April 13, 2010

It will not mean much to those of you who do not live in Christiansburg, Virginia, but the political revolution sweeping the country has reached here in Southwest Virginia.

BACKGROUND  This Town has been owned by a core group for as long as I have lived here (15 years) and probably much longer.  Their technique has always been to hold Town elections out of sync with everything else so that most people never got around to paying attention and consequently voting.  Things they are achanging.  And they are achanging in many ways.

First, as is true with any group with too much power they have overstepped their bounds and in this case in a highly visible way.  They started out to build a modest swimming pool which grew and grew until it is now a $14 million Aquatic Center.  Completion is more than a year behind schedule and way over budget.  They are begging people to donate money so that they can equip the inside of the facility.

Second, some newly arrived started to get curious and attended meetings and (heaven forbid) ask questions.  The results were:  that the coziness between the Council and the Planning Commission came under review.  It was found that the Budget was a document intended to hide rather than to enlighten.  The Town Manager with the concurrence of the Council ran a neat little fiefdom unwilling to answer any questions.  The Town had no financial overview (now has a CPA on the Staff).  The Town was ignorant of Freedom of Information requirements and told no one anything.

As is true in any good democracy, The People said enough.

As a result after this (the last) separate election, the Town will join the rest of the Virginia and vote in November.

This time the Core has been challenged.  We have several new, well qualified candidates for both the Mayor's position and for Council membership.  There is a buzz in the air for change.  It is anticipated that there will be a relatively larger turnout this time than in past years.

That is why I have hope.  I'll keep you posted after this election on May 4.