Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 6 · column 1 of 3 · from the scan, no model involved
The calendar tells us that this is an election year
for the Rappahannock County Board of
Supervisors though it’s hard to tell that by looking for campaign activity. The incumbent supervisors and their challengers seem mighty quiet. There has been little public discussion of the serious issues that face the county in the next four years.
Perhaps this is so because three of the five incumbent supervisors don’t face any challenger in the election to be held in less than one month on Nov. 4.
Charles K. “Pete” Estes of Piedmont District, Robert Anderson of Stonewall-Hawthome District and Roger Welch of Wakefield District essentially get a free pass on Election Day, since no one qualified to run against them. But even in the two districts where there are contests—Jackson and Hampton—there has been little if any public debate on the important questions that will face the five men who take office next January.
Property taxes have increased significantly in the past four years. Do the candidates see that as inevitable for the next four years as well? The county school system has unmet needs and desires that require more money. Where will the funds come from? Do the candidates have any ideas for new revenue sources other than the real estate tax?
How do the incumbents and their challengers feel about growth and development in the county? Do they favor more commercial development such as Rappahannock National Bank’s commercial center on Route 211 which the incumbents approved? Do they favor preservation of open land through conservation easements? What future do they see for the county’s villages?
Two years ago, the current board approved a plan by Sprint to provide cell phone service in the county but Sprint has not even begun building the system. What’s up with that? The supervisors approved a plan to provide bus service in the county and then killed it after six months. Do all the candidates think that was wise?
The questions could go on. There are plenty of issues facing the supervisors and they need to be discussed before Nov. 4. Fortunately, there will be at least one opportunity for such a discussion when the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection stages its issue forum for all the supervisor candidates on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The event will be held at The Theatre in Little Washington at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
We urge voters to attend. Questions will be taken from the audience. Persons who would like to submit questions in advance may send them by mail or e-mail to RLEP@direcway.com. The postal address is RLEP, P.O. Box 94, Washington, Va. 22747.
Meanwhile, the incumbents and their challengers should start telling voters where they stand. Silence is
not golden in a democracy. ^
97.1%