The Shadow
Dear Editor,
Huzzahs for the citizens who submitted excellent questions and attended the Candidates’ Forum Thursday night.
Hurray for the candidates who appeared to voice their views for the Alleghany Highlands’ future. And a disappointed sigh for those citizens who didn’t make it to see the differences among the candidates’ positions and performance, which were striking.
The good news: All candidates care deeply about the Highlands and its future and share many common goals for the region. The more troublesome news: The Clifton Forge candidates are vastly different in terms of their likelihood to make those things happen.
The incumbents (Hillert and Brinkley) have a track record of demonstrated progress over their years with the council, working successfully with the town staff, manager, Alleghany Foundation, and Economic Development Board. They have, as private citizens, worked as tireless volunteers on some of our town’s most outstanding projects and events (the Ampitheatre, the Masonic Theatre restoration, parks improvements, the School of the Arts, the Arts and Crafts Center, Heritage Days, the Holiday Home tour which benefits Head Start and the Food Pantry, etc. etc.).
The council is already working cooperatively with the county and Covington on a number of projects, including the tax abatement proposal. If we re-elect them, they’ll hit the ground running to continue works already in progress.
The Three Amigos (Bruce Hyler, Eddie Reynolds and Ronnie Underwood) though sincere and wanting to help, did not seem ready for action. If elected, their responses indicate they’ll face a steep learning curve on many issues. I have been at many, many meetings where their mistaken beliefs about how sewer bills could be lowered were explained as not possible, and yet they persist in their claims.
None seem able to understand the laws and constraints entailed on this project.
All three stated that if elected, they would not favor renewing the town manager’s contract in spite of the fact that she has been instrumental in bringing in businesses and huge amounts of grants (millions) to pay for projects and infrastructure that we otherwise would have to pay for all by ourselves, or do without. Mr Hyler stated he didn’t see why we needed all those grants.
All three amigos indicated that they thought department budgets need to be trimmed, in spite of expressing enthusiasm for projects and improvements to the town which would need to be paid for, and expressing complaints that the public works employees are currently unable to get to all the things they want done. I’m not sure if they were unaware of or unimpressed by the tremendous improvements the council, manager and town workers have been able to make while increasing the budget less than .03 percent, i.e. about $1,500 in a $5 million dollar budget and without raising property taxes. This is an accomplishment that speaks volumes about the skill, management ability, hard work, cooperation and dedication of a winning team. I urge you to vote for the incumbents to help keep this team together. And we have one more candidate forum coming up, sponsored by the Women’s Club on Oct. 23. Plan to attend those “tryouts” and see who else you think would make the best addition to the current team.
Regards,
Steve Swoope
Olive Street
Clifton Forge
