This time County Board Chair Cullers cuts Tederick short in attack on member

During the “Public Comments” portion of the Tuesday (January 4) Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting “private citizen” and recent 2-1/2-year Town of Front Royal appointed interim mayor, interim town manager, and “transition team/manager of business development” Matt Tederick rose to continue his allegations against Shenandoah District Supervisor Walt Mabe begun in the midst of his three-day “cabal theory” tour of December 13 to 15. However, this time things went a little different than Tederick’s initial uninterrupted, lengthy and thus-far unsubstantiated accusations involving Shenandoah District Supervisor Walt Mabe in an early leak of the Town Planning Commission-initiated report on the initial approval process of Mayor Holloway’s construction company’s non-conforming Steele Street subdivision permitting process.

Just in case you miss it coming in the WCGC meeting room door, the Public Comments rules of conduct are also now placed on the speakers’ podium. As noted in the sixth and final bullet point, failing to leave the podium or meeting when asked by the chairman could lead to county and state code criminal charges resulting into up to a $2500 fine and a maximum 12-month jail sentence. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

After being cautioned that he would be limited to the three-minute speaker time limit, Tederick began: “Several weeks ago I came and quoted a newspaper article” at which time the just re-appointed Chairman Cheryl Cullers interrupted to tell Tederick, “If this is going to be another personal attack, I won’t allow it” to which Tederick replied, “I respect that, Ms. Cullers,” adding, “I’m afforded public comment, correct?”

“If it turns to personal attacks I will ask you to be seated,” Cullers responded, leading Tederick to counter, “You listen to my comments and then determine if they’re personal attacks.” For the second time, Tederick requested and was granted a re-starting of the three-minute clock manned by Board Deputy Clerk Emily Ciarrocchi, at which point he restarted his remarks.

County Board Chair Cullers and ‘private citizen’ Tederick during exchange on Public Comments Code of Conduct at outset of his remarks of Jan. 4. Tederick asked to be heard before a chairman’s decision on the nature of his remarks.

“Three weeks ago I came and quoted a newspaper article in the Warren Report (Tederick did not mention the author’s name, Tom Sayre, the incumbent whom Mabe defeated for the Shenandoah District board seat a bit over two years ago). I asked you to look into the clandestine operations of Supervisor Mabe. Based on the agenda today I don’t see any action items. Perhaps during the board reports, someone will have the courage to do the right thing and call for an investigation” at which point Cullers again interrupted.

“Sir, I’m going to stop you. This is turning into a personal attack. If you feel” at which point Tederick interrupted to ask, “Is that where you’re going with this? Let me know today if you’re going to stop me.”

After listening to Tederick’s restating an accusation of what he now terms a ‘clandestine operation’ involving Shenandoah District Supervisor Mabe, Chairman Cullers calls a halt, asking Tederick to return to his seat.

“Yes, sir,” the board chair replied, leading Tederick to leave the podium, but not before adding, “You’ll be hearing from someone.” Whoever it is the board will be hearing from, unlike the December 15 Town Planning Commission meeting following his departure after being challenged on accusations thereby presiding Commission Vice-Chair Connie Marshner, it was not prior to this meeting’s end some five hours later.

Tederick then returned to his seat under the watchful eye of a Warren County Sheriff’s Office deputy on security detail. Tederick remained at the meeting for several minutes into a VDOT report and perhaps a portion of the County Public Schools operational update before exiting as the board waded into a lengthy meeting agenda, closed session, and work session that sent the 10 a.m. meeting beyond 3 p.m.

Tederick responds to Cullers call for unsigned-up Public Comments speakers, beginning at the 8:40 to 8:55 mark of the linked County video.

Re-seated, Tederick expressed some frustration at not being able to continue his thus-far unsubstantiated accusations against a sitting supervisor before deciding to leave the meeting.

Watch the Board of Supervisors meeting of January 4, 2022, click here.