Evening star., 1950-10-22
Delegate Lynch
Backs Manager
Form in Fairfax
Legislator Cites Urbun
Needs in Fovoring
Government Change
By james BirchfieId
By james BirchfieId

manager form of government IL
the November 7 referendum.
Mr.. Lynch said he favored the
manager plan over the executive
plan, which also will be on the
referendum ballot, for these rea.
sons:
l. Under the manager plan, each
voter would ballot for nine county
officials, while he could vote fol
only four officials under the ex-
ecutive plan.
2. Each member of the Board Of
Supervisors, under the manager
plan, is responsible to all citizens
of the county and will necessarily
be interested in the welfare of al
areas and people of the county.
3. The administrator. under tht
manager plan, has clear line o1
authority in the administrative
work; therefore, capable mar
will be able to do better jok
unQer tnlS form.
4. The county manager plan ha:
been a success in Warwick anc
Henrico, the two Virginia coun'
ties that use this form under the
Optional Forms Act.
Three Questions Posed.
Mr.. Lynch explained that the
referendum ballot will pose three
Observation-Disclosures the voters de-
sire change in the form of gov
ernment, and which of two forms
manager or executive, they prefer
Every citizen of Fairfax Coun-
ty who is familiar with the failure
of our present form of government
will vote for a change" Mr.. Lynch
said
Since the report of the Gov
ernment Study Commission. there
doesn't seem to be any argument
about the first question-it looks
like the vast majority favor a
change.
There is. however. some honest
difference of opinion about the
second part of the ballot" Mr.
Lynch said.
He said that 10 years ago he
was a member of a group that
petitioned the Circuit Court to
call a referendum on the county
executive plan. At that time, he
said, the county was largely rural,
with no great differences in popu-
lation between the various magis-
terial districts.
Since then, Mr.. Lynch explained,
the picture has changed. He said
three of the six magisterial dis
tricts are fast becoming urban
areas, demanding services that
rural areas do not need. Their
population has increased so much
that their problems are different
from what they were in 1910, he
continued.
Act Affords A Choice.
Mr.. Lynch said that when the
Optional Forms Act (Which gives
localities a choice between the
manager and executive forms) wa:
passed, it was planned that the
executive form would be mos
suitable for rural counties anc
the manager for urban counties
This statement is made with
all due respect for those citizen!
who favor the county executive
FORM" Mr.. Lynch said. 1T is {
good form of government and it
hackers are to be commended fol
their desire to improve the loca
government.
However," he added, ION thu
basis of what knowledge I have
gained from participating in pub.
lie efforts since 1887, I sincerely
feel that the county manager form
is more suitable to our present anc
future needs
Meanwhile, Charles D. Hamel
president of the Fairfax County
League of Civic Organizations
urged the county to vote for 6
change of government in the ref.
erendum.
Mr.. Hamel said citizens WHIT
may vote against government
change are mistaken if they be.
lieve a new form can be obtained
by an act of the General Assembly
in time to head off either tht
manager or executive plan.
His statement was in reply tc
statements by advocates of g
tailor made" government form
for Fairfax County. William j
Barber, vice chairman of a Com
mittee to Retain Representative
Government, had urged voters tc
keep the present form until the
General Assembly could be asked
to prepare a special form for the
county.
Mr.. Hamel pointed out that il
either the manager or executive
form is adopted this year, the
new form will become effective
January /, 1852.
Another Referendum.
He said that while the Genera
Assembly will be in session then
it would have to pass a new acr
Immediately If a charter govern.
ment plan were to be given the
county. Another referendum elec.
ton would be necessary withir
that year. he said.
Also, he said, if the form
adopted this November changes
the method of electing supervisors
a new election of supervisor
would have to be held in 1852
provided the people approve tn,
charter drawn by the Genera
Assembly.
1--WE believe the voters of Fair
fax County should vote for
change in the form Of government
in the November 7 referendum
and then make theim choice be
tween the executive and manage
plans" Mr.. Hamel said.
These are the concrete pro
posals before us now. We believ'
in the county executive form ant