Supervisor decries public harassment of family; BOS chairman calls for consolidation

In the wake of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (EDA) financial scandal, the two leaders of the Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) this week individually made two very different requests of their constituents.

BOS Chairman Daniel Murray called for consolidation of the Town of Front Royal and Warren County governments, while BOS Vice Chairman Thomas Sayre denounced the public harassment of his family members.

Both supervisors, along with the other three supervisors and several other local individuals, were indicted last month by a special grand jury that’s investigating potential criminality related to the EDA financial fraud investigation and civil litigation.

Supervisor Tom Sayre ask not to post things about his family on Facebook. “Please leave my family alone”, he said. Photo and video by Mike McCool, Royal Examiner.

Subsequently, some enraged area taxpayers have written negative comments online about Sayre’s family, he said during the board members’ report portion of the BOS meeting on October 15.

“I have a statement to make,” began Sayre, shaking his head back and forth. “I have seen on Facebook and other posts attacking my daughter, my son and my wife. I find that conduct outrageous.”

Looking out into the audience Sayre said: “To those doing this, please leave my family alone.”

Without naming names, Sayre said the treatment started roughly two weeks ago, shortly after all five BOS members were indicted on Sept. 20 by the Warren County Special Grand Jury. The supervisors then were among the total of 14 indicted individuals who presented themselves at the Magistrate’s Office at the Rappahannock-Shenandoah-Warren County Regional Jail on September 24 and 25, to be arraigned and then released on their own recognizance.

Sayre told the audience on Tuesday that they probably knew who was posting the disparaging remarks online about his family, but said, “I’m not going to give anybody the notoriety they’re seeking. It’s sick.”

Noting that new posts appeared online this week further slamming his family, Sayre said, “It’s stuff that’s just mind boggling and it’s not even close to being true.

“So, please, leave my family alone will ya?” he said, putting emphasis on the last two words.

“We should be one government for all,” Murray said. “This will stop finger-pointing and put a lot of things at rest.”

Murray then made his statement, saying he’s challenging the new BOS in January to research and implement a plan for consolidation.

“We should be one government for all,” Murray said. “This will stop finger-pointing and put a lot of things at rest.”

The BOS chairman added that too many falsehoods are floating around the community, though he didn’t elaborate on them.

“And remember, Facebook is a publication and what’s put on Facebook could be handled legally,” he said.

The Royal Examiner camera was there. Watch the Board of Supervisors reports and public comments in this exclusive video: