LTE: Tell Delgaudio, Enough!

There are times when the private behavior of our public officials is so egregious that it compels censure from leaders of their own party. The hateful statements and actions of Sterling Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio and the hate group he heads present us with just such a time.

January 18, 1990, was the day I felt it was morally necessary for me to loudly, clearly and without reservation say “enough.” That, of course, was the day the Mayor of the District of Columbia was finally arrested for his ongoing illegal behaviors that were not just harming the political party I belong to, but more importantly damaging the African-American community and the community at large. Many in my party and my community chided me for speaking out against Mayor Barry (then and now), however. There are times when a person in one’s own political party, or community, does or says things that are so egregious, so ridiculous and so incendiary that party members and community leaders must put aside ideology and speak out publicly.

It is with this in mind that I ask members of the Loudoun County Republican Committee (LCRC) why they fail to raise their collective voices against the outrageous, ignorant statements and antics of Supervisor Delgaudio. I challenge them to do as I’ve done: visit Supervisor Delgaudio’s Public Advocacy website (www.publicadvocateusa.org) and read his statement and the articles from his organization that have caused the Southern Policy Law Center to designate his organization a hate group. Supervisor Delgaudio’s Public Advocacy Organization now shares that designation with such organizations as the “Nation of Islam” and the “American Nazi Party.”

Sadly I’ve come to believe that Supervisor Delgaudio has neither the capacity to comprehend why his behavior is so harmful, nor what an embarrassment he is to Loudoun County; and we should all question if he even has the humanity to care. Thus, unlike others, I’m not calling on Supervisor Delgaudio to resign. Instead, this letter appeals to members of the LCRC who may share some of Supervisor Delgaudio’s policy beliefs but certainly do not share his highly inappropriate statements or support his outrageous behavior. This letter is directed to Treasurer Roger Zurn, Gary Clemens, Commissioner of the Revenue Bob Wertz, Delegate Randy Minchew, Delegate Tag Greason, the LCRC supervisors and any member of the LCRC who hold their breath when Supervisor Delgaudio opens his mouth, and silently cringe at the ignorance that so freely falls from his lips. While I don’t often agree with the LCRC on policy issues, I do have respect for many of their members, thus expect more from them than silence. To the LCRC I say, you are better than then your silence suggests.

If you are an LCRC member or a constituent of Supervisor Delgaudio who practices the art of dismissing Supervisor Delgaudio’s stunningly inappropriate behavior with the blow-off statement “That’s just Eugene being Eugene,” at what point will you say “ENOUGH.” Mr. Zurn, Mr. Clemens, Mr. Wertz, Mr. Minchew, Mr. Greason, LCRC supervisors and members … the time has come.

Let us remember that hate in all forms in dangerous and unacceptable. Please don’t dismiss this particular form of hate because it wears an orange hat and has a goofy grin. As a county and as people perhaps it is time for us to heed the words of Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Loudoun, it is time for us to say ENOUGH.

Phyllis Randall
Lansdowne, VA