Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24
Fairfax Civic League
Explains Difference in
Government Systems

fax County League of Civic Organ
izations explained the difference
between the county executive and
county manager forms of govern
ment, was issued last night.
Formation of the league, which
favors the county executive form.
was announced last week. It is
headed by Judge Charles D.
Hamel, former member of the
United States Tax Court. who re-
leased the statement. 1t follows:
Many inquiries have been re-
ceived from voters who are asking
us to tell them the difference be-
tween the county executive form
and the county manager form
which are the two new forms Off
cially placed on the ballot to be
voted upon at the referendum
election on November Z.
"The county executive form
contains all the advantages Of the
county manager form and none
of its disadvantages.
Efficiency is Provided.
Everything in the way of adj
ministrative efficiency obtainable
under the Optional Forms Act
such as consolidation of the Of
fees of county treasurer and COM
missioner or revenue. direct ap-
pointment Of the school, health,
and welfare boards respectively by
the Board Of Supervisors. central
purchasing for all departments of
the county government, and the
requirement OF regular auditS as
well as the appointment of all en-
ployes on merits provided in
identical language in the law set
ting forth the county manager
and the county manager forms
respectively.
THE disadvantages of the
county manager FORM on the
other hand. are that the people of
each magisterial district are not
permitted to choose their own SUI
pervisor by the majority vote of
each district and that pressure
group or clique or political ma
chine can control the selection of
supervisors by the general slate
method Of at large voting which
is an integral part of the county
manager form
Another disadvantage is that
the county manager is given under
the county manager form the
power to make all appointments
and removals without any legal
voice being given to the Board
OF Supervisors to appoint or re-
move. For example, they would
have no legal say in the appoint
ment or removal of the man who
presideS over the Office which
levies the assessments and col
lects the taxes throughout the
county.
Executive Becomes Administrator.
Under the county executive
form, however, the county execu-
tive'-who becomes in fact the
county's business manager and
administrator - recommends for
appointment. and the final power
to approve or disapprove the rec
concentrations is vested in the
elected representatives of the
people-the Board of Supervisors.
I'VE do not believe in one-man
government. The argument that
the county manager can be re-
moved by will by the Board of
Supervisors and that this provides
an ample check against abuse of
power is not persuasive when it
is considered that the same pres
sure group or clique or political
machine which brought about the
appointment of a county manager
can also control the votes of the
individual members of the Board
who come to depend for their cleo
ton on such a pressure group or
clique or political machine.
1--WE believe that pressure group
or political machine influence
can best be overcome by alert
minded and independent voters
in each of the six districts-six
opportunities instead Of one.
Montgomery County Cited.
eve point to the experience of
Montgomery County where at
large voting gave the political
machine there only last week a
victory in the primaries to select
members of the county council.
1.-THE county executive form
is in our opinion good govern
ment in every sense. We believe
it is far better than our existing
form in several important re-
spects which we will outline from
time to time during the next few
weeks.
ut will be noted that in ourI