The
NewsVirginian has an on-line report by Bob Stuart regarding the Augusta Board
of Supervisors (BOS) and Supervisor
Pattie efforts to re-hash the “Split-term” issue that was a promise by the
legendary “Gang-of-four” during the campaign. Unfortunately once again after
clicking on the article to read it the familiar message window pops up advising
the reader needs to fork over $5.95 to finish reading the article and open a
month long on-line subscription. Sorry but
I just can’t justify $6 for a short article about local politics that should be
supplied if this paper really wants to serve the community it is in… (Something
Bob Stuart and I have corresponded about already)
It appears
Supervisor Pattie has once again brought up the issue about split-terms instead
of having all of the 7 BOS members come up to election every four years. 3 or 4
members would come up for re-election every two years instead and the thought
there is a quicker change to the BOS majority being possible if the dice roll
provides the desired result…
Could not
see the answer in the on-line article before the pop-up window interrupts, but
who decides which 3 or 4 BOS members have their four year term cut to two for
this change to work? Will it be the decision of the outcome of a roll of the
dice? Or will it be the decision of
Chairman Pyles and part of the “master plan”?... Maybe the opportunity for the “Gang-O-four”
is only another two years away?...
http://www2.newsvirginian.com/news/wnv-news/2012/jul/26/supervisor-pattie-says-staggered-terms-more-effect-ar-2084804/
ReplyDeleteI have posted a link to the full NV article above. (Hope it works) Knock on wood, but I am still able to read full articles from the NV website and have not yet been prompted with the pay to read.
My opinion on the issue is seeing that how a certain group tried to gain a solid 4 vote majority (control) on the board during the last election. Staggered terms is just a backdoor way for a setting minority to try and gain the majority 2 years sooner.
The gang of 3 on the board now, could easily recruit the 4th and have majority control for 2 years. Staggered terms doesnt remove the politics, it enhances it.
If that is the tactic than the Supe in Wayne district needs to watch out! How much you wanna bet the dice will be fixed ending up with the Wayne district coming up for split term first round and making room for the "4th of the gang"?..
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say that I am not too familiar with politics in this area. As ive only been around for 3 years, but I do believe that there are alterior agendas behind the scenes that we as citizens do not see. What I can tell you is that the city I formerly lived in had Staggered Terms, then reverted to all being elected at the same time. It was a 5 member council with plenty of infighting and split decisions on issues. There were two councilors whose election fell during the Presidential Election Year and because of their party affiliation they were reelected time and time again, based solely on party affiliation and the higher voter turn out during the Presidential Election Year.Like clockwork every two years those minority coucilors would rally to get at least one candidate elected thus gaining the coveted 3rd vote to get an agenda or certain project pushed through. Then two years later it would all happen again. It was only after citizens rallied to have staggered terms removed thru ballot referendum that the politics begain to subside albeit somewhat.
ReplyDeleteIn looking at Augusta County, I think it would be wise to remain with 7 seats up at once. Especially when setting Supervisors say Staggered Terms allows the “majority” to be changed every two years. This statement is nothing more then a hint at an alterior motive. To prove this point I bet there will be certain Supervisors who will push to have there elections during the Presidential Election Year to take advantage of the areas high Republican voter turnout.
Of course its a ploy for the Gang to insulate itself from tough political choices they want to make without interference from a pesky intervening election that could wipe out the lot of them. Its all for our good they will assure us.
ReplyDeleteJust as we have going on in DC now, I could see BOS members postponing or holding off on Votes\Issues until they get the "Majority" they hope for in the next election....
ReplyDeleteStan,
ReplyDeleteGood point and the "Wayne" influence must always be considered....
I found this exchange involving Supervisor Pyles interesting. Straight from Calvin Trice's coverage of the August 8th meeting.
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------------------------------
7:50
Calvin Trice: County Attorney Patrick Morgan is now presenting options for staggering supervisors' terms on board, so that three or four supervisors would be elected every two years rather than electing all seven every four years.
7:51
Calvin Trice: One citizen got up and asked what problem was being fixed with this? Pyles said it will be discussed in public hearing.
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In other words, don't bother asking questions or expecting them to be answered until such a time as the Board has already made up its mind.....
Shutting down the citizens already...
ReplyDeleteI have spoken to several already who question how\why will this be a better way of doing things. I still believe a select "Gang" will postpone pet projects or avoid hard decisions until the have a more favorable "majority"... Watch that guy who did not make the BOS this time to still be pulling "Puppet" strings !!....