King Plum must go!

King Plum to cut higher education

2009-01-15T06:17:00.000-08:00

Thirty years into the reign of "King" Ken Plum, he finally has been chosen as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the Virginia House of Delegates. This means that King Ken Plum will be making even more poignent attacks against the other party and will continue his streak of supporting party endeavors over the more localized needs of Reston residents. Plum has proven this time and again when siding with Democratic king-makers as opposed to civic groups in Reston.

But the real news to come out of the Virginia House is that King Ken Plum is scrambling to make up for that severe budget shortfall. Guess where this former educator looked for his budget proposal? Yes, you got it... King Ken Plum is going to make significant cuts in higher education. Take that "future of America!" Apparently, when one is in the statehouse for 30 years, they get completely shortsighted.

Of course the monarch of Reston wasn't finished. He also supports cutting support staff in Virginia schools. Along with that, he already has expressed support for cutting police funding and Commonwealth's Attorneys by 7 percent.

And as any 30-year monarch would, he plans on raising taxes.

King Ken Plum has absolutely no vision and no sense of ingenuity. Reston has many lofty plans for development that, sadly, will be hampered by this person. But hey, at least he was chosen to a seat that nobody outside of politics cares about!

King Ken Plum's 2009 agenda

2009-01-02T11:15:00.001-08:00

According to published reports, Virginia delegate "King" Ken Plum of Reston has acknowledged support for the following initiatives.

1) Reduce the police force by 7%

2) Raise taxes (he said it)

3) Eliminate a significant number of Commonwealth's Attorneys

Holding the same elected office for 30 years obviously has provided King Ken Plum with a mentality that he is untouchable.

King Plum advocating 7% cuts in police forces

2008-12-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

The national embarrasment that is "King" Ken Plum is gaining more traction. This comes as Plum, the 30-year Virginia delegate from Reston, offers support for cutting 7 percent of police funding. According to Fairfax County newspapers, King Plum wants to make these cuts to tackle the billion dollars in budget shortfalls that had been miscalculated. In addition, the 30-year monarch of Reston wants to cut funding for our commonwealth's attorneys, also known as prosecutors. Moreover, King Plum is an advocate for raising taxes.

Meanwhile, King Plum supports continued funding for nature buildings and building high-toll HOV lanes in Fairfax County that really are not proper answers to anything at this point.

Police protection and education are two areas that should be off-limits to out-of-touch politicians like King Ken Plum. Unfortunately, King Ken Plum has remained in this one position for 30 years and has lost touch with the facts on the ground.

King Plum admits dropping ball on his watch

2008-12-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

King Ken Plum continues to be a disaster for Reston and Virginia as a whole. His 30-year reign has been marked with indecision and an abhorrent lack of leadership as a delegate. Now, even King Plum acknowledges that he did not foresee the tanking of the Virginia budget. This of course comes as no surprise as in the last few years, King Ken Plum has merely been going through the motions as a partisan pariah in the statehouse. As more and more people in Reston and Northern Virginia come to learn about this 30-year monarch, more and more people keep asking how they could have let such a person stay in one elected position for three decades.

If past precedent is a guide, King Ken Plum will propose new taxes. this also is not a surprise since King Ken Plum is not exactly known as a forward thinker.

Here's the latest quote from the king himself:

"The economic crisis being felt by most households and certainly by the business community as a whole is wreaking havoc on the state budget as well. What appeared initially to be a couple of billion dollars shortfall will certainly exceed 3 billion dollars and the only remaining question is by how much. No areas of the state budget will escape reductions. The challenge will be to keep minimally funded programs alive when they provide vital services."

All I want for Christmas...

2008-12-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

Received this email a few weeks back but felt it was more appropriate to post now:

Dear King Plum Must Go,

All I want for Christmas is a new start. All I want for Christmas is a change in Washington AND Richmond. All I want for Christmas is for political leaders that actually are in touch with their community -- not just people they know and need to pander to but us regular people.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS FOR KEN PLUM TO GO!

Del. Plum has become a pariah to us regular people and with blogs like this and elsewhere, he is becoming a national symbol of shame. 30 years IS way too long!

KING PLUM MUST GO!

