents more than any other industry, according to campaign finance records.

Nine out of 10 supervisors got more money from the real estate industry than any other single source, according to the records.

The records show an industry with a direct financial stake in county land decisions was aggressively courting politicians who will make those calls, said the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project, which analyzed contribution patterns.

“It means that the industry is considering that it’s worthwhile to give these contributions, because there may be some benefit to them in the long run,” said Audrey Moore, a Democrat who chaired the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1988 to 1991. “It’s easy to see.”

The VPAP analysis indicated the “real estate/construction” category gave board members about $560,000 this election cycle, about half of which went to Chairman Gerald Connolly. That category was the largest for every supervisor but Cathy Hudgins, who represents the Hunter Mill District.

That donor designation includes not only developers and builders, but also related groups such as land-use lawyers, real estate agents and title companies.

Two supervisors who received developer donations are not seeking another term in office but could transfer the funds to their potential successors.

Board members have strongly denied any suggestion of quid pro quo from their donors and point to their support from other groups and residents.

“In my case, a lot of these people I have known for 25 years. A lot of them have become good friends, so you can’t necessarily only look at it as a contribution from the real estate industry,” said Dranesville District Supervisor Joan DuBois, a Republican. “Anybody you talk to in the development industry can assure you that I cannot be bought. I am not for sale.”

Connolly, one of Northern Virginia’s most powerful politicians, has drawn the most criticism for his fundraising sources. VPAP, however, shows the real estate interests pay heavily into numerous campaigns, including those of board hopefuls like Democrat Jeff McKay and Republicans Vellie Dietrich Hall and Pat Herrity.

wflook@dcexaminer.com