Hall Welcomes May 23 Candidate Debate With Linda Smyth

Providence District supervisor candidate Charlie Hall said a May 23 candidates' debate will offer voters an important chance to assess the record of incumbent Linda Q. Smyth.

The debate, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Connection Newspapers, will be from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the James Lee Community Center, 2855-A Annandale Road, in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County.

"This debate is especially important, because the Board of Supervisors, and especially Smyth, have tried to dodge direct questions about their development policies," Hall said. "This will be an important opportunity to compare two very different visions for Fairfax County's future."

"The June 12 primary is likely to determine the next supervisor of Providence District," Hall added. "This could be the only opportunity for voters to directly question Linda Smyth about her record on traffic, overdevelopment and other key issues."

Hall is challenging Smyth in the June 12 Democratic primary. A co-founder of Fairfax Citizens for Responsible Growth, and the chairman of the Providence District Council, he has urged the county to do a better job of protecting roads, schools, parks and neighborhoods as it weighs future development in Fairfax.

Hall said key issues include the future of Tysons Corner, where an elevated train is being considered, and improving physical conditions in the county schools, where there are 700 stand-alone trailers.

He also has sharply criticized Smyth's failure to engage the community on major development proposals such as the 2,250-unit MetroWest project near the Vienna Metro station.

The June 12 primary will be from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at normal polling stations.