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Connolly, Perkins Square Off in Impromptu Debate

The incumbent and Republican candidates vying for the 11th Virginia Congressional District seat finally got to go toe-to-toe before voters.

 

What was slated as a forum for candidates vying for Virginia’s 11th congressional district turned into an impromptu debate between incumbent Gerry Connolly (D) and Republican candidate Col. (Ret) Chris Perkins.

The two candidates, who have not agreed on a time for a formal debate, went back and forth Tuesday at the Tysons Corner Marriott on issues ranging from the Affordable Healthcare Act to the local job market.

“It’s what the people are owed,” Perkins said about the impromptu debate.

Connolly, Perkins and Independent candidates Chris DeCarlo and Mark Gibson attended the forum co-sponsored by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Merrifield Business Association. Each candidate was given seven minutes to speak before turning the program over to the voters for a question and answer session. Candidates Peter Marchetti and Joe Galdo did not attend the forum. Galdo told Patch after the forum that he did not receive an invitation.

For about three minutes of his allotted time, DeCarlo decided to speak of his platform through the urban art form of rap. DeCarlo, who is working on a third campaign rap, “Money, money, money,” said after experiencing the checks and balances of Fairfax County government, he decided to run for office. The crowd of mostly middle-aged and senior citizens listened with mixed reviews of the DeCarlo’s melody to a popular track from the movie about triumphant fictional character, “Rocky.”

“Nobody ever listens to the Independent’s speech,” DeCarlo said.

While Gibson spoke about his intent to focus on government overhead if elected, Connolly and Perkins slugged it out on bigger issues.

Perkins told voters he would solve problems as he goes uphill. The self-anointed realist said it’s going to take hard work to get out of the abyss the nation is going into.

“We are truly at a fork in the road right now,” Perkins said. “We have a lot of people that are going downhill. We have some real problems.”

Connolly reminded voters of previous promises he made on other campaign trails that are coming to fruition. The congressman said he promised a rail system from Washington, D.C. to the Dulles International Airport and noted that completion is near with an opening date in 2014. Connolly also told voters he wanted to clean up Merrifield and quickly pointed out the new Mosaic District as proof of that promise.

“When I was elected in 1995, my second promise was to clean up Merrifield,” Connolly said. “Now, 16years later, we have the Mosaic District. It’s going to be an amenity for generations to come.”

Related Topics: Chris DeCarlo, Chris Perkins, Gerry Connolly 11th District, Mark Gibson, and Virginia 11th Congressional District race

Carole Sarkuti

7:12 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Merrifield is a classic example of UN Agenda 21 and NOTHING Connolly should be proud of!! IOn the other hand the Democrats are all for UN Agenda 21 and all it does to strip Americans of their property rights and liberties. It is something to note that Connolly takes responsibility for this area and when crime becomes an issue there as it surely will and when it becomes an enclave for Muslims as it surely will then we will know who to blame. We need Chris Perkins in Congress now more than ever. He will represent ALL the people of the 11th District unlike Connolly who has only contempt for anyone who is not on his side. If you are a Republican try approaching Connolly.... He will be rude, cuss at you and probably tell you to go the h*** away!

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Mary Ebener

11:51 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

I remember the time that a Republican spoke before the Board of Supervisors at how Fairfax County's policies toward illegal immigrants was causing a migration here from neighboring counties that were addressing the problem. Gerry Connolly skewered him for providing data that was not authorized for release. It wasn't until Connolly left to move up to Congress that the board could even begin to address the problems of crime and overcrowding that he encouraged.

Ron

7:26 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Who is Connolly kidding? Merrifield and the Metro extension would have happened without him. Connolly is an arrogant know-it-all and he’s for one thing - Connolly! He is all for government handouts, the largest tax on the middle class due to the Health Care Act, and income re-distribution because that’s what gets him elected. If you're a hard-working American, he wants little to do with you. And, the dumb voters in Fairfax County don't pay attention and vote him into office. People forget that he should have lost the last election, but for the useless candidacy of an independent who had no chance for election.

