Evening star., 1959-11-15
BY PAUL HOPE
star stan Writer


Eight years ago. the wilkins
name made its political debut
on the Fairfax County scene.
That was the year Mrs Anne
wilkins crashed the ranks Of
the old guard that had run
county affairs for years and
won election to the Board OF
County Supervisors,
Her election marked a turn
ing point in county government
from rural domination to-
ward urban control. Her name
rose swiftly to political promi-
nence as the old guard became
the minority and the suburban.
ties moved into the drivers
seat.
To Mrs. wilkins supporters.
she became the symbol OF
progressive, modern govern
ment.
AS swiftly as the wilkins
name leaped to local fame. 1t
has been thrust into the midst
Of q confiict-o t-of-interest con-
troversy in recent weeks. A
hearing In the matter will re-
sumo Wednesday before the
Board of County Supervisors.
Focal point of the controversy
is Mrs. wilkins husband,
Donald.
sOresi Hits Machine
Less well known but playing
O significant role in the fight
Is Carl D. Soresi, who acknowl-
edges he is out to destroy what
he calls the wilkins machine" !"
Mr.. wilkins, chairman Of the
county Hospital and Health
Commission, is the center OF
thesfirst full-dress probe Of the
activities of county official in
recent years. The inquiry is to
determine If there has been a
Conflict of interest" in Mr..
wilkins personal activities as
head of a business consultant
fifhi and those as a county
oflcial as head of the commits
sion which is building q $6
million hospital. y
Some claim it is a politically
inspired inquisition. others say
tt Is based on firm ground.
Many wonder what 1t is all
about.
The political future Of Mrs.
wilkins may be at stake. She
has been mentioned as a pos
sibie congressional candidate
and was expected to enter the
Democratic primary for that
ONCE next July.
Delay on Hospital
The inquiry, now being con-
ducted by Commemorative At
torney Robert C. Fitzgerald at
the direction of the Board Of
Supervisors, grew out of a re-
cent probe of a delay on the
hospital project.
After a work stoppage was
reported last July, the Board
of Supervisors authorized ap-
potntment Of a board Of in
quify to look into the matter.
The inquiry board, appointed
by Board Chairman Stuart T.
DeEell. came back with a re-
port that there was a lack Of
co-ordination on the project.
The inquiry board further
stated that the possibility Of a
conflict of interest" on the
part of Mr.. Wilkins should be
looked into.
I'VE do not charge that Mr..
wilkins is doing anything i'm
proper" the board said. "We
simply point out that II the
term conflict Of interest is de-
fined to include q possible con-
flict then the board should
consider, with full examina-
ton, Mr.. wilkins position with
the corporation (his private
f1rm) and his position as hos
pital commission chairman
particularly as compounded by
his relationship to a member
of the present board (of super
visors).
After receiving the report,
the supervisors met in closed
session, during which one mem
Der suggested that Mr.. wilkins
be removed from the commits
sion. Following a heated dis
cussion, the board decided to
end the hospital inquiry and
take up the matter of Mr.. Will
kins later.
Plumbing Code Blamed
The supervisors issued q
statement saying the delay was
caused over the hospital COM
missions insistence on adher-
ing to the county plumbing
code which held up approval
OF drawings. It further stated
that there is no evidence of
wrong-doing or any unethical
procedures concerning the hos
pital project"
Two weeks later, Common
wealth Attorney Fitzgerald told
the supervisors there was an
apparent conflict of interest
involving Mr.. Wilkins and that
ne should be quizzed on it.
Involved in the probe are
a State law and a policy reso-
luton OF the Board of Super
utSors.
The State law says that no
county official shall be directly
or indirectly interested in a
contract to which the county
is,a party. There are no Grim
mai penalties, but the law says
tnat the county may recover
through court action payments
In two years.