VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

U.N. Official Delays Immigrant-Related Visit

A United Nations human rights official has postponed a planned visit to inspect the treatment of immigrant workers in Prince William County, according to the activist group Mexicans Without Borders. The group had welcomed the outside scrutiny, saying the county's illegal-immigration policies have "created a climate where suspicion and terror thrive."

Jorge A. Bustamante, a U.N. special rapporteur for human rights of migrants, called off a visit planned for yesterday and today. In a letter to Mexicans Without Borders, Bustamante cited "something unexpected of extreme gravity" that was "totally outside of my control" as a reason and did not indicate when he would reschedule the trip.

Opponents of illegal immigrants in the county had planned to protest Bustamante's trip, during which he intended to meet with county officials as well as immigrant residents.

-- Nick Miroff

LOUDOUN COUNTY

Board Chairman Floats Business Property Tax

The chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Scott K. York, said yesterday that the county might have to impose a new commercial property tax to ease its transportation troubles.

In a state of the county address to business leaders, York (I) said the board should consider the tax because state lawmakers have failed to come up with a solution to the region's gridlock, which threatens the economy and quality of life in Loudoun.

"Unfortunately, if we don't improve our system here . . . it will grind us to a halt," he said.

Under a transportation bill approved by the General Assembly last year, Northern Virginia counties were given permission to impose a real estate tax surcharge on office and retail buildings of up to 25 cents per $100 of assessed value.

-- Sandhya Somashekhar

JUDICIARY

Portsmouth Judge Confirmed to Federal Bench

The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed a Portsmouth judge, Mark S. Davis, yesterday to become a federal district judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Davis, 46, is likely to serve in Alexandria but could sit elsewhere in the district, which includes Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News, according to an aide to Sen. James Webb (D-Va.). He is chief judge of the Portsmouth Circuit Court and was a partner at a Hampton Roads law firm.

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and Webb praised Davis, who worked in Warner's office before attending law school. Both had recommended Davis.

-- Jerry Markon