Politics
Melissa Bondi for Arlington County Board
Arlington County Democrats will select a nominee this week for an open seat on the county board. 5 Democrats are vying for the slot, vacated by Barbara Favola. Because of her experience, openness to citizen input and dedication to smart urban development, Greater Greater Washington endorses Melissa Bondi in the Democratic primary for county board.
Bondi endorsed by school board member James Lander. Photo from Bondi's campaign website.
Democrats can vote in the "Firehouse Primary" on Thursday, January 19 from 7-9 pm at Washington- Bondi has extensive credentials in smart growth, environmental policy and affordable housing. She has served on numerous citizens' commissions, which effectively function as the committee system for the Arlington County Board.
She chaired the the Housing Commission, where she helped co-author Arlington's inclusionary zoning law, one of the first in the region. When on the Clarendon Sector Task Force, she worked to bring smart growth and sustainability to the area.
She worked as housing director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth for 3 years, where she pushed to integrate affordable housing into mixed-use development. She has also coordinated federal housing policy for Smart Growth America and led the regional Think Twice Before You Slice campaign for the Nonprofit Roundtable for Greater Washington, where she educated people on the impacts of budget proposals on low-income and vulnerable populations.
Her experience in Arlington includes dozens of site plan projects, zoning issues, and long range plans. Bondi is qualified for the County Board because she has already been working on the County Board's business for years.
Discussing the "Arlington Way," Bondi pointed out a generational shift in how citizen interact with their leaders. Traditionally, people in Arlington have engaged leaders, county staff and fellow citizens at frequent, in-person meetings. But as Bondi noted, people now want to engage with civic affairs though blogs like Greater Greater Washington, social media, and other methods.
Bondi wants the county to put extra effort into involving the public in policy decisions early, and recognizing when citizens want to communicate in ways besides meetings. She'd like the county to participate more in blog discussions, providing important information about issues citizens are discussing.
Community leaders hail her ability to coordinate among varied interests and ability to listen to ideas from stakeholders. Bondi has won the endorsement of former board member and current Clerk of Court Paul Ferguson, current board members Walter Tejada and Chris Zimmerman, school board member James Lander, and Delegate Alfonso Lopez. Bondi has the instincts of a great board member who can listen to input from citizens and other stakeholders and reach compromises that benefit everyone.
Melissa Bondi is the strongest supporter of the Columbia Pike streetcar among the candidates. She understands its role in broadening Arlington's high-quality transit network and the challenges that it can present to existing residents in the area. She understands the streetcar's financial situation, and believes the county must better communicate the reasons for increased cost as well as the benefits to the corridor and the county as a whole.
Other candidates have taken more negative positions on the streetcar, and on urban redesign like in Crystal City. A flyer put out by opponent Libby Garvey stated, "I won't let runaway development take away what we love most about Arlington."
In our opinion, the areas in Arlington that have seen development (Clarendon, Court House, Ballston, Shirlington, Columbia Pike) are prime examples of good transportation-oriented development and urban design. Development has more often than not brought what we love most about Arlington rather than taken it away.
Several tax controversies have emerged around Bondi. One involved an IRS tax lien that was unknown to her until it was published on a local Arlington watchdog blog, and another concerns late payments for personal property (car) tax.
Bondi is acting responsibly by working with the IRS to resolve the tax lien, and has properly paid property tax on the car she owned, including penalties for her tardiness. Since these personal finance issues did not involve any public funds or positions of public trust, we feel that Bondi should receive the nomination based on her qualifications and experience.
We encourage Arlington County Democrats to vote for Melissa Bondi in the primary on Thursday evening or Saturday.
Michael Perkins blogs about Metro operations and fares, performance parking, and any other government and economics information he finds on the Web. He lives with his wife and two children in Arlington, Virginia. 
Comments
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This one seems like a no-brainer to me.
by Kyle W on Jan 15, 2012 6:27 pm • link • report
Seriously, I'd like an answer to this simple question.
by TGEOA on Jan 15, 2012 8:19 pm • link • report
by ArlCoRes on Jan 15, 2012 9:21 pm • link • report
by Jason R on Jan 15, 2012 9:51 pm • link • report
by Sgt. Hartman on Jan 15, 2012 11:23 pm • link • report
by ArlDem6 on Jan 16, 2012 1:05 am • link • report
1. PPT on the car she owned
2. IRS lien
3. PPT on the car she garaged in Arlington that she didn't own.
Perkins is correct that she addressed #1. So she was late, big deal. She paid the back tax and penalty. As for #2, let's see what happens. I'm sure that can be addressed by her as well, once again no big deal.