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Mary Ebener

11:47 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Yes, Reston must be very happy that Gerry Connolly is responsible for the increased tolls on 267, and the increase in traffic in the neighborhoods as drivers find new routes to avoid those tolls.

chefgio1

7:56 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Yes, Connolly reminds us in this article and I quote the article (Connolly) "reminded voters of previous promises he made on other campaign trails that are coming to fruition. The congressman said he promised a rail system from Washington, D.C. to the Dulles International Airport and noted that completion is near with an opening date in 2014." Thanks!! for screwing the residents in the Western portion of the county. We are footing most of the bill while the Eastern portion of the county, DC and Maryland will really reap the benefits. Why aren't they being charged a surcharge like us? In addition, Connolly, what are you going to do about the all the extra traffic that will go through our residential streets in the Western portion of the county because drivers refuse to pay your socialist tolls? Are you going to propose same street restrictions that are in Vienna? Connolly, its time you find another job and stop messing up our lives. You may want to look for job in a cheese eating factory to match your rat like air about you. You, like the rest of these Socialist really don't realize how you are ruining this great county. Look at the facts not Marx or Lenin. You are just like Hussein Obama the Chicago gangster turned politician with Holder as his enforcer--you are either with me or you are screwed.

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Mary Ebener

11:35 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

No, I don't remember Gerry Connolly being involved in the overbuilding of Merrifield, but I do remember Gerry Connolly promising to revitalize the Route 1 corridor. He promised to bring mass transit to us and improve the Route 1 traffic flow, bringing in large stores that would serve as anchors for further growth and provide more employment opportunities. He promised to root out the crime and drugs. He promised better housing options. He promised.

How's that Route 1 plan working out, Gerry? Gerry?

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Mary Ebener

11:42 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The inside story on formal debates: Chris Perkins asked for six debates with Gerry Connolly. Connolly agreed to one, on Connolly's turf with Connolly's moderator. Not surprising that they have not agreed.

It seems pretty wild that Chris Perkins is appealing to both Republicans and Democrats. There are two houses in our neighborhood with Obama-Perkins signs.

If Chris Perkins has enough time to meet with and discuss issues with enough voters before the election, if he can get TV time debating Connolly directly, we might have a new Congressman next year.

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chefgio1

12:30 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Remember, all of you that vote for Connolly this election and try to blame Bush too for the new traffic congestion on your peaceful streets and when you can not turn on your primary roads like Reston Parkway because of the constant flow of cars. And if I were a Connolly lover I would document a baseline looking at of how many children get hurt today via cars vice tomorrow, document the current level of air pollution and compare it to tomorrow as the number of cars increase, see how the greenery starts disappearing, document the level of crime today vice the increase tomorrow and more importantly your land values--see how they fall. Compare these stats to what will come and ask yourself: Is this the reason why I moved to one of the riches suburbs in America? And then blame Bush too because like Hussein, Connolly will have selective memory along with they rest of you that voted him in again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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RME KRNL

1:38 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

We dont need to return a Nancy Pelosi puppet like Connelly to Congress, pure and simple.

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Elayne

2:14 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Nancy pelosi was on the Today Show this morning. Wow she was shameful she said " Mitt Romney has a demeaning attitude toward the American Public"

She couldn't wait to be a hater on national TV.

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Rod's Sharpening Service

8:11 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012

I'll never forget Gerry Connelly accusing the Reston Citizen's Association of "seizing" the Reston Community Center because they wanted some say in the governance of Reston. A few years down the road and you can see what we have-a big mess with all the taxes going to Fairfax.

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Jean Nichols

12:47 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012

Gerry sits with obama.
Funny thing he said: 'Is there Anywhere we can cut spending?'!!!

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Jean Nichols

12:57 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Connolly just does Whatever Pelosi tells him to do, which means he has Aided and Abetted obama's Agenda of Deficit Spending, Takeover of Healthcare, and Strangling Regulations!
Gerry went so far as to ask Ben Bernanke if there was Any place they could cut spending! It is on video, and he Was serious! Let's FIRE him!!

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