Well, it's over. As we peer through the fog of the aftermath we see that our two appointees were a foregone conclusion. We also see that nepotism was never a consideration in the realm of ethics when it came to making these appointments, one could easily go so far as to say it's just another case of the good ole boy syndrome. However, as usual in situations of change, most often the best approach is the wait and see approach.
In that, I feel I can give Tom Moore and E. Doug Jones my congratulations, if warranted, and if real, immediate and positive changes begin to take place give Tom and Doug my full support.
If things continue to languish as they have, if the downtown area remains neglected, if the curbs on Van Buren street remain in need of replacement or repair, if dirt is allowed to remain piled in the street corners, if family homes continue to be converted to rentals, we will not wait forever. If it becomes absolutely necessary, we feel there is enough support from the new regime of concerned homeowners to foment even more change. Perhaps the type of change that only the democratic political process can bring about.
We have managed to shed more light and attention on our town board selection process than ever before in my 18 years of Leesburg residency. This I find not only very encouraging, but somewhat amazing. Up to now town board members and employees seemed to appear out of nowhere. No meeting, no caucus, no news, no nothing.
This new awareness is due in large part to the pressure of the Internet as a new medium for openness and truth in reporting. I would like to personally thank Stacey Page for her avid interest and Gary Gerard for being up to the challenge and giving our situation equal coverage.
Also, I would like to thank all the people who have voiced their support for me as a candidate and remind everyone to attend the town board meetings (second Monday of every month, time subject to change) and encourage those who like to use the Internet as a medium to maintain pressure on our appointed officials to visit communityscoop.com, and check out the Leesburg Town Board discussion thread. We have learned if nothing else that left to its own device, without any checks and balances, the ethics of this process can and will be stretched to its limits.
In the meantime, we will wait, we will attend, we will watch and we will see.