However #3 is inexcusable. Arlington gets about 10% of revenue from the car tax. She knew full well that she was cheating the system.
by TGEOA on Jan 16, 2012 9:05 am • link • report
There is no way Bondi was not aware of the IRS tax lien. The address on her lien is her current residence and campaign office. She would have received numerous notices from the IRS and probably dozens of letters from attorneys offering assistance once the lien was placed. This would have gone on for years.
The car tax issue is more than being late. The County Treasurer basically called her a tax evader and said she only paid up after they threatened to confiscate her car. She paid, but then admittedly drove a car registered out of state in the County for the next few years. In other words, she continued to avoid paying the car tax.
Her smart growth cred is also debatable. Sure she sits on a number of committees that deal with smart growth issues, but does she actually get results? Does the author know?
At least in Ballston, the answer is no. She was chair of the Buckingham Preservation Committee that permitted a developer to knock down affordable garden apartments in order to build luxury townhomes within walking distance of the Metro. Her supporters will say the agreement also created affordable units, but those units are in higher density four level apartments beyond walking distance from Metro. In other words, the best solution she was able to work out is the opposite of the smart growth policies this board advocates.
I don't see her record of accomplishment outweighing her questionable tax problems. I, for one, am looking at the other candidates.
by Steve on Jan 16, 2012 9:32 am • link • report
by SoCountyResident on Jan 16, 2012 9:32 am • link • report
Any democrat who lives in Arlington and votes for Melissa is kidding themselves. She is a tax cheat. And not someone who should be elected to any position involving money.
by DanvilleMayor on Jan 16, 2012 10:03 am • link • report
Bondi refuses to say whether she received the IRS notices. Why? Because then she would have to admit that she is a tax cheat.
Failure to pay car tax (then and NOW) is inexcusable.
College flunk-out. Work experience murky, with extended periods of no employment.
Her "experience" is spread wide, but is not deep. Scratch the surface and you find college drop-out, endless missed meetings, failure to return telephone calls, personal finance scandals, glib-bureaucratic double-speak, etc., etc. We only know the tip of this Marion Barry iceberg.
by Arlington Deserves Better on Jan 16, 2012 10:57 am • link • report
May I have some more butter for my popcorn?
by selxic on Jan 16, 2012 11:06 am • link • report
by Patrick on Jan 16, 2012 11:42 am • link • report
yes, she comes across as the sort of busybody diletante with so little going on in her own life that she tries to become an "activist." And it seems like she's found a constituency, serving as a vessel for certain interest groups, while she allows herself to feel like she's a "pillar of the community." The model is more like DC community gadfly Robert Brannum than Marion Barry.
by JustMe on Jan 16, 2012 12:06 pm • link • report
While there are certainly situations in which the IRS is unable to locate a taxpayer, there are always extenuating circumstances -- like the taxpayer moved out of the country, or changed addresses/phone numbers many times, or is someone who is "off the grid" and isn't registered with government at any level for any thing.
If there are indeed extenuating circumstances why the IRS wouldn't be able to find her, Melissa Bondi should come out and explain them. It seems hard to believe that the IRS would be unable to contact someone as public as Ms. Bondi.
by Falls Church on Jan 16, 2012 12:13 pm • link • report
by Falls Church on Jan 16, 2012 12:17 pm • link • report
by jus' saying on Jan 16, 2012 12:45 pm • link • report
by Paulus on Jan 16, 2012 2:42 pm • link • report
So not only is she a tax evader, she is a liar. As other commenters have aptly put it, she'd fit perfectly in DC government, or maybe P.G. County.
In any event, if Bondi is nominated, there's an excellent chance the election will go to Audrey Clement. I know many Dems who will refuse to vote for her in the special election regardless of the unenforceable loyalty pledge one has to sign at the nominating caucus.
There are four other candidates running, all who are honest, good Democrats. Greater Greater shouldn't let its overwhelming desire for a streetcar trump common sense.
by lyonvillager on Jan 16, 2012 5:11 pm • link • report
HERE'S A SIMPLE TEST: All the people who are pushing the streetcar - let's see you put up your own personal money against it being a failure. If all the things you say the streetcar will do fail to pass, then you have to personally pay the costs of installing the street car. If you really do believe in the street car, ANY TAKERS?
by Charles on Jan 16, 2012 5:13 pm • link • report
Bondi? Are you paying attention?
by Charles on Jan 16, 2012 5:15 pm • link • report
by Change Agent on Jan 16, 2012 6:33 pm • link • report
Bondi is a tax cheat.
She is also a proven liar and will say what she needs to whoever is in front of her.
I've seen her meeting in Falls Church restaurants with developers to hide from Arlingtonians.
And why hasn't Schwartz endorsed her? Because he fired her, or as they say "let her peruse other options'.
