There is a new, heroic person in our community — Supervisor Frank Principi of Woodbridge.
Facing 7 to 1 odds, he stood tall and was determined to address the fiscal and social reality of the local illegal immigration extremism that some county leaders have helped to create. He was vilely castigated by many obnoxious citizens at the recent budget hearing for daring to question the illogic of the supervisor super majority.
But the soundness of Principi’s diplomatic positioning prevailed, albeit not in it original form, but in the unanimously voted short-term solution. He created the environment that seasoned board members, who were stressed and beleagued, needed to find a better way to serve their constituents.
Why is this true? The simple answer is the other BOCS members just do not have Frank Principi’s crisis resolution skills and several do not have in their character his deep social values. To understand Principi you have to know he is a hard and tested expert at managing crisis conditions.
You may remember the tsunami devastation in Indonesia, but not know that Principi went there in the dangerous aftermath to help reestablish systems for governance in an area “washed” clear of all social trappings. At great personal risk he and others involved with him contributed what Americans are proudest of — offering an expert helping hand that expects no recognition.
WILLIAM H. WESTHOFF
Woodbridge
Advertisement