This week, Virginia senators are considering a bill to permit a casino in Fairfax County. Fairfax Country’s residents are overwhelmingly against the bill, but its sponsor, Democratic state Sen. David Marsden, doesn’t seem to be at all dissuaded by the opposition of his constituents.
In fact, Marsden has completely excluded the community and local politicians from the legislative drafting process. In particular, relevant Fairfax County Board of Supervisors members Dalia Palchik and Walter Alcorn and Chairman Jeff McKay were left out of Marsden’s legislative plot with the casino’s developer, Comstock Holding Companies. The casino is part of a proposal for The View development in Tysons, a joint venture by Saudi Arabian firm Khalid Juffali and the northern Virginia firm Clemente Development.
Marsden’s unwavering support for casino development in a community that neither wants nor needs it doesn’t pass the smell test. In politics, when things do not pass that test, following the money can solve many mysteries. The case of this casino plan is archetypal.
Political action committees and special interest groups associated with the casino have provided large donations to many of Virginia’s politicians. In the last four months, Christopher Daniel Clemente,
chairman of the board of directors and CEO of Comstock Holding Companies, has given $205,000 to Building a Remarkable Virginia PAC, which is one of the largest donors to Marsden and his allies in the state Senate.
On Oct. 18, 2023, Christopher Clemente gave $25,000 to Building a Remarkable Virginia PAC and $10,000 directly to Marsden. Five days later, on Oct. 23, the PAC donated $24,000 to Marsden. Following his triumph in the November 2023 election, on Jan. 5, Christopher Clemente donated an additional $180,000 to the Building a Remarkable Virginia PAC.
On Jan. 17, 2024, a mere 12 days after Christopher Clemente’s generous donation to one of Marsden’s most supportive political action committees, the senator introduced a bill to permit a casino in Fairfax County. The bill, of course, contains exceedingly specific stipulations that would allow a casino only in the Juffali/Clemente development.
From all appearances, it would seem that a commercial firm in charge of the casino’s development is buying Marsden and some of his colleagues to pass legislation against their constituents’ interests. And Christopher Clemente’s financial funneling into Building a Remarkable Virginia PAC, rather than simply donating directly to Marsden, indicates that there seems to be an interest in hiding the funding pathways.
Marsden is not alone in accepting large political donations from the casino developer and its affiliates. In 2023, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell received $95,000 in campaign contributions from Building a Remarkable Virginia PAC and $6,772 directly from Comstock. Christopher Clemente also generously donated $100,000 to the chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Louise Lucas.
But these well-funded senators must find it difficult to argue that a casino in northern Fairfax County is for the public good. The Tysons Corner area is doing exceptionally well without it. There are plenty of jobs and opportunities for the residents. With all the debauchery associated with casinos, the main argument in favor of casino development is for the local economy’s development and growth. Yet Tysons Corner residents are fervently opposed to it.
Marsden and other proponents of casino development argue that despite the rise in crime, traffic congestion, and many other problems associated with casinos, Fairfax County would benefit from the casino’s tax revenue. However, McKay shared his concerns in a letter to the Virginia General Assembly that 70% of tax revenue from gaming would go to the state, rather than to Fairfax County. In other words, Fairfax County, which does not need the economic growth from a casino, would shoulder all of its burden and gain only a small fraction of its tax benefit. No, thanks.
The money associated with the casino development’s political donations is difficult to trace, though not impossible. Affiliated companies donate to political action committees that give to candidates, who donate to other candidates.
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It will be interesting to watch Virginia’s politicians as S.B. 675 progresses. Which of them are for sale? And which of them have given up pretending to care about their constituents’ interests?
Marsden already showed his hand when he sponsored the bill. Are his colleagues equally as committed to crony capitalism? Time will tell.
Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for the Washington Examiner, a mother in Fairfax County, Virginia, an author, a member of the Coalition for TJ, and the Fairfax chapter leader of the Independent Women’s Network.
Correction: This article has been revised to correct an error that misidentified the person who made the political payments. The Washington Examiner regrets and apologizes for the error.
