Evening star., 1950-09-06
Committee Predicts
County Manager Plan
Victory in Fairfax
By james BirchfieId

The Fairfax County Committee
for Good Government predicted
today an overwhelming victory for
the county manager plan in the
November Z referendum.
In formal statement, the COM
mittee said Fairfax County voters
will not accept "the halfway ap-
proach to efficient and democratic
government" provided under the
county executive form.
The statement was issued after
a hearing yesterday at which
Judge Paul e. Brown Of the Coun-
ty Circuit Court, ordered the ref
erendum to be held at the Novem-
Der general election.
Acting on a petition requesting
vote on the county manager
form and a resolution from the
Board of Supervisors asking that
the voters be given a choice be-
tween the manager and the execu-
tive forms and the present form,
Judge Brown ordered vote on the
questions presented by the super
viSorS.
Provisions Of Code.
The code provides that the
Judge may call a referendum after
lreceiving a petition from 10 per
cent of the qualified voters Of the
couny or a resolution from the
Board of Supervisors. The Super
visors' resolution followed a
recommendation by a. special
Government Study Commission
that the voters be allowed to
choose between the three forms.
Recognition of the need for
a change in Fairfax County gov
ernment. just made by the COM
mission for government study"
the Good Government Committee
said. brings a major turning point
in the county's history.
The commission. which origi-
nally represented the forces which
have fought all improvements
now votes unanimously in sup
port Of our major contention
the critical need and popular de-
mand for a fundamental change
in the government form.
'The commission, in fact, ad-
vises all voters to vote against the
form of government under which
our schools have become de-
moralized, our zoning and plan
ming have fallen apart, and our
residents left without trash and
garbage collections, inadequate
sanitary programs, fair tax as
sessments or any other efficient
services that are available at no
cost under a busineSs-like gov
ernment form.
Needed and Deserved"
1--WE recognize" the statement
continued. that the county execu-
tive form recommended by the
commission would provide less of
good government than the people
Of Fairfax County deserve and
need.
"It represents halfway step
toward the efficient and demo-
cratic government that will be
provided by the county manager
plan.
1--WE recognize too," the COM
mittee said, "the real reason why
the forces who until now have
opposed any change in the present
miserably inadequate form are now
rushing to admit the need for a
change.
"It must be apparent to all who
are familiar with conditions that
most of those who now are calling
for the county executive form are
doing SO in desperate attempt to
stop the good government move
ment at the halfway mark.
Those who hope that the re-
organization movement, backed by
every civic organization that has
taken stand, could be divided OF
confused by such tactics are cer-
tain to be disappointed in the
November referendum.
"We are convinced" the state
ment concluded, that the citizens
of the county will vote overwhelm-
ingly for the best government form
available-the county manager
form"