Evening star., 1950-11-02
County Reforms
Due Regardless
of Fairfax Vote
Supervisors Offer
To Pick Board to
Draft New Charter

Fairfax residents today had as
surance of government reforms
regardless Of the outcome of Tues
days referendum on proposals to
change the present system.
The Board of Supervisors yes
terday voted that if the referen-
dunn goes against change, they
will appoint county government
commission Ito draft a suitable
form of government or charter
for this county - to be pre-
sented at the General Assembly
the second Wednesday in Janu-
ary, 1882"
The only dissenting vote was
cast by Supervisor C. B. Runyon
of Falls Church, who later issued
a statement announcing his sup
port for adoption of a county man.
ager system in Fairfax County.
In the referendum, voters will
be asked to make two choices.
First, they will be asked if they
believe there should be a change
in county government. A second
question will ask whether they
prefer adoption of the county
manager or county executive sys-
tenn.
Runyon Changes Vote.
Mr.. Runyon at first voted with
the rest of the supervisors, but
changed his vote when he learned
the resolution favored the county
executive system.
The supervisors said they had
concluded" after further study.
Ing the report of the Fairfax
County Government Study Com
mission that "in it's opinion this
county should proceed with the
drafting of governmental set
up geared to meet the conditions
and needs of this county alone"
The study commission, which
was appointed by the supervisors,
recommended adoption of the
county executive system.
The supervisors, avoiding conn.,
ing out directly for or against in
dorslng any change, declared:
The board is of the further
opinion that of the two optional
forms to be voted on by the citi-
zens at the general eelction in
November (Tuesday), the county
executive plan is far superior to
the county manager plan in ad-
mlnlstration and economy in gov
ernment."
Change Held Needed.
It is the clause quoted above
That Mr.. Runyon objected to. saw
ing that he thought Fairfax needs
a county manager.
Speaking from an official posi-
tion." Mr.. Runyon said, "I saw
that the present government In
not good enough and that we
need change at once"
Inc supervisor said that next
tuesday will probably be the last
chance in many years" for the
voters to secure "a government
wholly responsible to them.
he said he was urging support
OF the manager plan because Gov
ernors OF the State and legislators
nave recognized the need for re-
organization of county govern
ment."
The supervisors have little time
Mr.. Runyon said. "for proper con-
slderation of policy-making mat.
ters. He approved the county-
WIDE election of members of the
BOARD. as provided in the manager
plan. because there are no prob.
lems that are confined to maeis.
terial districts"
Appeals to Voters.
Mr.. Runyon urged the voters
not to be misled into believing
that a special form of government
drawn for Faixfax County can be
put through the General Assem-
oly. This special form would be
put through for the benefit of a
certain few and the citizens
would have little say in it,
The majority of county citizens
agree, the supervisor said, that the
form OF government needs to be
changed. and I'VE are determined
TO make a thorough change on
November T."