Spotsylvania supervisor candidate responds to GM's Powertrain plant closing

D.J. McGuire, Republican nominee for the Lee Hill Supervisor, released this statement in reaction to the announced closing of GM’s Powertrain plant on Tidewater Trail.

Like many other Spotsylvanians, I was disappointed by the news of the closing of General Motors’ Powertrain plant. I see the plant every day on my way home from work, and it has been a symbol of the county’s openness to success in industry and prosperity for its citizens. I am sad to see its apparent demise. Just three years ago, GM was investing more capital into the Powertrain factory, so this action also comes as a surprise. Given GM’s current status, I hope and expect that both the company and the Obama Administration will be very open about the reasoning behind this decision.

Of course, GM is in need of serious adjustment, and no one can be certain what action, if any, the county could have taken that would have led to a different outcome. However, this is a good time for Spotsylvania to reflect on its recent actions, which certainly didn’t improve the outlook for business in general or the Tidewater Trail plant in particular.

Since GM’s last infusion of capital into the Powertrain plant, property taxes were raised 11% (on average); the personal property tax rate was raised more than 25%; and the business furniture/fixture tax rate was raised 19%. While avoidance of these recession-aggravating measures may not have saved Powertrain, at the very least it would have reduced the risk and the cost to GM for keeping it open – and would certainly do the same for future users of that space. Moreover, if (however unlikely the possibility) the plant was closed for more political reasons, the aforementioned tax increases could very well provide Washington with some of the justification it would use to claim otherwise. It certainly won’t help the future users of that plant, or any other businesses struggling to get through this recession here in Spotsylvania.

In any event, it is time for Spotsylvania to recognize its place in the national and global community, and to acknowledge that it cannot over-tax, over-spend, and over-regulate in a vacuum. That is why, should I be elected Lee Hill Supervisor this November, I will:

- Refuse to support any real estate tax rate above equalization

- Keep a close eye on county spending to avoid future tax increases and where possible allow for reductions in tax rates, be it for real estate, BPOL, furniture/fixtures, machinery/tools, heavy equipment, personal property, etc.

- Work with my fellow Supervisors and the Planning Commission to scale back (and, if possible, repeal) the recently imposed commercial design standards (a.k.a. the “HCOD design standards”) as soon as practicable

The GM Powertrain plant may stay open until late next year. I cannot say whether or not the above plans will save it – and truth be told, it would not be sensible to bend county policy simply to aid one employer. However, we can (and I believe we must) use this as a wake-up call to make Spotsylvania a friendlier county for established and rising businesses – including the business that is and/or will be at 11032 Tidewater Trail.

For more information, contact D.J. McGuire at dj@djmcguire.com

DJ McGuire wins GOP nomination for Spotsylvania BOS

"It is time the Board and county staff stop asking the citizens of Spotsylvania to give a little more and do with a little less. It is time for the Board to make hard decisions on the county budget, not force homeowners to make harder decisions with their budgets."
DJ Mcguire
GOP candidate for Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors

He's known throughout the Virginia political blogosphere as the Right-Wing Liberal but in November he hopes to be known as Supervisor DJ McGuire.

The announcement in February of his candidacy started the race toward his win of the nomination last night as the Republican candidate for the Lee Hill District supervisor on the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

A no-nonsense fiscal conservative, DJ's decision to run came after a sitting supervisor agreed to help relieve the tax burden on residents ... and then reneged when it came down to the vote.

Here is DJ's announcement to the Jeffersoniad bloggers after last night's nomination vote:

This evening, I had the honor of receiving the Republican nomination for Lee Hill Supervisor. I am deeply humbled by the confidence the Spotsylvania Republicans placed in me to bring limited government back to Spotstylvania.

I can take the message of limited government to the voters in November, in the one place where I would submit it has the hardest time ... local government.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of the support from you, my fellow bloggers, over the last few months. Odds are I'll be slowing down over at RWL and C e-L as the campaign heats up....

To make a contribution to DJ's campaign, go here. To read more about DJ, go to DJ McGuire.com.

His campaign will have to be put on hold for a couple of days because this Jeffersoniad blogger will be joining Bloggers Row at the Virginia Republican Convention the next two days ... and we look forward to congratulating him on his nomination. Look for him at the Jeffersoniad Hospitality Suite Friday night from 9-11 at the Marriott Hotel and congratulate him ... and maybe leave a contribution, too.

DJ Mcguire for Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors 2009.