Republican Committee Tables Vote on Anti-Data Center Resolution, Rejects Adding Primary Winner Tony Carter to Sample Ballots

The September 25th meeting of the Warren County Republican Committee faced at least one major agenda Action item. That item was consideration of a Resolution codifying the committee’s opposition to any future granting of licences for Data Centers in the county. — Well, almost “any” as the draft resolution specifies a data center “that requires space in excess of 3,000 square feet to operate”.

However, prior to a vote on tabling that item for further consideration, contentious, sometimes heated arguments were heard, not only on that matter, but also on whether the committee’s November election sample ballots should include Republican Primary winner Tony Carter for the Happy Creek District Board of Supervisors. Carter was not present to make his case to the committee members present.

Tom Ranieri, author of the anti-Data Center Resolution, explains why he thinks such a policy statement by the Republican Committee is essential moving forward. Below, Ranieri and Crystal Cline, standing to the left, still sporting her Sheriff’s work clothes, which became an issue for some present, were at odds on Ranieri’s draft resolution. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

After lengthy, as noted above, often contentious discussion the committee first cast a unanimous voice vote to table action on the draft Data Center Resolution just over an hour into the meeting. Then about 25 minutes later near the meeting’s end, on another voice vote the committee members present rejected adding Carter’s name to the committee’s November election sample ballots. This reporter’s notes cite the voice vote beginning with a loud “AYE” in support of Carter’s inclusion of Republican candidates, with a somewhat LOUDER “NAY” vote following.

According to Committee Secretary Scott Lloyd, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Chairman Tom McFadden Jr., a total of 22 committee members signed into the meeting and were likely all still present for the data center vote. Lloyd then estimated the departure of four members prior to the vote on Carter’s inclusion on Republican Committee sample ballots, leaving a total of 18 present for the split Carter vote as 8:30 p.m. approached.

Committee Secretary Scott Lloyd, to right, chaired the meeting in the absence of Chairman Tom McFadden Jr.

The names of involved participants in either or both matters included draft data-center resolution writer Tom Ranieri, Sheriff Crystal Cline, who opposed that resolution, Cline’s husband George Cline who is running for the Fork District School Board seat, Fork District Supervisors candidate Hugh Henry and his wife, Front Royal Mayor Lorie Athey Cockrell, town Councilwoman Melissa DeDemonico-Payne, current School Board member Melanie Salins, among others we did not get names of. Like Carter, both George Cline and Hugh Henry have stated strong support of Samuels Library.

Mayor Cockrell strongly defended Happy Creek supervisors primary winner Carter’s inclusion on the election sample ballot. She pointed to long-time family and political connections, including between Carter and her brother, former Front Royal Mayor and Republican State Delegate Clay Athey.

Front Royal Mayor Lorie Cockrell, standing, defended Happy Creek Supervisors candidate and Republican Primary winner Tony Carter’s inclusion on the committee’s sample ballots. She cited Carter’s long ties to the Republican Party, including her brother Clay Athey, a former Republican state delegate.

On the other side, Carter was vilified for a lack of recent committee interaction and for being a supervisor “involved in a scandal”. That scandal was the circa-2014/2018 Economic Development Authority (EDA) misdirection of EDA assets. It should be noted that while the sitting County elected officials and some County staff were legally cited for their failure to initially uncover the misdirection of EDA assets under the direction of then EDA Executive Director Jennifer McDonald, now in prison on related criminal convictions, day-to-day oversight of EDA business was the primary responsibility of EDA Board of Director members appointed by the county’s, and prior to 2012 also the Town’s, elected officials.

Matthew Perdie, standing under the watchful gaze of George Cline at left, was at odds with much of what Sheriff Crystal Cline said on the topics addressed. Below in red shirt to left, Fork District Supervisors candidate Hugh Henry makes a point in support of Sheriff Cline’s comments in support of Samuels Library. And finally, a longer perspective on the meeting room gallery where 22 committee members signed in to participate and/or vote.

Shadow of Library debate?

One is left to wonder in the wake of the divisive tone of much of the meeting discussion whether the rejection of the Republican Primary winner Carter’s name from committee sample ballots relates to an apparent committee division on the issue of the Samuels Public Library. Happy Creek District county board candidate Carter has come out of his retirement from the Warren County Board of Supervisors in strong support of maintaining the County’s 100-plus year Public/Private Partnership with the private entity that evolved into Samuels Public Library in the 1950s. Fork District supervisor candidate Hugh Henry and School Board candidate George Cline, both of whom were present at Thursday evening’s Republican Committee meeting, have, like Carter, come out in strong support of the multiple award-winning, current Virginia “Library of the Year 2024.”

However, there appears to be a significant portion of the current Republican Committee membership with policy ties to anti-Samuels Supervisors Richard Jamieson and John Stanmeyer.

So, stay tuned, electoral politics fans, as the November 4th election approaches and the dueling isn’t only across political Party lines, but within at least one Party, which has been the dominant one in local politics here in Warren County, Virginia, for some time.