Conservative "Values" on Display in Alexandria

This such a cliche -- the hypocritical conservative on issues of "morality" (e.g., Ed Schrock, Mark Foley, Larry Craig, David Vitter, Rush Limbaugh, etc., etc.) or "fiscal prudence" or whatever -- that it's almost superfluous to write about it. Still, this one hits close to home and took place recently, so what the heck? :)

The political career of City Councilwoman-elect Alicia Hughes is off to a rocky start. Less than one month after her surprising election to the Alexandria City Council, Hughes’ legal and financial obligations have come under scrutiny.

Hughes, 34, was elected on May 5, 2009, on a platform of fiscal conservatism and public accountability. At that time, her landlord, The Strand of Alexandria, was proceeding to evict her for nonpayment of rent. She avoided eviction by paying May’s rent on May 11, 24 hours prior to the scheduled eviction. That was the second time since she signed her lease at The Strand in March, 2008, that such proceedings had been initiated. The first court proceedings by The Strand were filed against her in August 2008.

As if that's not bad enough, there's also this little issue:

...Car owners in Virginia are also required to pay personal property taxes on their vehicles. As of May 22, the City of Alexandria had no record of Hughes in their personal property tax system. When asked to comment on the status of her vehicle and non-payment of personal property taxes in Virginia, Hughes wrote, “I decline your offer to make comment for your story.”

By the way, just so there's no doubt that Hughes is a Republican (even though she ran as an "independent"), the article notes that, "[s]hortly after moving to the City, she joined the Commonwealth Republican Women’s Club."

Meanwhile, I guess this falls into both the "ironic" and "reporting FAIL" categories.

Arlington Republicans last month received a pep talk from a fellow member of the GOP who recently won election in a Democratic stronghold.

Frank Fannon, who in May was elected to the Alexandria City Council as a first-time candidate, said the key to victory was talking to the public.

That's right, the Arlington GOP needs advice from the Alexandria GOP, when one of its most prominent members can't even pay her rent/taxes. But the funniest thing out of all this? Fannon's advice to Arlington Republicans is the following:

"People don’t like paying taxes," he said. "It was a very easy message to get across."

Well, at least Alexandria Republicans follow their own advice! :)