Editorial

Editorial

The ol' switcheroo

Several weeks ago in this column, we lambasted Democratic gubernatorial nominee L. Douglas Wilder for his lack of candor about several matters relating to his personal financial dealings.

Now, it’s Republican nominee J. Marshall Coleman’s turn.

Last week, this paper’s state news writer reported that Mr. Coleman had switched his position on the proposed western bypass of Washington, D.C. During an interview in late May with Fauquier Democrat editor Richard Johnson, Mr. Coleman said he opposed building the bypass. “I think we should get on with the eastern bypass. It’s not part of my campaign to build the western bypass.”

But Mr. Coleman went further than just stating own his opposition. He continued his comments with a broadside against his GOP primary opponent, Congressman Stan Parris, from Northern Virginia’s Eighth District. “Parris is saying build the bypass. He doesn’t care who it affects or who it knocks down. He’s going to build the western bypass. Well, I don’t happen to agree with him.”

However, since Mr. Coleman pulled off a primary victory in June, and has since been the recipient of more than $550,000 in contributions from McLean developer Dwight G. Schar, who is also Mr. Coleman’s neighbor and client of his law firm, he seems to have had a change of heart.

It’s amazing what a couple of months and a couple of hundred thousand dollars will do for a politician’s views.

Here is what Mr. Coleman said last week during a campaign appearance in Warrenton. “It appears that the western bypass will be a part of Virginia. And I’m interested in where it will be located, where will be the best place for it. Obviously, there’s a tremendous amount of opposition to it. I didn’t quite say that I was altogether against the bypass, but that I don’t approve of the ‘damn the torpedoes’ approach of going forth and building it . ”

Mr. Coleman went on to question the veracity of Mr. Johnson’s reporting of his appearance in May. The Democrat's editor retorted that the appearance had been recorded, and that he stands by his story.

It is irritating that the candidate would resort to the cheap tactic of challenging the integrity of The Fauquier Democrat and its editor in his haste to back away from an earlier stance on an issue of importance. It is disappointing that a man seeking the highest office in the Commonwealth would feel that the bypass is “inevitable,” and that seems to feel he would be powerless as governor to prevent an endeavor which bears such a cost with so little merit.

But most important, perhaps, is that the man who might be Our next state chief executive apparently doesn’t have the capacity to recognize viable transportation alternatives to the western bypass j uggemaut.

We see nothing wrong with fine, conservative minds guiding the progress of the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, if the mind is conservative but not fine, maybe it’s best that our leadership come from elsewhere. I