Good ol’ boys’ will not best serve Culpeper
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
Allen D. Smith, Culpeper
Published: May 13, 2008
The results of the Town Council election are really much uglier than I ever thought they would be (“Chips fall for incumbents,” May 7).
Obvously, the registered voters in the Town of Culpeper really are more interested in sitting on their hands and complaining or doing anything other than voting.
When only 17.8 percent of the registered voters show up for one of the most contested Town Council elections in years, does that not tell you something about the mindset (or lack thereof) of the resident of the town?
As for me, I am so glad I live in the county, where my vote has been heard and hopefully change will come.
I see it being more difficult with the “good ol’ boys” back in the saddle.
Good luck to the residents of the town of Culpeper.
I sure hope you are proud of yourselves.
Allen D. Smith
Culpeper
Post a Comment
The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( LawMan ) on May 15, 2008 at 8:51 am
Allen you don’t live in town. The election tells me that we who voted are happy with the direction the town is headed. It also tells me that the claims made by Jenkins of having 85% support in the community are false. There are much more serious issues. HPC candidates and Jenkins are only concerned about illegal immigration. I do not support consolidation. I enjoy the services I receive from my town. If I wanted to live in the county I would have purchased a home there. I made the choice to live in town. You can rest assure that consolidation will only take away the great services that I currently receive in town. As to Allen Kelly. The guy is disgruntled and has nothing better to do. He can’t vote in town but yet complains of the good ol’ boys. Those good ol’ boys kept us out of harms way.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Pat ) on May 14, 2008 at 9:53 pm
The Town had better come out and vote in November or they will have not have a downtown to worry about. Mr Daniels will get just what he wants and that is not right.This thing is way out of hand and now that it has gotten this far where is The Big important man who started this mess? He will only show his face when he thinks he might not get his way. It is going to be a sad day for Culpeper and all the town citizens.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( cagney1 ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Oh, and JBillings, no matter how you slice it, 17% voter turnout is a miserable result and nothing to be proud of. Your assumptions that there is no discontent is based solely on your relief that the status quo was maintained. While I respect your opinion and am also proud of the voters who did show up, 17% is reflective only of the mediocre choices afforded this fine Town.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( cagney1 ) on May 14, 2008 at 1:31 pm
J Billings: Actually, all caps can just be a way to emphasize a point in a feedback/email system that doesn’t allow for italics, bold or other ways to customize the intended tone of an opinion. Not sure why you would think that all caps would mean communicating anger. Are you angry? Speaking of communicating a point—DID YOU HAVE ONE???
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( J Billings ) on May 13, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Cagney 1 (All others please ignore)
I see. If you use lots of capital letters, then you must be right. Or you could just be SHOUTING because you are ANGRY and CAN’T CONTROL YOUR TEMPER. YOU NEED ANGER MANAGEMENT. AND YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!
Thank you for listening.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( CulpeperWalker ) on May 13, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Ryan, Snider and I’m sure other candidates/council members have been vocally opposed to the consolidation idea. So am I, “cagney1.“ I think the sour grapes is all on the county side - they stand to gain the most if there is consolidation. The town has the most to lose. I agree with several posters that we SHOULD have a huge town voter turn-out when it is time for the consolidation vote - but I also believe that that issue alone will not bring in a ton more voters. The apathy and lack of understanding is rampant - both town and county. My earlier response was to the original letter writer - a COUNTY resident who has no real dog in the fight of our town council, yet wrote in to predict gloom and doom for us.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( semper fi mom ) on May 13, 2008 at 9:38 am
Dear Cagney1 - The County was not petitioned; only the Town. The TOWN will vote on the consolidation issue. The Town citizenry have a great deal to lose and nothing, really, to gain in a consolidation. They will have much higher taxes and pay higher fees for services they already receive at a good rate. Additionally, lose highly valued accreditation for their Town Police Department. The CCSO is not that level at this point in time. There is no benefit whatsoever for the Town in a consolidation. But the money they are being forced to spend for this attack on ending the Town’s existence - is solely born by the Town. I hope all Town residents legally eligible to vote, will show up and vote. The Town’s continued existence is in their hands.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( cagney1 ) on May 13, 2008 at 8:56 am
Let’s not start handing out gold stars for Town’s whopping 17% voter turnout. It is a miserable turnout and Culpeper is a microcosm of the same type of citizen apathy seen on a national level.
J Billings and CulpeperWalker, you guys really make excellent points to rally County voters to vote IN FAVOR OF CONSOLIDATION. Keep up the good work! Starting to sound like high and mighty Town folk with TWO whole votes. Oh that’s right—regardless of what the politicians think—the people still MUST vote on a consolidation plan. I wondered why through the course of the campaign we constantly heard questions like “Are you in favor of consolidation Mr. Coleman?“ “What do you think about consolidation Mr. Ryan?“ What Messrs. Coleman, Olinger, Ryan and the rest THINK, doesn’t really amount to much. I would have preferred hearing ideas on HOW they will consolidate the two governments. They MUST work together to develop a plan. Of course the majority of the same 17% of the Town population who has managed to keep the status quo thinks that they run the “local show” and that they will keep our antiquated Town and County configuration as is. Hopefully when a truly important vote like consoldiation actually occurs (deadline for submitting a plan in just over 8 months away) the rest of the population will GET OFF THEIR HANDS and VOTE—especially all those new folks who have moved into the area over the past 3 years. Don’t let the same tiny percentage of the population continue to run the show. It’s old. It’s tired. No matter what they tell you—IT’S NOT WORKING.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Culpeper Resident ) on May 13, 2008 at 7:28 am
If you live in the county Mr. Smith, it shouldn’t matter what the results were. The town council cannot set your tax rate. I like my town and the people who represent me—all nine of them. But since you are so happy to live in the county, you better watch your wallet because several of BOS members are getting ready to pick your pocket on this Angler fiasco. After that, write again and tell us how much you like living in the county—if you can afford it. And just keep your eye on that Centex deal the BOS made several years ago for a sewer plant. It’s gonna cost you as well. Pay attention to YOUR elected officials instead of worrying about the town.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Last Man Standing ) on May 13, 2008 at 7:02 am
If Mr. Smith lives in the County, I wonder why he is so concerned about the Town election.
Report Inappropriate Comment