Candidates square off in first debates

More than 150 voters attended the Orange County Chamber of Commerce candidates’ forum at the Barboursville firehouse Oct. 5 to hear incumbent candidate Mark Johnson and challengers Shannon Abbs and Andy McWilliams describe their positions on county political issues in three-minute opening and closing statements and one-minute responses to audience-submitted questions. Lou Thompson, who is running unopposed to fill the District 1 seat on the school board presented his thoughts on public education.
Thompson said his longtime, broad interest in public education was enhanced by his own daughters’ attendance in Orange County schools. And, he added, his motivation to participate in school issues is redoubled by a number of sobering nationwide statistics which suggest funding and support for public education is on the decline, graduation rates across America are on a downward slide and parental involvement in education is steadily waning.
Thompson said he favors a curriculum which supports teachers’ efforts to encourage students’ critical thinking and reasoning skills. In addition, Thompson said he strongly advocates the development of vocational and technical education beyond what is currently offered through Orange County Schools as a means of preparing students for the real-world workforce and simultaneously boosting the local economy.
Challenger for the District 1 seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors Shannon Abbs said if elected, her approach to local government issues would be grounded in respect for citizens, county officials and fellow board members.
In these difficult times, she said, nothing should get in the way of planning for Orange County citizens’ future—especially egos.
Abbs said county leadership needed creativity and fresh ideas. Abbs said she places particular emphasis for quality education, moderate growth and broadening the tax base by actively attracting new businesses to the county.
Incumbent District 1 Supervisor Mark Johnson said his experience on the board of supervisors for 10 of the last 14 years is best defined by his position on issues like the recent adoption of the subdivision ordinance, (a document he said is unrealistic and meets the needs not of county taxpayers, but of special interest groups), and approval of Walmart’s bid to build in Orange.
If elected to another term, Johnson said he would work to amend the subdivision ordinance and other aspects of county code to be less restrictive and more reasonable. And he added, other county ordinances and guidelines should be adjusted to become more business-friendly, particularly for prospective small business start-ups.
Johnson said with another term on the board, he hopes to continue to work with community members, and county, state and federal officials to provide solutions to District 1 residents’ issues. While in office, Johnson said he’s successfully negotiated in order to secure funding and pave the way for projects important to District 1 citizens, specifically, by returning a physical post office to Barboursville and following through with a new, larger Gordonsville library location.
Andy McWilliams said his run for the board of supervisors is based on a desire to serve his home county and its citizens.
“It’s my time to give back to the county that has done so much for me,” McWilliams said.
In office, McWilliams said his focus would be on paying keen attention to the community’s position on county issues, and voting accordingly.
“A supervisor’s job is to listen to the people,” he said.
McWilliams explained he favored tax relief for elderly residents in District 1, and supported locating new small businesses and clean industry in the county, particularly near the towns of Gordonsville and Orange.
One audience-submitted question asked candidates where they stood on the issue of property rights. And specifically, the question continued, what were candidates’ positions on current zoning ordinances?
McWilliams said he “believed” in property rights. And, he added, when it comes to the recently amended subdivision ordinance, “I believe we should have left the four-by-four where it stood.”
“There are many things in [the subdivision ordinance] that should be tweaked,” Johnson said. The current requirements are too restrictive and burdensome on landowners and property owners, he added.
Abbs’ answer was similar. There are aspects of the subdivision ordinance that need to be revisited, she said.
Another question asked the candidates what they would consider their primary issue during the first year in office. Later, a submitted question asked candidates to identify their top two objectives.
Abbs identified economic development as her number one issue. She said the county would benefit from a redoubled, full–on effort to attract new businesses. And if elected, she added, her first priority would be to work on the county budget to relieve the burden on taxpayers. Another top objective for her was improving the county’s technology and related infrastructure, she said.
“The major issue,” Johnson said, “is the same one that’s dealt with every year, and that’s the county budget.” A perennial conflict for county leaders is reconciling tax rates, revenues, levels of service and jobs.
Johnson said among his key objectives, if elected to another term, would be amending county zoning ordinances, and working to provide improved high-speed internet access and cellular phone coverage. Further, Johnson added, he hopes to correct inaccuracies in “absurd” current county real estate tax assessments.
McWilliams said high tax assessments and job losses are an especially glaring problem with the current economy. Overall, he added, the county budget would be the most important issue. In office, McWilliams said he would rely on locating new business entities and industries to offset real estate taxes.
In a closing statement, Abbs called Johnson out for some decisions he’d made as supervisor. “Not all political experience is good,” she said. Chiefly, Abbs said Johnson had made bad decisions by approving the most recent county budget and by approving a rezoning for the Annadale project.
“Do citizens of Orange County deserve the incumbent’s kind of experience?” Abbs asked.
Meanwhile, Johnson said he looked forward to another term, as an opportunity to nail down some of the county’s most pressing problems: reassessment and taxation, high speed internet access and making the county more business-friendly
McWilliams closed with a vow to maintain open, two-way lines of communication with county residents, if elected to the board of supervisors. He promised to keep citizens informed and to vote based on citizen input. Lastly, he promised to represent District 1 as a “gentleman.”
Orange County voters will make their choice for District 1 supervisor at the Nov. 3 general election, as well as the District 1 school board member. Theresa Carrol is running unopposed for the constitutional office of clerk of Orange County Circuit Court.
The District 4 seat on the board of supervisors is also up for grabs this November, with a three-way race between challenger Ron Matalavage, former supervisor Grover Wilson, and incumbent Teri Pace. Voters in District 4 will also choose a representative for the school board. Candidates in that race are challenger Todd Hensley and incumbent Jerry Bledsoe.