Editor, The Smithfield Times:

In a recent letter to the editor (“Bowman backs Gibbs, Collins,” Oct. 16), the mayor reminded us of his career in law enforcement and his appointments by three former Virginia governors. With this background and in his current capacity as mayor, he feels uniquely qualified to tell us how to vote.

He contends that he has not aggressively asked for our vote in the past, but last year he wrote a long letter to the editor endorsing Renee Rountree for county supervisor. This is the same Rountree who has never met a housing development that she didn’t like. While on the Town Council, she supported the Mallory Scott development and the Grange development. Now, her rampage continues as she supported the approval of the Sweetwater housing development.

The mayor is now asking you to vote for Collins and Gibbs. The mayor emphasized that both men were good sailors. This quality does not uniquely qualify them for Town Council, as this community has a large retired military population.

In addition, the mayor makes a weak argument that the four other candidates for the council all live in the Historic District and that somehow this represents a threat to democracy. Collins and Gibbs both live in Cypress Creek. Does this represent a disqualifier for them since they love close to each other?

Here is the bottom line. The four new candidates who live in the historical district represent a threat to the mayor’s power base. The mayor, Collins and Gibbs are all pro-growth. Gibbs in particular lent strong support for the Mallory Scott development. 

The four new candidates feel that we need a housing moratorium. Thousands of houses have already been approved that have yet to be built. If you want growth, vote for Collins and Gibbs. If you want a moratorium, vote for Mary Ellen Bebermeyer, Darren Cutler, Mike Smith and Bill Harris.

 

R.K. Redlin

Smithfield