GGW you have lost a great deal of credibility on this one.
by charlie on Jan 16, 2012 7:33 pm • link • report
Stewart Schwartz has not made public endorsements in any races that I have seen. Since he runs a nonprofit which is not allowed to make endorsements itself, he has to be careful not to appear to be getting his organization involved in politics and imperil their tax status.
by David Alpert on Jan 16, 2012 8:03 pm • link • report
She would feel right at home in DC or MD. They seem to love having felons in office, though usually they commit their crimes AFTER getting elected.
by TGEOA on Jan 16, 2012 10:18 pm • link • report
Get familiar with the process developed by the Rand Corp called "The Delphi Technique" cuz she will be utilizing this method to marginalize dissent and bulldoze right through to the pre-selected pre-determined end result...
You should be very wary about a “Long Term Plan” – you could find your rights are abrogated at the hands of the communitarians, you know, those folks who want your plan to say ‘we must balance individual property rights with the potential rights of future generations” or other such mumbo-jumbo tripe that passes for “doing what’s best for the community” or the “greater good”…
I am fighting a different battle in the same war... "Comprehensive Planning" on a local basis... you should google "Your Town/County" + "Comprehensive Plan" and read it... wrap your head with Duct Tape in case your head explodes...
a few resources:
http://americanpolicy.org/2011/03/31/agenda-21-in-one-easy-lesson/
http://americanpolicy.org/
http://americanstewards.us/news-publications/coordination-works
http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/ (buy her book - Behind the Green Mask: UN Agenda 21 -great resource)
I am intent on creating a National Conference (in Nashville) to teach a hand-to-gland combat style "How To" 3-day intensive workshop style boot camp on how to use legal, political, grassroots and guerrilla warfare against Sustainable Anything...
It is in the embryonic idea stage... Facebook me if you want to stay informed...
+++++++++++++++++++++++
this is our local fight, but the info can be useful to your local fight...
Join our FB page at:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Concerned-Citizens-for-Rutherford-County/339439906084895?sk=wall
We are fighting the property rights-stripping trend of "Sustainable Development", "Smart Growth" and Agenda 21.
To learn more visit our Youtube Channel and view several videos on what we are facing:
http://www.youtube.com/user/RuCoPropertyRights?feature=watch
by Another Opinion on Jan 17, 2012 1:21 am • link • report
by julie on Jan 17, 2012 8:48 am • link • report
Perhaps you should read the article again - slowly.
It's NOT about "P.G. County".
by ceefer66 on Jan 17, 2012 10:43 am • link • report
I'll take you up on the offer, assuming I get to keep a cut of all new revenues, condo sales, new construction, etc. that come to Columbia Pike as a result of the streetcar. The development it will bring is the real jackpot for County revenues - obsessing over the $1.25 fares vs. the operating costs is small minded.
by South Arlington on Jan 17, 2012 10:59 am • link • report
by South Awwlington on Jan 17, 2012 11:11 am • link • report
by Vik on Jan 17, 2012 11:15 am • link • report
when it is about property, it sounds like "zoning." More generally, is sounds like "democracy."
by Tyro on Jan 17, 2012 11:23 am • link • report
I'll take you up on the offer too! And just like @South Arlington I also want a cut of all new revenues, condo sales, new construction, etc. that come to Columbia Pike as a result of the streetcar. I'm sure you would have thought undergrounding the the Orange line along the R-B corridor was a boondoggle, and it clearly (being fecitious) hasn't brought any economic development to the County. If only they hadn't put Metro in, Arlington would be so much better. Pulease! Unless your smarter than I think and its a Brer Rabbit play? And I am voting for Bondi. If the anti-Arlington snarks depsise her this much she must truly be a power to behold!
by SoMuchForSubtlety on Jan 17, 2012 3:51 pm • link • report
by Truthteller on Jan 17, 2012 5:56 pm • link • report
@ Truthteller; yum -- so there are two melissa bondi's in North Olmstead Ohio (population 30,000).
And in a house that was last sold in 1973?
Very very fishy.
by charlie on Jan 17, 2012 6:11 pm • link • report
maybe instead of judging it by what it 'sounds like' you might actually do some research and learn the facts....
by Another Opinion on Jan 17, 2012 6:22 pm • link • report
by Truthteller on Jan 17, 2012 6:54 pm • link • report
by charlie on Jan 17, 2012 7:07 pm • link • report
That would be two "Melissa M. Bondi"'s
If it smells like fish.....
by TGEOA on Jan 17, 2012 7:10 pm • link • report
The voting thing is a bigger problem.
