On Loudoun Board, Growth May Trump Immigration Issues

Loudoun County's much-publicized election-year effort to root out and drive away illegal immigrants may fizzle six months after it began, as a slate of Democrats with different priorities prepares to take control of the Board of Supervisors next month.

Loudoun was quick to follow Prince William County last summer in attempting to crack down on what some board members said were problems created by illegal immigrants, and many elected officials used the issue in their fall campaigns.

But the Loudoun board that will be sworn in Saturday has a different mission.

"The emphasis is going to be on issues of growth and transportation and education," said C. Kelly Burk (D), one of four Democrats who defeated incumbent Republicans in the Nov. 6 election. "I want to get back to what people are concerned about."

Eight candidates, including five Democrats, won seats on the nine-member board on a promise to slow growth in Loudoun, where population has virtually doubled since 2000 as suburban-style developments crop up in the formerly rural county.

On the campaign trail, the Democrats blamed the growth for worsening traffic, crowded schools and high taxes -- quality-of-life issues that for voters seemingly trumped illegal immigration, which had been a key campaign point for several of the outgoing Republicans.

"We have some very critical issues facing us in the coming months, and I thought it was very unfortunate that this board couldn't find more constructive uses of their time," said Stevens R. Miller (D), who was elected in the Dulles district and called the effort against illegal immigrants "an election tactic that subsequently failed."

The board that will take office next month faces a fiscal challenge that several supervisors said will be an immediate priority. County officials expect a shortfall of $251 million in part because of declining revenue from the housing market. At the same time, schools Superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick III plans to ask for about $80 million more from the county than the district received last year.

Those on the current board recently cast what are likely to be their final votes on illegal immigration, deciding to go after homeowners who illegally rent out rooms and commit other zoning violations, a trend that officials have said they think is on the rise and is aggravated by an influx of illegal immigrants. They also voted to ask parents who use county child-care services to certify that their children are legal residents.

Despite the hard-talking rhetoric earlier in the year, supervisors did not cut off any county-funded social services to those who could not prove residency. A deal to work more closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is awaiting federal approval.

In part, Loudoun officials were limited in their efforts to enact anti-illegal immigrant policies by state and federal laws that restrict county governments' actions.

"We've done all we can do," said Stephen J. Snow (R-Dulles), whom Miller defeated last month. "And we've put the state and federal government on notice that we need help."