Best to you and yours,

Stephen H.
Reston

* to post an email, please contact vincent.endres (at) yahoo.com

2008-12-13T10:12:00.001-08:00

I was at a bar in DC's Chinatown last night, talking to some people who happen to live in King Plum's district in Virginia. After talking about politics for a why, the topic eventually rolled around to their state rep. To say that they were displeased with his ridiculously long tenure and ineffective policies would be a misnomer. A more appropriate term for their ideas and thoughts on KP was outrage, anger and hunger for change. Virginia needs a new rep to represent the modern needs of the constituents. Last night proved that this desire reaches across all demographics. It's definitely time for change.

2008-12-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

Every time I read the newspaper or a new book about a politician I keep remembering that politics is a game of advancement and it's much the better for that. You do the best you possibly can by your constituents to make a name for yourself and move on to bigger and better things. That way, your constituents get the best possible attention and service and you are constantly challenging yourself to new goals, tasks and missions. What kind of a person stays in a political position for 30 years? The kind of individual who is resistant to and afraid of change.

Obama won in November on a platform of change. Why? Because it's the only way we forward. Tenure is all well and good but it doesn't work in universities and it doesn't work on politics. King Plum has got to go.

Reston man: 30 years is long enough!

2008-11-29T21:31:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I can't believe people keep electing "King" Ken Plum to the House of Delegates. This guy has lost all bearings and concept of representation. 30 years is long enough! I am happy to join in with any efforts to have this monarch removed so that we can finally have some independent-minded Delegate actually look out for our interests.

Thanks for the blog!

Nate M.
Reston

More on the downfall of "King" Ken Plum

2008-11-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

* from a comment

(HB346) seems to be a bill for the home owners association and against the home owners. We have here in Reston the Reston Association which is very hard for the average citizen to participate in. They recently changed from 30% required to change documents to 20% required. The Reston association comes up with it's own agenda and then promotes it something the average citizen cannot do. So I fear any empowerment of this industry.

Mr Plum has refused to listen to thousands of citizens who have signed a petition for Virginia town status for Reston which would give more power to the individual wanting to have a say in the regulations that regulate the lives of citizens in Reston.

Rod Koozmin
Reston via Richmond Sunlight

*note: HB346 was sponsored last year by Reston's 30-year monarch "King" Ken Plum. Like most if his substantive bills over the past few years, it failed to get out of committee. And their was much rejoicing in the land of Reston... But alas, the king remains atop his throne.

Reston man: 30 frickin years!

2008-11-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

From our inbox at vincent.endres(at)yahoo.com...

Thank you for exposing "King" Ken Plum. 30 frickin years! Are you kidding me! How on earth can we keep electing this clown? 30 years is long enough! I blame myself and others who do not pay attention to the House Delegates and quite honestly didn't even know who our delegate was. But now that I know about "King" Ken Plum, I will be sure to vote this rascal out! Change has been in the air, and now we need to change the Virginia House of Delegates!

Richard S.
Reston, VA

King Ken Plum advocates taxing light, heat

2008-11-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

Since King Ken Plum has stayed in his cushy delegate position for 30 years, he feels he can do whatever he wants without any repercussions. But the steady outpouring of animosity toward King Ken Plum has been quite amazing since this site went up. Apparently, this climate of change is proving that he has lost his invincibility and ability to coast on by while openly siding with county and Commonwealth government over his own local residents in Reston.

The following quote is from the Roanoke Times about a recent tax increase for Virginia:

"What we did today was pass a general tax increase for everybody who turns on a light switch in the morning, turns up the thermostat or buys a bag of coal," said Del. Ken Plum, D-Fairfax County.

So in other words, King Plum proudly issued a proclamation that if you're cold, you need to be taxed. If you can't see and need to turn on the light, you're going to be taxed on that too. Later, we will post more quotes from King Ken Plum's 30-year reign in Reston where he openly antagonizes and spits on the Reston Citizens Association.

Reston man: King Ken Plum a "slimy" politician

2008-11-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I actually met "King" Ken Plum. He is as slimy a politician as they come. When he talks to you, you just know you are being worked. I suppose after 30 years of remaining committed to controlling his little throne one gains such expertise. Still, after shaking his hand, I felt like scrubbing my own. Referring to "King" Ken Plum as a monarch is very appropriate for this guy, and I am happy to contribute to his ouster.

Thirty years is long enough time as a Virginia delegate and it's time for King Ken Plum to go.

Rick V.
Reston, VA

Who the f@#$ is Ken Plum?