Really, this is Ward 5 level.
by charlie on Jan 17, 2012 7:15 pm • link • report
by Truthteller on Jan 17, 2012 7:29 pm • link • report
If it her mother, a simple tweet by the Bondi campaign woudl clear it up.
Really, Arlington can do better. A unifed Green/Republican/D pissed off at zimmerman might actually win this election of Bondi is the candidate.
by charlie on Jan 17, 2012 7:37 pm • link • report
Hopefully it won't get to that level and Bondi will lose the caucus.
by TGEOA on Jan 17, 2012 7:39 pm • link • report
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?n=anthony-j-bondi&pid=115779199
Might be an aunt.
by charlie on Jan 17, 2012 7:54 pm • link • report
Her mother Jane is listed in the White pages as living at 26971 Sudbury Dr North Olmsted, OH 44070. According to the county tax rolls, the owner of that property is Melissa M Bondi.
http://fiscalofficer.cuyahogacounty.us/AuditorApps/real-property/REPI/General.asp
I'd say Melissa Bondi owns a house in Ohio.
She was purged from the voter rolls in Cuyahoga. The policy in Ohio is they send you a postcard if you don't vote -- and if the postcard is returned they purge you. So it is possible she was registeredin Ohio and Virginia at the same time, but impossible to say about voting. I am not sure being regisered in two places is illegal.
Regardless. Federal tax lien. Failed to pay personal property tax on car and was forced to. Did not file on her father's car which she used for two years. Now not being honest about ownership? All very bad.
by charlie on Jan 17, 2012 8:52 pm • link • report
I'm sure the voter rolls are being checked in Ohio and will be cross tabulated with any voting record in Virginia
by TGEOA on Jan 17, 2012 9:00 pm • link • report
by Change Agent on Jan 17, 2012 9:07 pm • link • report
Here is the only Bondi registered to vote at the Sudbury Dr. Address:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/voterquery.aspx?page=361
BONDI MELISSA M
Voter Information
Address 26971 SUDBURY NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070
Voting History 2011 NOV GEN
2010 NOV GEN
2010 CUY PRIM
2010 MAY PRIM
2009 NOV GEN
2009 MAY PR / SP
2008 GEN PRES
2008 MAR PRIM
2007 MAY PR / SP
2006 NOV GEN
2006 MAY PRIM
2005 NOV GEN
2005 MAY PRIM
2004 GEN PRES
2004 MAR PRIM
2002 NOV GEN
2002 MAY PRIM
2001 NOV GEN
2000 NOV GEN
2000 MAR PRIM
by charlie on Jan 17, 2012 10:08 pm • link • report
Wow... Just wow.
by TGEOA on Jan 17, 2012 11:35 pm • link • report
The Cuyahoga BOE lists her voter registratation there being cancelled (not purged) in 2011.
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_boe/en-US/2011/Cancellation_All_ByCityWard.txt
It is pretty safe to say she was registered -- and voting -- in Ohio for the past 10 years. I am not sure of her voting status in Virginia. Or perhaps she might be one of the those unfortunate people who were arrested and charged for violating the signature requirements. I think the issue there was they were hiring felons, who are not elibible to vote.
But at a minimun, she needs to address why she was only legally registeted to vote in Virginia in 2011, or explain why she was voting in two states.
Democrats need to ask who is putting forward a candidate with such obvious errors in her background. I don't care about the car tax or your federal tax problems. But don't run for the county board!
I will be putting a call into the Virginia AG office as well as the Commonwealth's attorney ofice in the morning asking them about this.
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 12:04 am • link • report
From the link you provided, it appears she did vote in Ohio, I don't think Virginia has the online capability to check her voting record, but rest assured someone has access to this.
Can felons hold office in Virginia? I think they can in Congress.
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 12:19 am • link • report
§ 24.2-1004. Illegal voting and registrations.
A. Any person who wrongfully deposits a ballot in the ballot container or casts a vote on any voting equipment, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
B. Any person who intentionally (i) votes more than once in the same election, whether those votes are cast in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, (ii) procures, assists, or induces another to vote more than once in the same election, whether those votes are cast in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, (iii) votes knowing that he is not qualified to vote where and when the vote is to be given, or (iv) procures, assists, or induces another to vote knowing that such person is not qualified to vote where and when the vote is to be given is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
C. Any person who intentionally (i) registers to vote at more than one residence address at the same time, whether such registrations are in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, or (ii) procures, assists, or induces another to register to vote at more than one address at the same time, whether such registrations are in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States, is guilty of a Class 6 felony. This subsection shall not apply to any person who, when registering to vote, changing the address at which he is registered, transferring his registration, or assisting another in registering, changing his address, or transferring his registration, provides the information required by § 24.2-418 on the applicant's place of last previous registration to vote.
