Opinion
Forum Absences Spark Debate in Front Royal Mayoral and Council Race
I attended the forum in the Royal Cinemas Theater on Wednesday, October 30th, for the six candidates running for Front Royal mayor and Town Council and was appalled that the three candidates endorsed by the Warren County Republican Committee (WCRC) were not present.
Were they afraid to face hard questions from the audience?
The event was not held as early as originally planned. The reason is that when the Chamber of Commerce elected not to hold a forum on the mayor and Town Council races, it took time to locate a sponsor and a venue.
We are grateful that the Front Royal Independent Business Alliance (FRIBA) agreed to be the sponsor, and that the owner of Royal Cinemas Theater made the theater available. All six candidates received an email from Rob MacDougall, organizer of the forum, at the same time 10 days before the event.
Three candidates responded enthusiastically. They said they would be there and rearranged their busy schedule for October 30th. The three candidates were mayoral candidate Tom Eschelman and Town Council candidates Walt Mabe and Glenn Wood.
The other three candidates invited to the event — all endorsed by the Warren County Republic Committee — said they would not be able to attend. They were mayoral candidate Lori Cockrell and Town Council candidates Melissa DeDomenico-Payne and Wayne Sealock.
I was very disappointed — as a lifelong conservative — that the leadership of the Warren County Republican Committee (WCRC) didn’t encourage their candidates to be present. I am not impressed with the WCRC leadership at the present time.
One lady present at the forum said it was, by far, the most informative candidates’ forum she had ever attended. She said questions from the audience — missing from past forums in this community — were long overdue.
I know Lori Cockrell well. I have talked to her on many occasions. I have the greatest respect for her personally. She has given unselfishly of her time as mayor and many other worthy community causes. If Lori wins this election, I will congratulate her and wish her well as mayor. I voted for her the last time she ran.
However, in this non-partisan race, I am definitely voting for Tom Eschelman for mayor — and I strongly encourage all Republicans, Democrats, and independents in Front Royal to do the same. Tom has the background and experience that Lori lacks. At this time in our town’s history, we badly need people with business experience in the mayor’s office and on the Town Council.
I encourage everyone to vote for Tom Eshelman for mayor on November 5th.
A Front Royal resident since 2011
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.
While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.
In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or any other form.
We value our readers’ engagement and encourage open and constructive discussions on various topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violations of any legal regulations. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors, and we look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.