Showing posts with label Voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Voting. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Come Out this Thursday Evening to Support Teresa Altemus

In a recent news publication much enthusiasm was directed at supporting Gloucester Point Supervisor Chris Hutson in his reelection efforts and the actions of the infamous Gloucester 40 and Gloucester’s former Commonwealth Attorney. The article also cast a negative cloud about Teresa Altemus who is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for Supervisor of the Gloucester Point District; even though she and the other targeted Supervisors were cleared of all charges. In fact it was not Mrs. Altemus and the other targeted Supervisors who cost Gloucester County hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. It was a group of people who were unhappy about the results of an election that were all associated with a single local civic organization that cost Gloucester County all of that money.
 
There was absolutely nothing in the article about Mrs. Altemus’ previous track record or her conservative and sensible views on issues that matter to the People of Gloucester County. There were no quotes from anyone supporting Mrs. Altemus. There were however, multiple quotes from members of the Gloucester 40 and from Mr. Hutson. In fact the article, in its own subtle way, tends to steer the reader away from Mrs. Altemus in favor of Mr. Hutson. What or who is the driving force behind Mr. Hutson having that privilege? It certainly cannot be a result of his track record as Supervisor for the Gloucester Point district.
 
Mr. Hutson’s track record includes failing to disclose his personal interest in property that would have been impacted by the Terrapin Cove sewer extension and voting to approve the project without disclosing the personal interest. When the appearance of conflict and Mr. Hutson’s failure to disclose his interest in the property was discovered, Mr. Hutson publicly claimed his wife did not tell him about the property. More recently he was heard claiming that his wife didn’t know about the property until the conflict appearance became public. Why the change of story at election time?
 
Mr. Hutson voted against lifting the boat tax and suggested taxing boats owned by already struggling commercial water-men. He voted against the recently adopted 2016 budget because real estate tax rates were not raised to 70 plus cents. He has stated that the only way the Board of Supervisors knows what the People and Citizens want is through comments made at Board of Supervisor meetings during citizen comment periods. What about emails to the Board or to ones district representative, or phone calls, letters and face to face communications? I can honestly say Mr. Hutson has never responded to a single email I have sent to him and I live in the Gloucester Point district.   
 
At the Republican Party Mass Meeting being held at Achilles Elementary School this Thursday evening; Gloucester Point residents will vote to determine which of these individuals will receive the Republican nomination to run for the position of the Party's representative on the Board of Supervisors. Those wishing to participate must register between 5:30 and 6:45 P.M.and bring with them a picture ID (as is required for elections in Virginia). Please come and vote for Teresa Altemus for Gloucester Point Supervisor.
 
Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Gloucester, VA Bos's Christ Hutson: Second Conflict of Interest Vote?




Inappropriate Actions
 
During the May 20, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Chris Hutson voted to approve the Terrapin Cove Sewer Extension project.  Part of the project entails installing public sewer along Laurel Drive at Gloucester Point at a cost of $773,638.  The vote was 4 in favor of the project and 3 against it.  The following information was obtained from the Gloucester County online property database and is for property on Laurel drive that is owned by Mr. Hutson’s father and mother in-law
Property Owner: THE BREEDEN TRUST
Owner Address:
PO BOX 122
GLOUCESTER POINTVA 23062
RPC #: 32740
Physical Location:
1672 LAUREL DR
Magisterial District: Gloucester Point
Tax Map #: 051C 5 C 5
 
Chris Hutson should have abstained from voting on the Terrapin Cove sewer project in accordance with Commonwealth of Virginia Conflict of Interest laws.  Without publicly disclosing his family relations to a project area property owner, Chris Hutson not only voted for the project, he also acted as the primary public body advocate during the design, review and procurement processes.  Shortly after the BOS meeting this information was brought to the attention of all of the Supervisors via an email message.  After the email notification was sent it was further realized that Chris Hutson’s father in-law has served on the Gloucester Public Utilities Advisory Committee since 2004 and was reappointed for another four year term by Mr. Hutson in 2012.  The appearance alone screams inappropriate.
 