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 12:23 am • link • report
When you register, there is a safe haven if you tell the registar your previous registration -- which allows them to cancel the old registration.
I suspect all Democrats in Arlington would like to know, at a mimimum, why she wasn't registered until 2011. On the other end, we're looking at multiple felony charges if Bondi voted in Virginia. Also, there is a perjury felony charge is she lied on her voter registration.
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 12:27 am • link • report
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 12:40 am • link • report
In any case, what those people got hammered with is the class 5 perjury charge for lying.
Again, for Bondi: simple questions:
1) When did you register to vote in Virignia?
2) Why did you continue to vote in Ohio until 2011?
3) How can we expect us as Democrats to take you seriously?
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 12:48 am • link • report
Now assuming this is true (and I'm not saying it is certain), will GGW withdraw their endorsement?
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 1:06 am • link • report
by selxic on Jan 18, 2012 7:52 am • link • report
The Google tells me that the Bondi in Ohio is 65 years old. The Google also provides telephone numbers for the Bondis in Ohio.
Bondi has many flaws, so let's not dilute them with speculation.
by A googler on Jan 18, 2012 8:59 am • link • report
I'm sorry. I see the 65 or 68 year old reference to a "melissa M Bondi" in google results as well. However, they are coming from aggregatation. I'm pointing you to the offical county land records, Ohio secretatary of state voting records, and the Cuyahoga voter rolls. Which do you believe more?
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 9:41 am • link • report
Let's not lose focus on Bondi's known problems: taxes, education, work history, etc. (I keep saying it, so these threads do not launch off topic or generate sympathy for Bondi or provide Bondi with an diversion defense.)
The records do show someone named Melissa Bondi and thank you for highlighting them. Those records also show mortgage documents listing Melissa Bondi as divorced. I doubt Arlington's Melissa Bondi is competent enough to get married -- seriously, she is a human-train-wreck. The records and obituary you provided above do not provide a good grasps of who's who. The father was 68 and married to Jane, who is listed now as 54 years old. Melissa is listed as 65 years old. Oddly, the same address pops up. A quick phone call may provide sufficient information (or more mystery) to clear up the mess. I want to believe, but the information right now only has identical names.
by A Googler on Jan 18, 2012 10:03 am • link • report
However, again, it more than identical names. It is identical names at the same address where her mother is listed. And the voting and registration records are also matching. That is felony charges -- or at a mimimum she need to explain why she only registered to vote in Arlington in 2011.
IN terms of the other things you mention, I don't think she is a human train wreck. Tax lien, skipping some car taxes, etc don't make you a an awful person. But it does sort of disqulify you from runnning form office.
ANother thing is bothering me -- how does she make a living? Do we want a county board member who only job is basically taking contracts from social service/deveopment agencies on the board? That is a serious issue.
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 10:21 am • link • report
The only reliable sources are the ones found by charlie (though if I'm missing any, feel free to add)
Ohio Voter Registration
Ohio Real Estate
Obituary
All of these reference a "Melissa M Bondi" in some shape or form. Are they the same person? Highly likely, but by no means certain.
by TGEoA on Jan 18, 2012 12:01 pm • link • report
Another thought.
VA 24.2-500: you need to be a legal resident of Virginia for one year to run for office. The date of Bondi's registration is now even more critical. If she did not register in Virginia before March 27, 2011 she is not eligible to run.
If she registed before that, of course, she is guility of multiple state felony charges.
By voting in a president election, there are potential federal charges as well, but I doubt any AUSA would bring them.
I would ask all Democrats to ask Bondi to reveal when she was registered to vote.
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 12:08 pm • link • report
Did you talk to Cooch?
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 12:24 pm • link • report
http://www.icontact-archive.com/c09d6xJ3viyOk-SYH03UDhp0AFu_WwQ9?w=1
by Chris on Jan 18, 2012 12:29 pm • link • report
The car from ohio was her dads car, which she used to visit him while he was dying.
And yeah, the IRS NEVER makes an error, right?
"At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
by AWalkerInTheCity on Jan 18, 2012 12:43 pm • link • report
by Jason R on Jan 18, 2012 12:44 pm • link • report
So, Bondi's mother and your step mother live in the same house?
She did not answer the question on when she registered to vote in Arlington.
Also, why her alleged mother (Melissa M bondi) decided to cancel her voter registration in Cuyahoga County in 2011.
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 12:45 pm • link • report
Thanks. So her mother and her late fathers wife are living in the same house?
Not really anyone's business but their own, and it seems implausible that anyone could be that bold faced about telling such a whopper that I'm willing to accept this explanation.
