EDA Part Two?

The late writer and philosopher George Santayana once stated: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  I would add my personal opine that those who are well aware of the past yet chose to ignore it for personal AND POLITICAL gain are a danger to our very existence.  Enter our current Warren County Board of Supervisors (except Cheryl Cullers and some appropriate questions from Delores Oates), a town councilman, and our current Sheriff.  As evidenced by the recent Board of Supervisors meeting, it is painfully apparent that the coddling of our current Sheriff, despite his complete incompetence, lack of integrity, and embarrassment of a budget presentation, has potentially set us up for yet another financial scandal in our beloved community.

“Not knowing” where over $20,000 is being spent, yet is listed as an item which is already covered by the overall county budget, in addition to a $10,000 line item for canine toys and accessories, and a half-egged response when questioned about it, are prime examples of said incompetence.  Despite this, the apparent crush that our BOS Chairwoman, her colleagues (minus Cullers and Oates), a town councilman, and (some might argue) the editor of this publication (many of whom I truly, consider my friends) has/have with our current sheriff leaves me scratching my bald head, with the sad reality that I will not be growing hair back anytime soon.

Why?  These are the same people that all but trample our School System Superintendent when he and School Board Chairwoman Dr. Kristin Pence go before the same board only to get grilled over every aspect of their budget.  Can any of these individuals mentioned look “anyone” in the eyes and say that they would not flip out if our School Board Chairwoman or Superintendent went before them, were asked about a $20,000 line item, and their response was “Uhhhhh, I don’t know?”  Give me a break!!

The hypocrisy and double standard here (from people I consider my friends) who claim to be men and women of God demand transparency yet openly campaign for a sheriff who has been deemed unable to testify in any case due to a documented lack of integrity at his previous law enforcement job, and have no questions (except Cullers and Oates) about these matters, is most troubling.  Oh, how I miss Bebhin Egger!! One can only hope (and pray, as I make no apologies for doing daily) that, come November, the voters of my beloved town and county will see through this, demand appropriate change (with their voices and votes) at the Sheriff’s Office so that we do not have an “EDA Part 2” on our hands and once again return to HELLTOWN.

Michael S. Williams
Front Royal, VA

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 statements and claims presented in the letters have not been independently verified by the Royal Examiner. Readers are encouraged to exercise their own judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information provided in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish a diverse range of 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 taken 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 in any other form.

We value the engagement of our readers 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 violates 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.