During the June 3, 2014 BOS meeting the Terrapin Cove project was brought back to the floor for further discussion by Supervisor Ashley Chrisco, on the premise that funding is now uncertain due to the Commonwealth not yet approving its budget.  The Terrapin Cove project is not a Commonwealth funded project and the County’s ability to fund it has been uncertain from the beginning.  The BOS voted to delay the project start up and to pull funding from it until the Commonwealth approves its budget.  The Supervisors then directed that a certified letter be sent to each property owner within the project area asking the owners for a binding commitment to hook up to the sewer system if the project moves forward.  This and other steps should have been accomplished before money was spent to design the sewer expansion. 
 
Does this area of the County need public sewer?  I don’t think so but admit that it could be arguable.  At issue here is the conflict of interest vote made by Mr. Hutson and the efforts taken in the June 3rd BOS meeting to cover it up.  Does Gloucester County really want politicians who are self serving, not forthcoming and who have no conscious when it comes to spending hard earned tax dollars?  The answer is an emphatic NO.  The three newest Supervisors are the ones who initially voted against the project and did so with stated justifications.  These three seem to be working very hard to do what is in the best interest of the County as a whole; the other four should join them.   
 
During the June 5, 2014 BOS and Planning Commission meeting Chris Hutson encouraged citizens and business owners to bring instances of improprieties related to construction inspections to the BOS attention so they can be looked into.  How can he make such a hypocritical statement after voting on a project that he or his spouse “may realize a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect benefit or detriment from?”
 
We the people of Gloucester County deserve much more from our elected officials.  I encourage my fellow citizens to express their opinions on this matter and to remember these types of behaviors when election season returns.  Just remember; Political Parties do not make a good government, good people do.
 
Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.
Gloucester Point

Our Notes:  Mr Hutson voted yet again despite what looks like a clear conflict of interest.  Even if it were the correct vote to reverse the earlier decision, he still should have abstained from the vote.  Nothing much other than non funding the sewer extension was corrected, but instead, was compounded.  Once was too much, twice is just a complete violation of the public trust and a slap in the face to every citizen within the county.  Exactly why is Mr Hutson serving on the board other than to possibly personally financially gain by doing such?   That is just "NOT" sound government.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Invitation to Gloucester Republican Mass Meeting

Somehow We Mysteriously Got This Information and thought it was worth sharing:
We do not support any political party on this site for any reason, but when we get this kind of information, we will share it.

Hello Fellow Republicans,
 
The Gloucester County Republican Committee (GCRC) will conduct its biennial Mass Meeting as required by the Party Plan of the Republican Party of Virginia.  This meeting will occur Thursday March 13th at Achilles Elementary School.  Check-in begins at 5 P.M. while the meeting will begin at 6:30 P.M.  All registered voters in Gloucester County may vote.  Those desiring to vote must be a Gloucester County registered voter, show ID such as a current voter registration card or valid driver’s license, and their registration as a voter will be verified at the door.
 
During the meeting we will select the 51 members of the GCRC and a new chairman, all to serve for two years, and 22 delegates to the Republican Party of Virginia State Convention.  The GCRC needs active, committed, hard-working members to be successful.  The following list of 51 candidates for election as GCRC members have clearly demonstrated their willingness to work hard to get Republicans elected.  These candidates have worked at our Republican headquarters distributing voting literature, bumper stickers and yard signs; knocking on doors of homes distributing literature and encouraging residents to register to vote and getting out the vote; driving people to the voting places and working at the polls; making phone calls; producing and placing signs in yards and along roadways; attending many meetings and conventions throughout the state at their own expense and, of course, with their monetary and in-kind contributions.  Some of these candidates are currently members of the GCRC while others are seeking to be members for the first time; the common feature among all of them is hard work and their dedication to getting Republicans elected.  Please consider voting for this slate of 51 candidates for GCRC membership.   
 