2008-11-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I have lived in Reston for 6 years and didn't even know who our delegate was. Who the f@#$ is this guy?!?!?!?! Anyone who supported that abusive driver fee deserves to be booted out of office. And 30 years!?!??!?! Come on!!!! We need to get rid of King Ken Plum!

-unsigned-

King Ken Plum's notorious blunder still draws ire in Reston

2008-11-17T07:04:00.000-08:00

Guys,

I had no idea that Plum co-sponsored that unconstitutional, worthless, insulting, embarrasing and outright insulting piece of legislation forcing civil penalties of $3500 on just Virginia residents who drive 20 over the limit, while not enforcing it against drivers from Maryland, District, and everywhere else.

Since that national embarrasement, I vowed to not support any politician who supported that garbage. Plum will never again get my vote. I agree with this board. 30 years is enough! Time for somebody new!

Randy S.
Reston, Virginia

**** keep the emails coming! vincent.endres@yahoo.com

Loudoun County woman dismayed at King Ken Plum

2008-11-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

To whom it may concern:

I live in Ashburn so am lucky enough not to have "King" Ken Plum as my delegate in the House. Thirty years is way to long for someone to remain in one position. Maybe Mr. Plum likes being a big fish in a small pond. I mean, after 30 years, you'd think he would have moved up or have been heard of by us regular folk. Thank you for this blog to let us know about this person. Please continue it and maybe think about expanding it into other delegates and elected officials whose time has come to go away.

Respectfully,

Vivian R.

King Plum even co-sponsored infamous "reckless driving" bill

2008-11-14T08:11:00.001-08:00

King Plum was a co-sponsor of the now repealed Virginia Code 46.2-206.1. In 2007, this was one of the most maligned pieces of legislation in the entire nation. It basically sought to give a $4,000 speeding ticket to those caught driving 20 MPH over the limit. And for anyone who drives on the Beltway or I-66 knows, 20 over is very easy to do based on the 55 MPH speed limits.

It got better too... King Plum's bill also was written so that only Virginia residents would have to pay this excessive fee. Residents of other states would not.

It got even better. It turned out that King Ken Plum sponsored the bill with another delegate who runs a traffic defense law practice in Virginia. Translation: traffic defense cases were going (and did) go way up after the law was passed.

Citizens of King Plum's bill became so irate that they forced Gov. Kaine to repeal the law.

This is just another prime example of why King Plum, of Reston, needs to end his 30-year reign as delegate in Virginia. 30 years is long enough! It is obvious that King Plum is out of touch and just going through the motions.

Stay tuned as we post more letters from Reston-area voters and others who think King Plum's 30-year reign should end.

Email from Herndon resident

2008-11-14T06:37:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I just want to say that until recently, I did not know who my delegate was. But I am a strong believer that our leaders and representatives must be sharp in mind and remain in touch with their constituents. Ken Plum cannot be that guy if he has held this office for 30 years. It's time for someone new. Now that I am aware of the extent to which Ken Plum has remained in power, please count me in as one who will not be voting for "King Plum."

Sincerely,

James M.
Herndon

Welcome: 30 years is enough!

2008-11-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

We are not kooks. We are not radicals. We are not fringe goofballs.

However, we are regular people with regular problems and regular lives. We also vote and represent a cross-section of Fairfax County. We are black, white, Hispanic, Democrat, Republican, Modern Whig. We care deeply about our community and know when something isn't right. That something is King Plum, delegate in Virginia's 36th House District.

King Plum has held this position for 30 years. If term limits were a pizza, this guy would be Italy. Plum started out strong as an educator, but that was many years ago. Now, he has been reduced to a political party hack and demonstrate entitlement to hold his position. A former Chairman of the local Democratic Party, King Plum is not exactly known for working with the Republicans down in Richmond, no matter what he says. Without political opposition and gonads of the Democratic Party, Plum has ignored the will of the regular people in Herndon and Reston with complete abandon. This is topped off by King Plum's outright disdain and lack of respect for the Reston Citizen's Association. All they wanted was a local voice in their community affairs. Unfortunately, King Plum sided with the policymakers speaking for the best interests of county government instead of local government.

This blog will continue to highlight the many reasons why 30 years is enough for King Ken Plum. June 9 primary day, hopefully, will be liberation day when we can finally shake off this partisan monarch and bring a new, vibrant, bi-partisan voice to Richmond.

Email us and tell us what your thoughts are on King Plum! vincent.endres@yahoo.com