The Shadow
Dear Sir,
After reading the political ads for Bob Bennett, candidate for the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, I have to ask myself, “Why is he running?”
I cannot think of anything Mr. Bob Bennett has supported for the citizens of Alleghany County or the children of the Alleghany County Public School System.
In one of his political ads, Mr. Bob Bennett stated, “We have an outstanding school system that employs professional, dedicated educators; however, our students and teachers at the high school level are working in a substandard facility that requires immediate attention. We must upgrade this facility to include air conditioning.” I agree, this is a true statement, but I am not aware of Mr. Bob Bennett voicing any support for the efforts of the county government or the school board to remedy this situation in the past.
On the other hand, there is evidence to indicate that Mr. Bob Bennett has supported the city of Covington in its efforts to improve its schools. The evidence is as follows:
On Feb. 8, 2007, a meeting sponsored by the Concerned Citizens and advertised as “Come and Get the Facts About the Schools,” Mr. Bob Bennett made the following statement, “If Alleghany County builds a new high school, the Covington school system will close.” Later, when I had the opportunity to speak, Bob interrupted as though he did not want those in attendance to get the facts. However, I can assure you everyone heard what the facts were.
At the same meeting, Mr. Bob Bennett commented that Covington was going to build a new elementary/middle school on Route 18 and the opening of the new facility would draw students from Boiling Spring and Callaghan elementary schools. I feel it is important for the voters to know that the opening of the new Covington schools has had no significant impact on the enrollment in any of the Alleghany County Public Schools. As a matter of fact, enrollment is up in the county.
On Feb. 18, 2007, Mr. Bob Bennett called the architect and engineering firm of OWPR to speak with the architect who had completed a study of the option of renovating Covington High School as a combined school for the city and county. Mr. Bennett identified himself as the business manager for Covington High School. However, when the architect came to the phone, Bob immediately changed his title to a “businessman,” calling regarding Covington High School. Though this conversation was brief, Mr. Bob Bennett did indicate that he represented a group of citizens who oppose a new Alleghany County High School. Later, the architect indicated that it seemed as though Bob Bennett had a particular agenda and that he had tried to misrepresent the content of their brief conversation.
On March 12, 2007, at a Callaghan Elementary School Parent Advisory Committee meeting, Mr. Bob Bennett asserted that he had had a conversation with the OWPR architect concerning the renovation of Covington High School and that he was presenting them with the facts. Bob told the parents that the facts he presented about the cost of renovations and the timeline to complete the project were obtained from the architect. However, when asked, the architect did not recall making those comments to Mr. Bob Bennett. Later, at this same meeting, former Covington Mayor Harrison Scott, who had been accompanied by Bob Bennett, announced plans to build the new schools in Covington.
On March 19, 2007, Mr. Bob Bennett again called the firm of OWPR. This time, the firm would not accept the call, as they felt that Bob was misrepresenting himself.
Bob Bennett has a history of misrepresenting himself, the facts, and taking comments out of context for his benefit. He has demonstrated, by his own actions, that he has not supported Alleghany County or the Alleghany County Public School System, in any way. Consequently, I ask again, “Why is he running?”
Sincerely,
Randall S. Tucker
Alleghany County
School Board Chairman
Longdale Furnace Road
Clifton Forge