Arnold, David J.                                 King, David J.
Bayford, Brian                                   King, Sarah W.
Bayford, Dorothy D.                        Larson, Kenneth L.
Borden, Margaret J.                        Larson, Leslee E.
Bunting, Rosanne E.                        Mason, Carole P.
Bunting, Samuel C.                          May, Alice C. M.
Casanave, Jeanmarie                     Meyer, Jr., John C.
Cerny, Gay B.                                     Meyer, Laurel J.
Chaplain, Catherine B.                   Mitchell, Donald R.
Chaplain, Russell W.                        Mitchell, Judy R.
Chriscoe, Ashley C.                          Moncure, II, Henry W.         
Cookson, Ryan H.                             Morton, Christy T.
Davis, Charles W. (CW)                  Mowry, Howard L.
Drechsel, Jr., Edward R.                 Murphy, Jr., George Ross
Dunnington, Patricia L.                   Shuster, Pamela A.
Geary, Christopher                         Solada, Rebecca J.
Geary, Terry L.                                  Truscott, Alice K.                
Hedrick, Michael W.                        Truscott, Mark A.
Hurst, Sr., Lowell D.                         Walsh, John P.
Hutson, Christopher A.                  Walsh, Lorraine M.
Javorich, Shawn G.                          Warren, Jr., Darrell W.
Johnson, David N.                            Webb, George L.
Johnson, Linda D. H.                       Webb, Joyce P.
Jones, Catesby B.                             Wiesner, Gary W.
                                                                Williams, Karen B. K.
                                                                Williams, Ralph E. (Ted)
                                                                Wilson, Kevin A.
                                                               
 
 
We also must elect a new GCRC Chairman.  I recommend John P. Walsh for that position.  John has served as Chairman in the past and done a superlative job.  He is very familiar with the Party Plan of the Republican Party of Virginia and our own  by-laws as well as Robert’s Rules of Order.  He is fair to all and effectively manages debate in any discussion.
 
Thank you for your consideration of these candidates;  I look forward to seeing you at the meeting on Thursday.  And please bring a copy this note to the meeting for reference.
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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Gloucester, VA Taxes Will Be Going Up

In a 4 to 2 vote with one absent, the Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors voted to increase taxes on all county residents despite arguments against.


The issue before the county board last night was the school bond issue.  17 million dollars was approved by the Board of Supervisors with 4 voting yes, one absent and two voting no.  A number of legal issues are seen in this and we will be covering all the material for the rest of this month.

  What is not questioned, money desperately needed for school repairs.  Though no evidence of this need was provided by those seeking money for the repairs, we have no reason to doubt the need.  What was in fact brought up, why was money spent on reconstruction of one school closed and now being converted into county office space when these people already have office space?  Money that should have been used for the much needed school repairs?  This was a very reasonable question that was brought up and ignored.

  As we predicted and told everyone here on this site, the bond issue was going to be passed no matter what.  Another area brought up during this meeting that you may have missed, the talk about closing yet another school in the county.  You read that right, talk has already started about closing another school in the county and yet a 12 million dollar bond was approved to assist in the funding of a new middle school.

  Again, the question was brought up asking the Board of Supervisors, how much money did they leave on the table by not rebuilding the old Page Middle school.  The Gloucester Board of Supervisors simply refuse to answer that question.  What are they hiding from the public?  The two board members who voted against this pure waste, Ashley Chriscoe, at large representative and Andrew James, Ware District representative.  Bravo to these two brave men for standing up for what was right.  Absent from the vote and the floor last night was Christopher Hutson, Gloucester Point representative.  

  Three board members voted yes who are leaving the board at the end of the year, so had little to lose.  Or do they?  We will be exploring more on the legal issues surrounding this matter.  We will also be putting the video here on this site.  There are a number of issues everyone needs to see.  And again we will be showing what the state says about how these matters must be legally handled and we do not see this matter being properly structured to meet the law.

  All of this on top of all the local waste these officials are allowing to continue with employees using government vehicles for personal use.  These folks have no shame.  There were a number of other issues we found during this meeting that we are going to explore that have all the marks of higher costs due to lower usage.  Stay tuned, we are going to cover what the papers will not touch and what you need to know.

  
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Friday, August 2, 2013

Gloucester, VA To Get Illegal Middle School? What To Expect - Part 4

Part 4 in our series asking the question; is Gloucester, Virginia going to get a potentially illegal middle school?  



  As we understand it, it is not the state's job to monitor every little aspect of law and or code at the local level of every locality.  The state depends highly on the people to report potential waste, fraud and or abuse and then the state investigates if the argument has merit.  We believe that we have already shown merit to warrant a state investigation should the Board of Supervisors vote and approve the new bond as it presently stands.

