VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

FAIRFAX COUNTY

Chief Elections Official Will Step Down

Fairfax County's chief elections administrator, General Registrar Jacquelynne C. Harris, has resigned effective July 1 for personal reasons, officials said yesterday.

Fairfax County Electoral Board Chairman Robert R. Sparks Jr. said that losing Harris in a presidential election year is "an inopportune event, but we're on board with it." He said Harris will help in the search for a successor.

Harris, 46, had one foot out the door last year, before the board gave her a $12,000 raise to $105,000 a year. But she said that personal considerations ultimately took precedence. She has no other job lined up, she said, and plans to leave the Washington area.

"It's strictly a matter of my exploring other opportunities," Harris said.

-- Bill Turque

ARLINGTON COUNTY

Shelter Operator's Contract Is Dropped

Arlington County took over day-to-day operations of the community's emergency winter shelter yesterday after terminating a contract with the operator, the Arlington Street People's Network.

"No disruption of services will occur," said Susanne Eisner, county human services director. "The emergency winter shelter will remain open, safe and available to meet the emergency wintertime needs of homeless persons in the community."

Eisner said the county lost faith in the organization's "ability and willingness to run the shelter" after people affiliated with the network said the homeless are better off sleeping outside.

The organization had told the county last week that it would stop operating the shelter this month because it was unsafe. At that time, the shelter was cramped, lacked a working elevator, had inadequate toilet facilities and was difficult for elderly and disabled residents to navigate.

The human services staff will operate the shelter until tomorrow, when Volunteers of America will take it over for the rest of the winter. The emergency shelter provides a place to sleep during the winter to homeless people who choose not to participate in the programs offered by Arlington's year-round shelters.

-- Kristen Mack

Wartime Shell Unearthed at Federal Building

A Civil War-era shell was found at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center in Arlington last week, forcing fire officials to move personnel in the building while it was inspected and removed, fire officials said yesterday.

Chief Fire Marshal Benjamin Barksdale said the foot-long shell was unearthed on the side of the building, at 4000 Arlington Blvd., during construction work Thursday night. Barksdale said Arlington fire officials sent a bomb disposal team to the facility. After inspecting the item, the team notified the U.S. Army, which owns the building. The Army took the shell away, Barksdale said. Employees were kept in one area of the facility for about two hours Friday.

-- Daniela Deane

DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Drop Metro Plan, Add Buses, Lawmakers Say

Two Republican lawmakers from Northern Virginia urged Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to abandon a plan to extend Metro to Dulles International Airport and instead focus on expanding express bus service.

Federal transportation officials have raised questions about the $5 billion rail expansion, which could jeopardize $900 million in federal funds and leave the project's future in doubt. Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) and Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) said expanding bus service is a less costly, more practical solution.

"It's time now to move ahead and move in a direction that will actually provide congestion relief for the people in Northern Virginia," said Cuccinelli, a longtime critic of Dulles rail.

Kaine met with the state's congressional delegation to review the project. Afterward, he said he was willing to make adjustments to secure federal funds.

-- Sandhya Somashekhar

TAXES

Kaine Extends Use of Federal Deductions

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) yesterday signed legislation to allow a variety of Virginians to use certain federal tax deductions. The first bill from the 2008 General Assembly session to be signed into law takes effect immediately.

The deductions include a variety of tax breaks for small-business owners, homeowners and those who receive money from Virginia Tech through the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.

"These measures will protect families of the Virginia Tech shooting victims and will create tax breaks for small businesses and many homeowners," Kaine said in a statement. "The bill provides tax relief for people who deserve it and need it."

-- Anita Kumar