LTE: Mr. Hadden, Get Your Facts Straight

Dear Editor: My name is Marlene Barney, wife of Tony Barney, who has filed to run as a Democrat for Sterling District Supervisor in 2015, or sooner if we successfully get rid of Delgaudio. I am responding to a letter to the editor from Mr. Lee Hadden of Sterling. Mr. Hadden's LTE is described as "'Sterling Deserves Better' distinguishes itself from man running for Sterling supervisor in 2015." Since Mr. Hadden is obviously working, as my husband and I are, to rid ourselves of Delgaudio, this response bewilders me a bit. Mr. Hadden, regardless of your personal likes and dislikes, we are on the same side.

Apparently, Mr. Hadden didn't read my husband's letter, (July 19, 2013 Letter to the Editor) as carefully as I read Mr. Hadden's letter. Tony's letter did not, as Mr. Hadden claims, say that "the most relevant issues of the Eugene Delgaudio scandal were not discussed or addressed at the July 17th Board of Supervisor's meeting," and this was certainly not the "thesis" of Tony's letter. Tony's letter simply elaborated on the fact, "that not everything about Delgaudio's performance as a county supervisor was in the report;" Tony was simply pointing out that there is more to the story of  Delgaudio's time in office, and that the supervisors who have worked and who presently work with Delgaudio, as well as the Sterling  residents who have been a part of the Sterling District since Delgaudio first took office in 2000, have been well aware for quite some time that, as my husband wrote, "something stunk in Mr. Delgauido's office." 

In his response, Mr. Hadden mentions statements made by Delgaudio in "today's Sterling District newsletter." Although Mr. Hadden's comments stray far from Tony's LTE, I congratulate Mr. Hadden. He is on a special list. Delgaudio's self-serving newsletters, called out as such by Tony in his LTE, are usually sent to his known supporters and those he considers possible or potential supporters/voters. Although we are members in good standing of the Sterling District, we are not so lucky as to receive these newsletters first-hand, although we have complained to Delgaudio's office about this. We get to see some of them through Sterling neighbors and friends.

Mr. Hadden also writes that he "watched most of the entire meeting on Wednesday." Neither my husband nor I saw him at the meeting. We may have missed him, or perhaps he was watching it on TV. If he was, he should know that he was able to do so due to the efforts of my husband, Tony Barney, and fellow Cable TV and OVS Commission member, Dave McWatters, a Republican, who together, through several years of hard work and against a great deal of political resistance, spearheaded a bipartisan effort to have the BOS meetings televised. Tony does not like to take credit for his accomplishments, and he has rarely done so in the past. However, as a candidate for Sterling Supervisor, he is put in the uncomfortable (for him) position of having to do this more often so that people are aware of the time, energy, and expertise he has devoted - totally as a volunteer - on behalf of our Sterling community.

Mr. Hadden's letter also discusses the "impractical strategy of demanding Supervisor Delgaudio's resignation." This is an opinion. I agree that it's highly unlikely that Delgaudio would ever put his district or his county before himself, but Delgaudio's resignation should be requested and demanded. Tony and I hope that the people of Sterling and of Loudoun County will demand it. It is certainly appropriate to demand it, just as some prominent elected leaders and candidates are presently demanding the resignation of Ken Cuccinelli and Gov. McDonnell.  

Although some might argue the opinion that trying to recall Delgaudio is also an impractical strategy, Tony and I both believe that we should and must try, and hope that this effort is successful. Tony and I believe that signing the recall petition is important, and hope that all Sterling residents will sign it. To that end, Mr. Hadden should get his facts straight before he writes that "if Mr. Barney is serious about removing Eugene Delgaudio from office, he should sign the recall petition and go to his neighbors in Sterling to collect additional signatures." Mr. Hadden should know that Tony has signed my petition, and is currently accompanying me, due to my current health issues, around our community to gather additional signatures.  

This brings me to my final point. Since community and county awareness has been raised about the lack of constituent services and other unfulfilled supervisory duties in the Sterling District, Tony and I have become aware of a perception in the county that the rest of the BOS has been taking care of the Sterling District. Tony and I want the people of Loudoun County to know that this is far from true. Dedicated volunteers like Tony Barney, who serves as Vice President of the Sterling Foundation and maintains their web site, serves on the SterlingFest Committee, has coached football as a volunteer for Park View High School and the Lower Loudoun Boys (Youth) Football League, and regularly helps to clean up Sterling Boulevard, are taking care of Sterling. The dedicated teachers, staff, coaches and community volunteers at Sterling schools, the Sterling Community Center and Sterling Community Center Advisory Board, the Sterling Library and Library Advisory Board, the Sterling Fire - Rescue Squad, the Sterling Playmakers, the LLBFL, and other volunteer community and church groups are doing our part, as best we can, to take care of Sterling. I have not seen Mr. Hadden participating in any of these activities. Perhaps he is, and our paths have simply not crossed. If he isn't participating, then I personally invite Mr. Hadden to join Tony and me in these efforts. 

Marlene Barney
Sterling, VA