Update: County Office Misfiled Disclosure Statement

Update: The  financial disclosure statement from McLean Community Center board member Craig Richardson was misfiled by  the office of the Clerk to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

McLean Patch received a call this morning from the Clerk's office explaining the mistake. Richardson's statement was received about 6 pm. Feb. 8 after McLean Patch first checked the disclosure filings.

When McLean Patch checked again yesterday, it was not in the file with the disclosure statements from the other 10 board members. The Clerk's office apologized for their mistake.

Earlier Story: Craig Richardson, a member of the McLean Community Center board, says he filed his required financial disclosure statement. When McLean Patch checked the statements Tuesday afternoon, his was not at the Clerk to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors which receives the statements.

The reports, required by Virginia law, were due Jan. 15.  Chairman David G. Sanders, a longtime board member, Richardson, a local realtor, and board member Robin Walker, a homemaker and artist, had failed to file  their reports, when McLean Patch checked on Feb. 8. Walker filed hers the following day.  Patch checked again yesterday. Sanders filed his form Feb. 10 but  Richardson's was still missing.

The state of Virginia requires public officials to tell taxpayers of their financial holdings and interests, and those of their families, once a year to avoid conflicts of interests. The other eight board members did file.

When asked to comment Tuesday Richardson said, "You’re wrong as usual, it’s filed.  I received a confirmation e-mail of its receipt from Nancy Vehrs, Clerk to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on February 8, 2011.  Better check your facts before you write another hit pieces on volunteers who give countless hours of their time to their community."

Vehrs' office had forms from 10 board members yesterday afternoon. Only Richardson's was missing. McLean Patch e-mailed Richardson, Sanders and Walker  the afternoon of Feb. 8 asking why they had not filed their statements. None answered our inquiry. Walker contacted Patch the following day.

The 11-member McLean Community Center board, which is elected, is the most powerful board in town because they collect our tax dollars to run the McLean Community Center. They have accumulated a $12 million surplus over the years by charging taxpayers more than it costs to operate the center.

Recently the board negotiated a $100,000 contract with real estate company Jones Lang to study the feasibility of the board building a new community center in downtown. The board is spending another $90,000 to install new signs that direct the public to the community center.

The four-page form asks board members to list "salaried employments" and paid offices, businesses they represent, real estate holdings, stock holdings, and the holdings and paid positions of immediate family members.

Board members Susan Bourgeois and Jay Howell answered most of the questions.

Others such as long-time board member and treasurer Sean Dunn answered none. He marked each question N/A. Sanders answered very few making them N/A.

The Commonwealth's Attorney Office, the county prosecutor,  enforces the financial disclosure law which to goes to the heart of the public's trust in its elected officials. 

Two weeks ago we asked Fairfax Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Ian M. Rodway: What actions does the Commonwealth's Attorney take when they find a violation of the law? Have they ever prosecuted anyone under this law?

He promised to get back to us with  answers. We have yet to hear from him so taxpayers have little idea or whether anyone is enforcing this law.

Rodway did say the financial disclosure forms “are important." He added, "If they are filled out accurately they can show a potential conflict of interest. It’s so that somebody in reviewing them can pick out it they have interest in companies do business with the county.”