LCRC chair calls citizen’s concerns over partisanship “garbage”

By Valerie Cury

At the Aug. 22 Loudoun County Republican Committee meeting, Purcellville Council Member Joel Grewe received the party endorsement he was seeking from the local Republican Party. Grewe is running for Mayor of the Town of Purcellville on a slate with Caleb Stought, Erin Rayner, and Tip Stinnette for Town Council. The Town of Purcellville elections have routinely been non-partisan.

His opponent is current Council Member Stan Milan, who is running with Ron Rise, Carol Luke, and Boo Bennett for Town Council, in a race that is not between political parties but rather local issues. No other citizens running are seeking party endorsements.

The tone for the Blue Ridge District’s endorsement process was set early on in the meeting when the Loudoun County Republican Committee Chair Scott Pio stood steadfast in his convictions for getting involved.

Referring to the multiple “contacts” he had received on both sides of the aisle on whether or not to endorse or get
involved in the traditionally nonpartisan Town of Purcellville elections, Pio loudly proclaimed that citizens’ concerns about getting involved were “garbage.”

Pio recommended endorsing all Republicans from every level, including homeowners’ associations.

When it came time for Grewe to speak, he used his time talking about his work with the nonprofit Generation Joshua, and how he claims he has led the effort since 2007 to contact hundreds of thousands of voters in the last three elections. He did not, however, address concerns raised about his pro development voting record voiced by speakers. 

Pio was running the show when the Blue Ridge Caucas members and attendees, who broke up into a group, tried to question Grewe. The small crowded circle also included Blue Ridge District party chair Ed Dolan on one side then Grewe’s running mates Council Member Erin Rayner, and Caleb Stought along with Purcellville residents Joan Lehr, and Judy Stearns. Developer Casey Chapman, the representative of Vineyard Square who was in attendance at the meeting, voted for Grewe.

One person asked Grewe if he was for annexations, and he responded no. However, he neglected to explain why he was the lone vote on Council in support of the 120-acre Warner Brook annexation for 160 new homes, with massive commercial and industrial development on Purcellville Road. Grewe voted not to oppose it. 

Some members were trying to ask Grewe about his voting record of supporting higher water and sewer rates, but they were shut down by Pio.

The noise was loud, and everyone was talking at once so no more concerns about his record were allowed by Pio to come into question. Joan Lehr, a former eight-year Purcellville Town Council Member who served with former Mayor Bob Lazaro, voted at the time, to approve the Vineyard Square project on 21^st Street, said she supported Grewe.

After only several minutes, Dolan called for a caucus vote which Grewe won. Consequently, the committee voted to secure the endorsement. 

Further, the committee passed a proposal that members cannot raise the issue of this Republican endorsement again in the future.