Loudoun Board Gives Delgaudio Part of Newsletter Request

The Loudoun Board of Supervisors agreed to authorize a Sterling District newsletter to be distributed at some point during the 2014 fiscal year, a couple of newsletters less than Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) had requested.

The request came as part of the board’s discipline of Delgaudio for blurring the lines between his office’s work for the county and his political campaigns to keep that office. Supervisors stripped Delgaudio of his committee assignments, took control of the Sterling District budget away from him and censured him. The actions require him to request funding for specific activities, such as producing and mailing newsletters.

Last week, Delgaudio gave up his legal fight against the board’s actions and apologized for the embarrassment caused, just a few days after the Loudoun County Republican Committee passed a resolution seeking an investigation into the allegations that Delgaudio misused his office and the return of the Sterling District budget.

Delgaudio and Supervisor Janet Clarke (R-Blue Ridge) abstained from the board’s 6-1-2 vote to authorize funding of just one newsletter. Supervisor Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn) voted against the measure.

Delgaudio made the initial motion for at least three newsletters, but Supervisor Ken Reid (R-Leesburg) offered the substitute motion that won approval.

“I think one newsletter is sufficient,” Reid said.

Supervisor Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian) said, “There are some of us who have yet to actually do a letter. We do an electronic newsletter.”

Reid said he offered the motion to authorize one newsletter in recognition that some of Delgaudio’s constituents may not have computers.

Reid’s motion initially called for the newsletter to be reviewed by the county’s public information office, but at Supervisor Geary Higgins’ (R-Catoctin) request the motion was changed to provide supervisors the opportunity to review the newsletter prior to publication as well.

Earlier related stories:

• Delgaudio Relents On Censure, Apologizes For ‘Embarrassment’ Caused
• Delgaudio Saga Continues: Loudoun GOP Calls for Board Reversal, Investigation
• Supervisors Get Testy During Delgaudio Censure
• Delgaudio Censured: Loudoun Supervisor Stripped of Committees, Budget Control, Aides