Evening star., 1959-11-15
Fairfax Board to Resume
Conflict of Interest Probe


more than $50 million. II
wanted an integrated water
system but I didn't want one
which would have been under
the jurisdiction Of the Will
kins," he said.
Mrs. wilkins was one Of the
most vigorous supporters Of
the bond issue which would
have set up a water system
operated by the county. Mr..
Wilkins headed a research bu-
reau for the bond issue.
Mr.. Soresi said he organized
the Fact Finding Committee
which opposed the water bonds.
Private water companies also
worked against the issue.
Mr.. Soresi told a reporter he
wrote the conflict Of interest
resolution introduced by Re-
publican Moss and adopted by
the board in 1855. He said it
was aimed at providing an
instrument for the Board of
Supervisors to take cognizance
Of a possible conflict of inter-
est" He said 1t "came about
as a result Of suspicion and an
inability to get anything done
about it."
II have a great desire to ex-
pose the truth" said Mr.. Soresi.
II hate inefficiency and waste"
Candidacy Question
Mr.. and Mrs. wilkins claim
their first brush with Mr..
Soresi was in 1856 when he
asked them for support as a
possible candidate in the
Democratic primary against
County Board Chairman G.
Wallace Carper. They said they
turned him down. Mr.. wilkins
said his rejection of Mr.. Sore
sis bid for support was made
Gin no uncertain terms" dur
ing a telephone conversation
at 2:30 am. after he had been
awakened.
Mr.. Soresi denies the Will
kins' allegation and said he
never considered running
against Mr.. Carper. He said he
has no political ambitions, but
would run as a protest candi-
date in the congressional pri-
mary against Mrs. wilkins If
she enters it and there are no
other candidates.
Mrs. wilkins said her pol
icies have earned her many
enemies in Fairfax County.
Among them, she said, are de-
velopers who don't like her
zoning policies and subdivision
restrictions, segregationists who
don't like her moderate stand
on the school integration issue,
landowners who don't like her
stand for two-acre zoning in
the western section of the
county. She also has angered
many politicians - within and
without her party-who think
she has too much influence in
Fairfax County and is seeking
to extend it.
Mr.. wilkins actually has
been active in community af-
fairs longer than his wife and
admittedly has picked up his
own share Of enemies.
Worked for Zoning
He said he ''lobbied" through
the county's first zoning ordi-
nance when he was member
of the planning commission in
1941. He headed the county
Federation of Citizens Associ-
ations for more than two years
/ in the early 1940S, headed the
speakers bureau favoring a
government change in the early
1950s, and has been active in
promoting school, water and
hospital bonds.
Mr.. wilkins, so year = old
lawyer, is chairman Of the
board of Management Plan
ming, Inc. and president of
Management Planning Associ-
ates, a subsidiary corporation.
The firms Office is at 1925 Con-
necticut avenue NV.
Mr.. wilkins said his firm
provides conSultant service pri-
marily to small businesses on
governmental procedures and
operations. He said his work
with the hospital commission
has been a full-time job since
1855 with the result that his
income from fees from his COM
pany has dropped more than
$4,000 a year.
The hospital inquiry was used
as a campaign issue against
Mrs. Wilkins in the recent
county board election. Mrs.
Wilkins was unopposed until
the week before the election
when James Deaver entered as
a write-in candidate. Mr..
Deaver campaigned against the
wilkins dynasty"
Just before the man from
Kansas City testifies at Wednes-
days inquiry, a topping off"
ceremony will be held at the
hospital site on Gallows road.
This ceremony, arranged by
Mr.. Wilkins, will signify COM
pletion of the concrete pouring
for the roof slab. Board Chair
man DeBell, who admits he is
dissatisfied with some of the
handling of the project, will
raise the flag.