Im still calling BS on the fathers car and PPT. She garaged that car in Arlington and didn't pay the tax. Scofflaw.
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 12:49 pm • link • report
Presumably not at the same time, but when they were married to her dad. Sometimes people move locally and dont change their voter address.
"Also, why her alleged mother (Melissa M bondi) decided to cancel her voter registration in Cuyahoga County in 2011."
Alleged? are you suggesting shes lying about her mothers name? She could have moved (presumably did in fact, see above) and finally got around to properly switching her registration.
Is it any wonder its hard to get good people to run for office, when folks are subjected to this?
by AWalkerInTheCity on Jan 18, 2012 12:50 pm • link • report
see above.
it was her dads house, presumably both of his wives lived with him at some point. And no, not everyone promptly reports their change of address. You people seem to have no idea how ordinary people live. You act like you are trailing down someone in a spy novel - this is a 65 yo lady whod been divorced. Its just possible that she had other things on her mind than correcting her voting address.
by AWalkerInTheCity on Jan 18, 2012 12:54 pm • link • report
She claimed to be using her father's car. The alleged picture clerarly shows Ohio plates. Her father's obiutuary listed his residence, however, in Pennsylanvia.
I don't see any Bondi listed as living in Adams Township. I can find a Jane Bondi listed in St charles, MO that previously lived in suburban cleveland and Pennsylvania.
@ AWalkerInTheCity; sorry, I don't have a lot of sympathy. Arlington, after all, put three people in jail last year for far less serious offenses.
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 12:59 pm • link • report
Not that I'm throwing charlie under the bus, but my real compliant with Bondi has always been the PPT tax on her fathers car. According to O'Leary and her claim of when she went "car free" she wasn't paying PTT for 2 years. I hate it when I see my neighbors do it, and it's even worse for a public figure.
Her explanation falls way short on this issue.
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 1:04 pm • link • report
Her father may not have transferred title from OH to PA. Maybe thats where she got her sloppy habits from.
Regarding her mother(s), if she is lying then it wont take long before someone who has access to the appropriate databases to prove it.
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 1:09 pm • link • report
by Truthteller on Jan 18, 2012 1:21 pm • link • report
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 1:23 pm • link • report
by HogWash on Jan 18, 2012 1:30 pm • link • report
by worthing on Jan 18, 2012 1:32 pm • link • report
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 1:37 pm • link • report
I didn't demand satisfaction.
by TGEoA on Jan 18, 2012 1:44 pm • link • report
by selxic on Jan 18, 2012 2:06 pm • link • report
BUT, the $19,000 IRS lien is still a major issue. I understand that the IRS makes mistakes. There's no question about that. However, if Ms. Bondi was up for a political appointment requiring vetting or even wanted to simply work in the federal government in a position that required a Minimum Background Investigation, she would FAIL.
The standard we hold federal employees and appointees to is not perfect (because mistakes do get made) but conservative in a reasonable way. Those positions, just as the one Ms. Bondi is running for, are just too sensitive to take any chances. Yes, it totally sucks for Ms. Bondi if all of this turns out to be a big mistake by the IRS. She wouldn't be the first person to be denied an opportunity due to a government error. But, do you really want to take that chance when there are other good, qualified candidates who are very similar to Ms. Bondi on the issues?
Here's an example of the standard to which we typically hold public officials (although, in this case the accusation was much much smaller and resolved years before her nomination, so arguably an over zealous application of the standard):
The informal battle between members of the Obama Administration and the Taxman resulted in a casualty Tuesday, with news that President Obama’s nominee to be chief performance officer, Nancy Killefer, will withdraw her nomination following the revelation that she had a $946.69 lien on her property in 2005 for failure to pay taxes.
Records show that Killefer owed $298 in unemployment compensation for household help, $48.69 in interest, and $600.00 in penalties.
by Falls Church on Jan 18, 2012 2:17 pm • link • report
Again, would someone like Bondi get a TS clearance -- which many arlington residents have? Could she even find employment with the federal or state goverments? Or even Arlington?
She did not pay federal income tax in 2005 and 2006. Has anyone asked about her state returns?
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 2:37 pm • link • report
by HogWash on Jan 18, 2012 2:52 pm • link • report
by HogWash on Jan 18, 2012 2:53 pm • link • report
We are taking the chance that she might be a tax cheat. Being a tax cheat would imply that they are a person who cannot be trusted by the public in a high stakes situation like County Council. Either because they are willing to intentionally steal from the government (which is what intentionally cheating on your taxes amounts to) or because they are so disorganized/irresponsible that they make critical errors related to financial matters.
