Dear George,

I would like to endorse Republican Rob Schilling for a second term on Charlottesville’s City Council on May 2, the city’s final spring election.

During his first term, Schilling has been the proverbial grain of sand that irritates the oyster to produce a pearl. So far, we now have an elected school board. The real estate tax rate has dropped twelve cents to 99 cents per $100 assessed value. Even so, it’s still another tax increase. But it could be worse.

Schilling is the only candidate who has pledged to support legislation to limit eminent domain. So it made sense when he voted against the city’s charter amendment to expand eminent domain. Although he didn’t say why he voted no, seven of the eleven provisions dealt with acquisition and disposition of land and buildings for affordable housing. Schilling stood alone and kept his word.

The Virginia Senate amended the charter amendment to remove the broad eminent domain language. The much-scaled down version of Section 50.7 is now referred to variously as the grant/loan/tax deferral/rebate program for low to moderate income constituents. The full Senate voted for the final version 37-2. Again, two Senators stood on principle against the overwhelming majority.

The final version of the amendment did not come back to Council for a vote. But at the League of Women Voters forum April 12, Schilling stood on principle again. He described the program as redistribution of wealth. Some property owners pay more so others can pay less. In effect, the program is a progressive property tax that shifts a greater burden to those who already pay a greater burden. It takes courage to stand alone against popular opinion.

Some have said Schilling votes no on everything. How come the Democrats never vote no on Schilling’s proposals? All they have to do is not second his motion. That’s why we need a second Republican on Council to force reforms to a vote. I plan to write in Charles Weber, who’s been speaking out on property taxes and will likely become the next chairman of the party.

Schilling and Weber on May 2.

Blair Hawkins (electronic mail, April 24, 2006)