FAIRFAX, Va. (7News) — Fairfax County residents have written to county supervisors complaining about how a county employee is using a county vehicle outside of business hours.
People didn’t know until 7News' reporting that the county vehicle belongs to one of the most powerful elected government officials in Fairfax County --- county chairman Jeff McKay.
7News is uncovering new information on how McKay is using his county car which is driving up the bill at taxpayer expense.
Months before McKay approved a 40% raise for himself, one person complained to supervisor Rodney Lusk’s office that a county car was parked at a community pool on a Sunday. She wanted to know why and she provided Lusk with a photo of the license plate which stated, “official local government use only” at the bottom of the license plate.
After consulting Chairman McKay’s office about the complaint, Lusk’s office didn’t tell the concerned woman the car belonged to McKay.
7News obtained another complaint to supervisor James Walkinshaw from a person who describes how a man was speeding and driving recklessly in the same county vehicle on Saturday, October 2, 2021.
The person told Walkinshaw’s office, “At approximately 18:25 on 02 October 2021, I was driving southwest on Coffer Woods Road when a vehicle suddenly pulled out in front of me from Wards Grove Circle, causing me to slam on my brakes. I was unable to get a photo in time while stopped behind this unmarked Ford waiting for the light at Burke Centre Parkway. However, I did notice an official vehicle plate. And despite the driver’s best efforts to flout the speed limit, I caught up to him at a red light on Lee Chapel Road at 286.”
The concerned resident provided Walkinshaw with a picture of the license plate on McKay’s county car.
“As a Fairfax County taxpayer, likely footing the bill for both the vehicle and the operator, I would like to know why someone lacking knowledge of vehicular right-of-way laws is allowed to drive an official car,” the concerned resident told Walkinshaw. “I would also be interested to know what official business this man was conducting on a Saturday night. Seems like someone who should be given a bus pass and Fairfax Connector schedules, at least until he can be retrained in the safe operation of a motor vehicle.”
Walkinshaw, like Lusk, also didn’t tell the concerned Fairfax County resident the county car belonged to McKay.
7News investigated what McKay was doing that night. 7News Reporter Nick Minock learned McKay was at a campaign fundraiser for Walkinshaw. Walkinshaw’s fundraiser ended at 6:30 p.m. McKay’s alleged reckless driving and speeding in his county car happened at 6:25 pm, .03 miles away from Walkinshaw’s political fundraiser.
7News
obtained Fairfax County’s vehicle policy and it appears McKay violated
county policy by driving his county car to a political fundraiser.
The day after Walkinshaw’s fundraiser, on October 3, 2021, McKay held a fundraiser of his own with Congressman Gerry Conolly and Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe was running for governor that year.
7News asked McKay if he drove his county car to that fundraiser too, and 7News asked what other political events McKay drove his county take-home car. However, McKay has not responded to repeated requests for comment regarding the use of his county vehicle.
Through a public records request, 7News also learned McKay’s mileage on his county vehicle increased in the two months leading up to the 2021 election. 7News asked McKay if his mileage increased during that time because he was driving to political events leading up to the 2021 election. McKay has not yet responded to that question.
The Fairfax County vehicle policy states, “unrestricted usage must be authorized by the County Executive or Board of Supervisors in every case” for class one take-home vehicles and that class two “take-home vehicles are not authorized for personal use.”
7News asked the Fairfax County Executive, “Does the County Executive approve of how Mr. McKay uses his county car?”
“As County Executive, my responsibility is to manage the administration and operations of Fairfax County,” County Executive Bryan Hill responded in an email. “I have no comment on the political activities of any board member.”
7News followed up by asking the County Executive, “Respectfully, we did not ask the County Executive about his general thoughts on the political activities of a board member. We asked, 'Does the County Executive approve of how Mr. McKay uses his county car?' Mr. McKay has driven his county-owned car to political fundraisers/events, which seems to be a violation of county vehicle policy. Does the County Executive approve of Mr. McKay’s use of his county vehicle? “
“I have no comment on the political activities of any board member,” Hill responded in an email.
Although the county vehicle policy places the county executive in charge of supervising county vehicle usage, the Fairfax County Executive reports to Chairman McKay and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, unlike Montgomery County where the county executive is an elected position.
In Virginia, misusing public assets for private or personal purposes is a class four felony.
7News asked Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano if he considers McKay’s county car use a violation of Virginia’s misuse of public assets statute.
Descano’s office responded by saying that 7News will need to address that question to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) since “they would be the ones to handle a criminal investigation.”
7News has reached out to FCPD for comment. 7News will update this story with their response.
McKay has not yet responded to 7News’ question on if he is violating state law by using his county vehicle to drive to political events and fundraisers.
In March, 7News also uncovered taxpayers are footing the bill for McKay’s car insurance, tolls, gasoline, oil changes, car washes, and more. And McKay doesn’t have to pay an annual car tax even though he sets the car tax rate for everyone else in the county.
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