Ha ha ha. That's great. Some average joe thinking he knows all the ins and outs of government being held up short. You know, I'm getting tired of the average person thinking he/she knows exactly what should be done about problem x when he/she may not have a clue.

I wonder how tough Connolly would have been explaining the rule of law to the marchers in Herndon today.

And who, exactly, is supposed to be working for whom?

Enjoy it, Connolly, because that's as good as it's going to get for you: cheap-suited, mid-level prole bureaucrat mouthpiece. What a tool.

I've seen this sort of stuff in county board meetings elsewhere. Chris Zimmerman often likes to badger Arlington County staff before he lectures (badly) citizens on statistics. While I think the citizen in Fairfax was a twerp, Connolly showed he knows how to use the chair to beat up defenseless citizens. He and Zimmerman should get together - wouldn't that be a treat?

I thought the exchange was quite benign. I certainly didn't get the impression that "all Chairman Connolly wanted to do was argue."

On the contrary, he shows that he actually PAYS ATTENTION to people when they are testifying before the Board. Would we prefer our elected officials to simply sit quietly and nod politely when citizens voice their opinions?

Bravo for Connolly, who actually WAS polite enough to say "forgive me for interrupting," called the citizen "Sir" and gave him extra time. The citizen (an employee of PODS) was in fact making an asinine and ridiculous claim. Most of the time at these kind of hearings, the citizens complain that the elected officials "didn't listen." So here we have an elected official, who is listening, engaging, and trying to parse out the real point the citizen is making. And here, what we learn is that what he's really saying is that he thinks his company doesn't hurt anyone. I think Turque is unfair to suggest that what Connolly did was "go off" on this guy.

I don't understand why this minor discussion warranted mention here. This provides nothing and serves nothing. Stop wasting our time.

I called Connolly's office last week on an issue. They were to call me back right away. Been a week now with no word from them. Very responsive to the citizens.

Enough with the citizen know-it-all's. I think it's sweet he got his pie served to him on a plate.

This windbag of a politician being rude to a citizen...while he runs for re-election, with no intention of serving out his term. He looks on to running for congress. Why doesn't he simply announce for congress and let somone else run to replace him that can serve out his term.

John, I applaud Connally for trying to govern in an informed and reasonable way, taking into consideration the reasoned arguments of the citizenry he serves. I applaud him for not sitting like a potted plant, waiting inertly for the timer to silence a paid advocate providing useless advice to the Board. I applaud him for making the exercise something more than just giving citizens "air time" on public access TV, and in no way improving the law. There are 1,000,000 citizens in Fairfax County. I applaud Connolly for representing the 999,999 who did not take time to speak, but instead pay him a salary to actually learn something before he makes a decision on their behalf.

You have to look at the event in context. This was a public hearing in the overly large boardroom of the County Government Center. A life long citizen of the County wanted to present his view points for the hearing. You can tell that the guy was nervous and not accustomed to discussing zoning authorities.

The Chair really did not have to treat him like an idiot. Connolly could not hide his contempt for this Fairfax County citizen. Not a very welcoming environment that encourages that all view points to be heard.

The citizen may be off base on the policy, but it was not necessary to try and humiliate someone that is just trying to present their point of view.

We are talking PODS containers here...Connolly needs to come down from his ivory tower.

whats pathetic is that we need the government to get involved in even more aspects of our lives

I thought the homeowners assocation was bad

Whatever happened to commonsense and courtesy. If there is an issue neighbors can talk to each other

Instead we get more government buraucracy. I wonder who will enforce this new law anyway

Connolly's sycophants are in full swing today.

Boo freakin' hoo...so, the chairman actually made the "Average Joe" account for his absurd statement on the role of government. Look, if you can't properly speak at an open forum, write a letter.

And we find out that this guy is an employee of PODS? How convenient.

I'm sorry you got flustered "Joe," and I'm sorry if you felt bullied. I applaud the chairman for actually asking the citizen to expound on his frivolous statement.

Jimmy, I think Connolly and Zimmerman will be together on the NVTA board. Imagine walking into that mine field when you don't agree on their new tax idea.

I think I'll do it for the laughs and to create aggravation with them.

To hell with these incompetent bastards that are voted in and thinks they can tell their constituents what to eat, drink or behave on their properties. Tell Connolly to call me.

Those who are commenting that they want the complete freedom to do whatever they want on their property without regard for their neighbors or the zoning laws/ordinances should visit (or move to) a rural area without these laws and see the neighboring junkyards that residents suffer.

"a rural area without these laws and see the neighboring junkyards that residents suffer."

But they don't have to suffer Connally, so it might be a pretty good trade.

I'm not opposed to all zoning ordinances, but they really do seem to often devolve into moronic bureaucratic food fights over every little thing, which eventually chokes off economic development.

Connoly is an arrogant sob.

Vote for Baise

Why couldn't King Gerry just have let the guy speak his piece, say, "Thank you, Sir, for your comments", and move on? I'll tell you why: because he saw a chance to beat up on an obviously inexperienced public speaker and be a big shot --- easy for a guy like Connally, sitting on his throne. I spoke once at that place and it IS pressure-filled, with cameras, lights, and a mic.

He was NOT "trying to understand" the point. He was trying to MAKE a point. What? He doesn't get enough chances to do that?

Go back to SAIC.

He should've been more polite BUT he should ask those clarifying questions. The guy made such a sweeping generalization that was less based in fact and more based in feeling--the guy was arguing, and wasted everyone's time. Connolly could've said hey man, we can't do that according to the Commonwealth. You clearly want the PODS, can you think of a compromise? Coax something productive out of him. These types of meetings might benefit from being more interactive.

Fairfax County is rough. It's a very "me" place. Connolly's trying to make sure the forest is healthy but most people just care about their own tree. He actually wants the entire county to do well. Why would you EVER want to do that job otherwise? But there's a lot of grossly selfish citizens out there. I imagine someone in his position would snap once in a while.

I don't disagree that the local government can and often should make restrictions on property owners, but this was rhetorical bullying.

"The Code of Virginia says we *can* do X" is not even an argument to counter "you *shouldn't* do X", much less the issue this guy actually wanted to discuss, which was "you shouldn't do Y".

It seemed like Connolly felt bad about it afterward.

If I were going to interrupt they guy, I'd actually try to address his concerns, rather than sidetrack him into Government 101. Otherwise, I'd just let him say his piece, mentally dismiss him as the libertarian crackpot/affected party that he is, and move on.