LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Local taxpayers in Loudoun County are seemingly funding efforts to obstruct transparency regarding the expenditure of their tax dollars on overseas trips by elected officials. County records reveal that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has allocated $156,000 this year to lobbying firm Troutman Pepper. This expenditure is intended to address various legislative matters, notably the board’s resistance to a bill proposed by Democratic Virginia State Senator Russet Perry. Perry’s bill seeks to mandate that Loudoun County officials publicly disclose the use of taxpayer funds for international travel.
David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, voiced strong disapproval of this situation. “It is shameful that county officials are trying to stop a bill that would bring much-needed Travel Transparency to the county,” Williams stated. He further emphasized the county’s existing reputation for questionable spending habits, making the decision to use taxpayer money to lobby against fiscal transparency particularly illogical and concerning.
Senator Perry’s proposed legislation is designed to ensure that all elected officials in Virginia’s localities are accountable to the public. The bill mandates the disclosure of any instance where taxpayer money exceeding $5,000 is used for travel expenses.
“This bill is addressing a problem I heard a lot during my campaign,” Perry explained. “Constituents across the political spectrum expressed concerns about local government transparency, specifically regarding how their hard-earned tax dollars were being spent.” The bill successfully passed the State Senate.
Previously, 7News investigations brought to light instances where Loudoun County officials, including Board Chair Phyllis Randall, used public funds for trips to destinations like Ghana and Uruguay. These trips included stays at luxurious hotels, visits to wineries, beachside dining, and equestrian events with sunset cocktails.
Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall at a county meeting.
These trips involved significant expenditures, such as five-star accommodations overlooking the beach and business class airfare on United Polaris, costing over $7,000 per ticket. Chair Randall also faced scrutiny for upgrading her hotel room at taxpayer expense during a Ghana trip and for including a political donor’s husband on the سفر, also funded publicly. Following inquiries from 7News about the room upgrade, Randall initially offered partial reimbursement, but eventually fully repaid the county after a public audit.
Randall’s travel history also includes trips to China, Germany, India, and South Korea, all undertaken under the guise of sister city programs. Supervisors Saines and Glass also traveled to Ghana, and Supervisor Briskman visited Uruguay using public funds. Supervisor Letourneau’s travel included trips to Dubai and Paris.
Williams from the Taxpayers Protection Alliance reiterated his concern: “It is shameful to think that county folks are spending taxpayer money to stop travel transparency.” He underscored the critical role of transparency in ensuring responsible spending, regardless of the amount, especially concerning travel expenditures which are often susceptible to misuse by local officials.
Supervisor Umstattd’s attempt to withdraw the county’s formal opposition to Senator Perry’s travel transparency bill met resistance from officials who had been on these trips and their allies. Supervisor Turner dismissed the bill as “ludicrous,” and Supervisor Briskman voiced strong opposition to removing it from the county’s list of opposed legislation. Earlier in the year, the Board of Supervisors had established a legislative agenda that outlined bills the county would either support or oppose in Richmond.
Randall defended the trips, stating, “Everybody on this dais was here, sat up and clapped when I said I was going to Ghana. So the idea there wasn’t complete transparency is absolutely ridiculous and yes offensive.”
Senator Perry’s bill is now under consideration in the House of Delegates. 7News has reached out to Troutman Pepper and Chair Randall for comments on the lobbying contract and efforts against the travel transparency bill, but has not received responses as of this report. Following the initial 7News report, a county spokesperson indicated that Troutman Pepper had been verbally instructed to cease lobbying against the travel transparency bill. However, official documents suggest that the lobbying firm is guided by the county’s adopted legislative priorities, which currently include opposing the bill.
This story was updated on Feb. 13 with additional information from Loudoun County.
