Keeping the Tysons Tunnel on His Agenda

Frey Cries Foul on Study

The Fairfax supervisor who asked county officials to determine the costs of illegal immigration says their analysis was kept under wraps until after last month's elections.

It was mid-July when Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) asked County Executive Anthony H. Griffin for a report on what services the county provided to undocumented immigrants and what the services cost. The study was delivered to Frey Nov. 20 and made public last week.

For what was ostensibly four months of work, it didn't amount to much. Griffin said the only costs that could be quantified were at the county jail, where the sheriff will spend about $4 million this fiscal year to house undocumented prisoners.

But Frey said he's certain Griffin sat on the report, probably at the behest of Board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) because immigration is a volatile issue in an election season.

"There's no question it wasn't going to come out before the election," said Frey, "because of the uncertainty of what it might say."

Connolly was out of the country and unavailable for comment. Asked in an e-mail if he had any comment, Griffin replied: "No."

-- Bill Turque

Cuccinelli Planning Ahead

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) still has to survive a recount of his 92-vote victory over Democrat Janet S. Oleszek, but he might already be turning his attention to a new campaign.