Obviously, anyone can make a mistake. Even a $19,000 mistake. But, just as you don't put someone with a track record of DUIs in the cockpit of an airplane, you don't put someone who makes huge financial errors in charge of Arlington's budget (if it in fact turns out to be her error).
by Falls Church on Jan 18, 2012 3:08 pm • link • report
by Arlington Dem on Jan 18, 2012 4:09 pm • link • report
Personally, I wouldn't vote against a person because of past tax problems...I just wouldn't. I also wouldn't go the mile and assume that someone who is negligent in satisfying their tax obligation can't be trusted.
WRT to handling the budget, if the makeup is anything like the DC Council, Bondi wouldn't be in charge of Arlington's budget would she?
by HogWash on Jan 18, 2012 4:17 pm • link • report
by Arlington Dem on Jan 18, 2012 4:24 pm • link • report
And let's assume that, as Bondi says "...the Ohio voter is my Mom, who taught me the value of caring about elections and my government." Great.
So that means when you look up voter history on the SOS site, you're looking up her Mom. Got it?
And in the BOE link I provided earlier, you'll see that person VOTED in 2011. In November.
But here's the twist:
The Cuyahoga BOE does cancel out voter registrations.
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/NCOA2011Cancellation.aspx
I was incorreect before about the procedure. This is it:
" Voters who fail to have any voter activity (in example: votes, signs a petition, etc.) or fails to respond to the Confirmation Mailing during that 4 year period are required to be removed from the eligible voter registration list."
If you DL the excel file, you'll see the same Melissa Bondi listed, same address, as subject to cancellation. How is that possible? She would have been mailed a noteice in 2007, and if you vote in the next four years, you are taken off.
As you can see from the SOS site, the "mother bondi" is a regular voter and wouldn't be subject to that list. So the only other person is...our Melissa.
Which means she was registered in Ohio. And how do we know that -- well the "mother" voted in 2011, which also would not be possible her voter registration was cancelled.
What we don't know, then, is whether the second Bondi voted. The SOS site won't tell you about voters history who are cancelled.
That being said, being registerted in two placed is a problem.*
Some nice people at NLS looked up Bondi in the democratic database and found she was registeted there since 96.
*Also a felony, although I doubt a prosecutor would bring charges unless you voted in two places. Or was vindactive.
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 4:55 pm • link • report
I concur 100%. O'Leary abuses his office, even here with his comments about Bondi. Though that doesn't change the facts about her PPT.
by TGEoA on Jan 18, 2012 5:00 pm • link • report
by Arlington Dem on Jan 18, 2012 5:12 pm • link • report
I think i did that at least one time I moved. I assumed that the previous state would be automatically notified, and that anyway, as long as I didnt vote there, it wouldnt matter. I bet lots and lots of Arlington voters are in the same position.
My sympathy for biondi has increased significantly with this series of comments.
by AWalkerInTheCity on Jan 18, 2012 5:16 pm • link • report
We differ on this one, but I've frequently argued that you and I have different standards for what we consider acceptable and tolerable behavior out of our public representatives.
by JustMe on Jan 18, 2012 5:23 pm • link • report
I emailed Sullivan about this last night. I figured she would have the wherewithal to check this out, and I'm glad she did. AFAIC, unless somoene else drags something up this issue (voter registration/fraud) is dead.
But the PPT remains. She still hasn't come clean on this except to blame it on caring for her father over a "protracted time". She had enough time to slap some political bumper stickers on the car, but not enough time to pay for the decal?
by TGEoA on Jan 18, 2012 5:23 pm • link • report
by Arlington Dem on Jan 18, 2012 5:25 pm • link • report
Did you have anything else to add or just wanted to tell me that you (as usual) disagree?
Uhm..well..ok.. whatever spasms your orgasm.
by HogWash on Jan 18, 2012 5:30 pm • link • report
by charlie on Jan 18, 2012 5:42 pm • link • report
I'm sure you did e-mail Sullivan given your posts on this blog so far, and your own apparent agenda with respect to Bondi. You and Charlie have turned this blog into a malestrom of vicious unfounded rumors, which have now been thoroughly debunked.
For what it is worth, I think it is actually an open question whether a person owes car taxes on a car they do not own. There are provisions that apply to non-residents and their vehicles but it is not at all clear to me that they even apply here.
If this was an issue at the time, surely the hyper-vigilant Treasurer-for-Life Frank O'Leary would have raised it then and sought payment in 2006-07. Instead, the week before an election, the midst of a campaign, a photo allegedly taken in 2006 is leaked to the press purporting to show the car Ms. Bondi was driving at the time. Mr. O'Leary then bloviates about it in the press (all while promoting a different candidate), calling her names, without even having the full facts. Then bloggers here and elsewhere run to every blog in the region to spread the "news" and other half-truths and slander. That's beyond the pale behaviour on the part of her opponents.
