Fredericksburg politics has taken a turn for the weird recently, as some rather unflattering videos of HOD-54 candidate Nick Ignacio have turned up that frankly, shouldn’t be viewed by anyone (seriously, NSFW) — giving breathing room to Delegate Bobby Orrock in Spotsylvania and Caroline County and raising eyebrows as to how on earth folks are still supporting his challenger. C’est la vie…
Meanwhile in neighboring Stafford County and Fredericksburg City, we have a three-way race where Aquia Supervisor Paul Milde (pictured left) and George Washington Supervisor Bob Thomas (pictured right) are running against former Stafford BOS Chairman and former LG candidate Susan Stimpson (pictured center).
Today’s fracas? Thomas’ business — Capriccio Software — appears to have had its licence revoked by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. What’s more, the business not only has relocated to a Delaware address (not entirely surprising given that most national firms locate there for the sole purpose of evading state taxes), but has continued to do work with defense contractors in northern Virginia.
From an e-mail forwarded to The Jeffersoniads outlining the details:
1) Bob Thomas’ business, Capriccio Software had their status as a Virginia Corporation revoked, with debts owed. Bob Thomas’ company is not considered to be in good standing in Virginia. Despite his revoked status, Thomas continues to sign contracts with Virginia-based defense contractors. (SAIC on 11/23/16, 1/13/17, 3/27/17). 2) Bob Thomas’ business, Capriccio Software is registered in Delaware to avoid paying Virginia state taxes.
2) Capriccio Software was successfully sued by the State of New Jersey. CS has a lien filed against it in Trenton, NJ by ‘DIV of Employer Accounts’
3) Capriccio Software moved from their office at 150 Riverside Parkway (owned by Richard Ward, owner/developer of 53 properties in Stafford) to Bob Thomas’ rental property. At the time of leaving, Capriccio Software and Bob Thomas owed nearly $90,000 in rent commitments to Ward.
5) In 2015 and early 2016, $90,000 owed in rent to Ward is ‘abated or forgiven’ to Thomas. No record of a gift or in-kind donation has been filed to date.
6) On 5/15/17, Ward donated an additional $3,000 to Thomas’ campaign via Reward Investments DC (registered at the same address as his 53 other Stafford properties), and has 5 projects pending in Stafford, including 2 that requires BOS hearing for zoning or proffer amendments.
Susan Stimpson has been remarkably forthright about forwarding this information to the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star privately in an effort to get the newspaper to balance the record a bit — owed perhaps after her own foibles (and that of Milde) were dragged through the public market. So far, they have declined to run a story…
So here’s why this strikes me as important. Thomas’ campaign thus far has been strikingly unimaginative — a warmed over rehash of Bill Howell’s 2015 campaign that is a shoe size too large for Thomas’ campaign to fill. The signs are the same, the endorsements on social media look cheaper but similar, the video endorsements are fewer but the same. On the surface? Mostly positive… but under the radar? A nasty, sneering and direct whisper campaign has been waged against Stimpson and Milde both.
That’s not kind. That’s not professional. And when you have these sorts of kickbacks in your own backyard? It’s a touch hypocritical.
So to see these facts develop are indeed a bit surprising given that Thomas has chosen to run as a “squeaky clean” and successful (and heavily subsidized) businessman.
To make matters worse, this isn’t ancient history — this is recent activity. The lien against his firm in the State of New Jersey was effected in March 2016 — barely a year ago. As of May 2017, the SCC reports that Thomas has failed to pay $1,700 in fees and an additional $170 in fines to the State Corporation Commission.
$90,000 in forgiven rent? From a local developer? Anyone else get that kind of sweetheart deal?
…and if you’re thinking Jonnie Williams at this point, now you can see why I’m a bit concerned.
Of course, this could all be artfully done Photoshop and the work of Russian hackers… but it certainly seems that someone has some questions to answer ASAP. Moreover, I’d be curious to know why the local press back home decided to punt on this one.
$90,000 in forgiven rent and a $3,000 campaign donation after two liens and a revoked status with the State Corporation Commission? That’s serious, if true.