EC Virginia News

Loudoun County officials recently came under scrutiny over their taxpayer-funded international sister city trips, as revelations emerge casting doubt on their claims of the program's economic benefits. Investigative findings are raising questions about the accuracy of these assertions and prompting calls for transparency in the use of public funds. 

"New evidence suggests Loudoun County Democrats not only LIED about their taxpayer-funded luxury travel, they LIED about supposed foreign investments," the Virginia GOP wrote in an Aug. 15 post on X, formerly Twitter.

According to 7News, Loudoun County officials are coming under scrutiny for potentially exaggerating economic benefits from their taxpayer-funded sister city trips, as investigations reveal inconsistencies in their claims of generating $1.37 billion in economic benefits and 2,500 jobs from the program. This controversy highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in the utilization of public funds for lavish international travel.

Loudoun County officials, including Board Chair Phyllis Randall and several county supervisors, are facing scrutiny for their expenditures on upscale sister city trips, which reportedly included stays in luxury hotels, premium flights, and visits to various attractions in places like Ghana and Uruguay. The spending practices have come to light through investigative reporting by 7News, prompting discussions about the appropriate use of taxpayer funds. In response, Chair Randall has defended the trips, emphasizing their role in fostering international partnerships.

Responding to questions from 7News in July, Chair Phyllis Randall stated, "When you say $1.37 billion in commercial investment, that return is a very high ROI. So, 2,500 new jobs, $1.37 billion in investment, over 100 new businesses, and 27 businesses and in just the past two years. That's a very big return. So, I do believe that I am. Let me change that word. I am quite confident that the Loudoun taxpayer gets an enormous return on investment."

County Supervisor Mike Turner echoed Chair Phyllis Randall's assertions, highlighting the Loudoun County Sister City program's alleged success. The claims prompted a month-long inquiry by 7News, which culminated in a freedom of information request after Chair Randall did not provide substantiating evidence for the economic benefits linked to the sister city trips.

Following this investigation, 7News obtained a list of companies associated with the economic claims made by Randall, Turner, and Supervisor Briskman. Interestingly, the list revealed that none of the companies contributing to the claimed $1.37 billion commercial investment were affiliated with Loudoun County's sister cities. Notably, a data center company from the Netherlands accounted for a significant portion of the investment, despite the absence of a sister city relationship. Additionally, the list included four Lidl grocery store locations within Loudoun County, which were considered economic wins. Although Lidl has German headquarters, the stores were not situated in the region of Loudoun County's sister city in Germany. Notably, Lidl also maintains a U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, leaving questions about any potential connection between Randall's 2017 sister city trip to Germany and the opening of Lidl stores in Loudoun County.

Citing data provided by the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development, the Republican candidate vying for the position of Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair has recently claimed that the county's sister city program has contributed "zero dollars and zero jobs" to the local economy, since the year 2014, according to Loudoun Times Mirror. Stephen Karbelk, a commercial real estate agent competing against Chair Phyllis Randall, emphasized that Randall and Supervisor Mike Turner may have conflated the sister city program with broader initiatives aimed at attracting foreign business investment in their defense of the program.

Loudoun Times Mirror has reported that Supervisor Turner acknowledged an error in his letter to the editor. He conceded that the $1.37 billion total, which he previously attributed to the sister city program, was inaccurately portrayed.