I accept her explanation, and frankly, I wouldn't have registered a car I didn't own in those circumstances either. If this issue bothers you so much, don't vote for her, but surely you can make that decision for yourself without all this claptrap.
by Arlington Dem on Jan 18, 2012 5:53 pm • link • report
Adding to what Arlington Dem has said, the bumper stickers were attached with magnets as required by her father. This from the same Fact or Fiction email that I linked you to earlier today in ArlNow. She wanted to show support while the car was in town and her father let her do it with bumper stickers put onto magnets.
http://www.icontact-archive.com/c09d6xJ3viyOk-SYH03UDhp0AFu_WwQ9?w=1
"Allegation: I am a “scofflaw” because I owned a car in Arlington from 2006 to 2008 and did not pay car taxes during this time.
Basis: A photograph of my car, purported to have been taken in 2006 in an “Arlington garage”, was sent anonymously to the media.
Facts: This is false. My Dad lent me his car occasionally, but not continuously, for periods of time to make it easier for me to travel hundreds of miles to care for him during his protracted illness, including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. I traveled regularly, back and forth, to be with my Dad. Eventually, I took many weeks of Family Medical Leave from work to live with him full-time until he died. My aunt drove me back to Arlington. I never owned this car, and it was never registered nor insured by me. It had political bumper stickers, which my Dad insisted be magnetic because he did not want anything permanently affixed to his car."
by Brian Straw on Jan 18, 2012 6:51 pm • link • report
Really? You're going to hang your hat on that? Regardless of whether the Board has a role in the budget, would you really want someone on the Board who you wouldn't trust with Arlington's money? Or making complex decisions like whether the benefits of the Streetcar exceed its costs?
Personally, I wouldn't vote against a person because of past tax problems...I just wouldn't
Fair enough. That probably just reflects the innate differences in preferences between what people expect out of Board members in Arlington and Council Members in DC. Tax problems clearly haven't stopped Marion Barry from getting elected but people have preferences in Arlington.
by Falls Church on Jan 18, 2012 7:20 pm • link • report
Define occasionally, How many nights per month did she garage h fathers car in Arlington? Everything else is meaningless. Bondi avoids the issue becauuse she had the car garaged heron Arlington regularly during a two year period. Why do you think that photo got taken in the first place? Because fellow democrats kept seeing her drive this car over a long period of time and were rightfully pissed that she wasn't laying her tax.
Since you seem to have an in with the Bondi campaign, ask her how many nights she kept the car in Arlington and over what period. Heck, she could have done this a week ago and saved herself the hassle.
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 9:25 pm • link • report
by TGEOA on Jan 18, 2012 9:44 pm • link • report
by Fitz on Jan 19, 2012 9:16 am • link • report
Like none of you ever paid a bill late, or paid a penalty and interest? Get a life.
by Arlington Dem on Jan 19, 2012 9:51 am • link • report
Like none of you ever paid a bill late, or paid a penalty and interest? Get a life.
Childish yet irrelevant. None of us are running for public office. Bondi is.
by Fitz on Jan 19, 2012 12:10 pm • link • report
This reminds me of nannygate. The imposition of absurd ethical requirements that insures the folks who hold office are absolutely pure, but not necessarily competent.
by AWalkerInTheCity on Jan 19, 2012 12:17 pm • link • report
Looking at her donor list now, I see two interesting things:
1) Her former boss, Stewart Schwartz didn't donate any money to her. So much for SmartGrowth love.
2) Michael Perkins, USN Engineer, did. That should have been disclosed in this op-ed.
by charlie on Jan 19, 2012 12:38 pm • link • report
by charlie on Jan 19, 2012 12:38 pm • link • report
It's getting tiresome that you are trying to dredge up every issue no matter how irrelevant and trying to smear Bondi with them here and on every other blog that discusses the race.
by David Alpert on Jan 19, 2012 3:47 pm • link • report
And as I have said, I only post here and starting yesterday on nls. In fact, if truthteller hadn't accused me of bring some other Charlie I never would have noticed this. Thanks
by Charlie on Jan 19, 2012 5:15 pm • link • report
Assuming that she prevails in the March 27 special election, Libby Garvey will be a strong and independent voice for smart growth on the Arlington County Board who will not mindlessly support the highly wasteful, ineffective, and counterproductive Columbia Pike trolley project.
by Change Agent on Jan 22, 2012 9:36 pm • link • report
just like you want to be clear that there are two Melissa Bondi's there are at least two charlie's.
you can't have it both ways.
by charlie on Jan 25, 2012 2:08 pm • link • report
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