With three seats up for grabs and the Purple Line on track for construction sometime next year, the transit system has unsurprisingly become a focus for many Town of Chevy Chase Council candidates.
The Town Council, a five-member group that includes the mayor, approved a $350,000 contract in February with a cadre of lobbyists and legal firms to fight the Purple Line and its proposed route behind a number of homes in the Town.
That decision elicited a wealth of opinions in the Town and an open meetings investigation spurred by Purple Line advocates.
Of the seven candidates for three Council seats in the May 6 election, five mentioned the Purple Line in their candidate statements. Councilmembers Al Lang and Kathy Strom are running for reelection. Councilmember David Lublin announced on Wednesday he won’t run again.
Mayor Pat Burda and Councilmember John Bickerman were elected in 2013 and have terms that will end next year.
In his statement, Lang came out strongly against the Purple Line lobbying contract — not because he favors the transit system, but because he opposes the way the Town went about picking the firm. “BIR” is the lead firm chosen for the contract, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney:
There are many examples, (tackling the $9M reserves being one), but none is more important than my recent vote against the $360,000 for BIR, our Purple Line lobbying firm. While I have worked hard during my 6 years as Councilmember to find the right resources to mitigate this project, we are elected fiduciaries. Sadly, this contract lacked critical elements; there was not a request for proposal; it was not a competitive process; and we did not negotiate price. Elements well understood by all, not just a business person.
Candidate Grant Davies said the Town’s “mishandling” of its advocacy against the Purple Line has given it a bad reputation in Montgomery County:
Third, we need to improve the Town’s image with the public and the rest of the county. We have always been advocates for good government and considering the needs of the larger community. Our mishandling of our advocacy against the Purple line has given the Town an unwarranted black eye.
Candidate Donald Farren took it a step further, emphasizing that he is for the Purple Line. He also said he is “Pro transparent Town government,” an apparent jab at the contract process.
Candidate Deborah Vollmer is completely opposed to the 16-mile, $2.37 billion light rail:
Over the years, I have actively opposed current plans for the Purple Line; I do believe that improving public transportation is important, but the current plans are unacceptable, as they would destroy the canopy of trees in what is really a linear park, cause other environmental damage, and cause negative impact to all residents, especially those living at the Town’s borders, close to the rail line.
Another recurring thread in the candidate statements was the desire to keep a buffer between the development of downtown Bethesda and the Town, what is predominantly small streets of single-family homes.
Lang had perhaps the most interesting proposal: The purchase of county-owned and operated parking lots just east of Wisconsin Avenue and the conversion of those lots into green space that would “create the buffer the town needs to Bethesda encroachment.”
Vollmer said she would propose a moratorium and the building of new homes. Like much of Bethesda and Chevy Chase, the Town is home to a number of teardown projects. She also said she would put the Town manager’s job on the line every two years by making the extension of that person’s contract a ballot question.
The candidates will participate in a moderated forum on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall (4301 Willow Lane).
