Alborn: Unlikely Duo Takes On County Executive over Logo

If you aren’t familiar with Prince William County Government’s logo selection issue, you might as well move on. The details have been well covered on this website.

I’m not going to rehash the details of “logo gate” other than to summarize that, in many people’s opinion, there were problems with the process from sole source selection of an out of state vendor that created the logo, the lack of citizen or elected officials involvement, disinformation about its intended use, money perhaps spent and wasted, and actual costs. I could go on.

Neabsco District Supervisor John Jenkins, the old dog, and Gainesville District Supervisor Peter Candland, the young pup, came well armed to Tuesday’s Prince William County Board of County Supervisor’s Meeting when the logo was discussed. They came prepared to deconstruct what many in Prince William County considered to be an egregious overreach of power by County Executive Melissa Peacor and her staff, and problems with the process used to create the proposed logo.

Jenkins took a page from General Colin Powell’s Overwhelming Force Doctrine. He came well armed.

Jenkins took staff down one notch at a time for a poor logo, poor vendor selection process, quibbling over the actual costs, and overstepping its authority, He went on to remind staff and the public just how hard the Board had worked on the last budget, bringing up its efforts to find $30,000 to pay for Bluebird bus tours.

After much discussion this spring during the annual county budget process, Jenkins pointed out that money for this logo project was nowhere to be found in that same budget.

You might think this battle would be over, but then Candland started laying down suppressive fire to make sure there were no survivors. He quite deliberately helped county staff build the rather sharp petard upon which he deftly hoisted them with facts to discredit the story he was told.

You may watch the show here. The silence among the rest of the board was deafening during this dialog. I believe the winner in this battle was never in question.

In case there were any survivors, Jenkins presented the results of a Washington Post on-line poll indicating 70% of the poll participants think Prince William County should start over.

Jenkins delivered the Coup de grâce when he changed the proposed motion to a directive for county staff to discontinue further expenditures on this logo, and requested that a work session be established to resolve the issue. I give Chairman Corey Stewart credit for quickly picking up on Jenkins’ theme, recognizing the need for a public process, and community input. The work session is scheduled for July 16.

Local small businesses should take Candland to lunch for exploring the issue of giving Prince William County businesses every opportunity to compete for government work.

I suspect Prince William County staff perhaps learned from this experience. There are only two counties in the Commonwealth with the County Executive form of Government. Exactly what that means, and just how powerful the County Executive and his or her staff is fuzzy line.

I think perhaps the most important outcome of this Board Meeting was to help define that line a bit more sharply. I suspect County Staff will endeavor to make sure there are no more “surprises” like this in the future.

The outcome was sheer poetry. Jenkins and Candland, unlikely allies poles apart on the political continuum, teamed up to bring accountability to Prince William County Government. The idea of the Senior, most liberal member of the Board teaming with the junior, most conservative member “shakes up” the status quo.

This kind of inquiry and questioning is what I expect of those who we elect to act as stewards of our tax dollars.

I hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship.