Public hearing draws 47 speakers
The crowd for the public hearing on a proposed ordinance to ban ridge line development in Floyd County didn’t overflow the high school auditorium. About a hundred showed up for the two-and-a-half long hearing where 47 speakers supported the ordinance, opposed it, voiced concern over property rights or — in one case — threatened to [...]
The people speak: January 24, 2012
Public comments before the Floyd County Board of Supervisors at their meeting Tuesday night. Presented without editing or comment for public benefit.
Sulzen new school board chairman
David Sulzen is the new chairman of the Floyd County School Board, replacing Doug Phillips, who ended an 18-year-reign over the county’s educational system. Phillips, who remains on the school board, nominated Sulzen as his replacement. The board also elected Clay Link as vice chair. Phillips leaves the chairmanship after a year of controversy that [...]
Know your county government
With two new members and a new chairman and vice chairman, the Floyd County Board of Supervisors has a new look this year. Here’s a short video with the new and old faces of the board and various elected and appointed officials. Missing are the new treasurer Missy Keith and Commissioner of Revenue Lisa Baker [...]
Status quo rules in Floyd County elections
In the end, an election that some felt would restructure Floyd County’s school board and redefine county government turned into an endorsement of the status quo. Every incumbent on the general election ballot Tuesday won, including three sitting members of the school board and county sheriff Shannon Zeman, who trounced challenger Laura Sparks — a [...]
When politics overwhelms friendships, we all lose
Lunch last week with two friends who approach life from opposite ends of the political spectrum: Fred First, Floyd County’s “first blogger” and Jim Connor, a relatively-recent addition to the area’s population of bloggers and diverse characters. Fred — for the most part — is an unabashed liberal, an ardent environmentalist with a passion for [...]
When a candidate comes to your door, ask some tough questions
Don’t get many political candidates at our door. Maybe it’s the sign in the driveway that says “we shoot every third politician and the second one just left.” With luck, they know better than to waste their time or ours. But a lot of Floyd County residents will find wannabes for office at their door [...]
Calling all Democrats. Hello, any Democrats out there?
Seen any Democrats around here lately? You know, the party of the donkey…or jackass, depending on your point of view. With the ballot set for the upcoming local and state election you will not find a single Democrat running for any office in Floyd County. No one. Not one. Nada. Back in the 1960s my [...]
Ingram’s loss not that surprising
Longtime Floyd County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Ingram’s loss to political newcomer Lauren Yoder in the Saturday GOP canvass surprised few. It’s a bad year for incumbents and the furor over tax hikes a few months ago signaled trouble for anyone who supported the hikes. The local tea party hasn’t taken credit for Yoder’s [...]
Politics, partisans and stereotyping
A member of the local tea party got in my face during a break at the monthly board of supervisors meeting Tuesday and claimed I was “biased” and “not a real conservative.” Well, he was half-right. I’m not a conservative. I’m not a liberal. I’m not a Democrat. I’m not a Republican. I’m an American [...]