  From what we see, Gloucester officials have created implied contracts so strong as to potentially warrant violations to state codes.
http://www.gloucestercounty-va.com/2013/07/gloucester-va-to-get-illegal-middle.html

  The above is an internal link to part one of this story where we explore a number of the issues we see.  In our opinion and looking at all the facts, we believe that the Board of Supervisors will be pushing this plan through no matter what the citizens of the county say.  We expect a vote of at least 5 to 2 on approval if not a full swing across the board 7 out of 7 approval.

  Even if you show up and voice very strong concerns, what can you expect?  The board will thank you for your input when you are done speaking and tell you that they will take it under advisement.  (In other words, yeah yeah, who cares attitude).  They will be very polite about it, but it's their vote that will tell you the truth of the matter.  As we said, we expect them to vote it though no matter what.  We have shown through their own documents that they have every intention of moving forward with this.

  The only way to stop it would be to request state investigations after they approve the bond.  File a waste, fraud and abuse report.  We encourage Gloucester government employees who have more knowledge about the inside workings to file these claims as well.  (Don't worry, you will be protected under whistleblower laws).


WFA Hotline Policies Manual from Chuck Thompson





Here is the Hotline information.  It is available for download from our SlideShare site.  Click the bottom right hand corner icon to enlarge the PDF file for viewing.



The Blueprint in printable form for stopping this particular issue from going forward.  We all have to let the Board of Supervisors know what we think about how they are handling these plans and that they can each, be held personally liable and financially liable for making the wrong decisions.  It must be made clear that they had better make sure what they are doing will stand up against a state investigation.  We will be watching the Board of Supervisors on this.  Once the vote is in, if they approve the bond, we will start filing for a state investigation and suggest everyone else do so as well.

Now we are not attorney's and none of this is to be considered legal advice.  Only a competent attorney can legally advise you.  We are simply questioning everything we see, researching what we can and asking tough questions.  Please weigh your own actions appropriately.

The bond hearing meeting will be on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 at the Gloucester County Courthouse in the historical courthouse circle.
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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Louise Theberge Gets Her Well Deserved Vacation - Window Weather Forcast

Open Letter to the Citizens of Gloucester County Virginia


Thank you Gloucester County for voting during the June Primary Election.

Those who voted show they support the system of government we have in Virginia and the US.  It is our responsibility to get out and vote.  There were winners and losers in these primary elections but the voters won by makings the system work.  Those voting in the Republican primary you voted to give Ms. Theberge a well earned vacation after 14 years of dedicated service.  Those voting on the Democratic Primary you voted for who you think will best serve us if elected to office.  My focus has been on our local government and I have not looked at the state level positions yet.  Whoever we vote for should support the Virginia Constitution as written since their oath of office is to support and uphold the constitution and the Bill of Rights in its entirety.  They need to be for small government and decreasing our tax burden.  Do the candidates do this?  We have time to learn their positions between now and the first of November.

We have two people on the ballet for Gloucester County At Large Supervisor as well as those running for individual districts; we have time for them to present us their position to ensure we get one that will follow the constitution, keep our taxes and dept down and bring the county code into compliance with the Virginia Code and Constitution.

Following the Virginia Constitution is a lot of work if we want to stay Citizens and not become serfs.  Keep up the work we have started we are well on our way.

Candidates for local and state office the blog site this letter is published on will publish your position and unlike newspapers there is no cost to you.  This is what you stand for and what you will do if elected to office.  He does not look for you to provide dirt against the other candidates.

“For the Common Good. “

Sincerely,
Alexander James Jay

AND NOW FOR OUR WINDOW WEATHER FORECAST;

Overcast, wet and windy with a chance of more to come sometime soon.
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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Daily Press Update - Turnout At Polls Less Than 5 Percent



In related news from the Daily Press;


Police are investigating a homicide in the 2900 block of Shell Road, a spokesman said.
Officers were called to Roy's Quick Serve convenience store shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday after receiving a call about multiple shots being fired in the area. Upon their arrival, police found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, said Sgt. Jason Price, spokesman for the Hampton Police Division. The man was pronounced dead at scene.

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