Front Royal Town Council Candidates Forum – big on goals, sparse on how to achieve them

On Thursday evening, October 11, six candidates for three seats on the Front Royal Town Council took center stage in the Warren County Government Center.  Those candidates were, from left on the dais: Alford D. Carter, incumbent Gary Gillespie, former councilman Chris Holloway, incumbent Chris Morrison, Latasha Thompson and Robert “Robbie” Tennett Jr.

The occasion less than a month from Election Day was the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum.  The six Front Royal Town Council candidates fielded submitted questions approved by chamber officials under criteria that allows for no follow up, nor any questions specific to a candidate’s track record or past political history.

Even in that general issues-based format things proceeded somewhat hesitantly from the start.  Confronted by questions, one candidate was twice reduced to initial replies of “Wow” followed by thoughtful pauses and one “I could say there is or I could say otherwise” answer; another repeatedly forgot to turn his microphone back on in order to be heard throughout the room; and numerous “Could you repeat the question” requests were heard following previous responders somewhat meandering answers.

The short version summary of what you are about to watch is: most of us think lots of things should be done to improve the town, including economic development and good jobs, improved road infrastructure, more downtown parking, more competitive town employee wages, not to mention enforcement of a harsher property maintenance code to provide a reasonable living situation for all town citizens.

And while generally agreeing tax hikes are a universally bad thing despite the town’s exceptionally low tax rate, no substantive suggestions were heard from any of the candidates on alternative means of generating municipal revenue to pay for what virtually all agreed were needed infrastructure or human service programs.

But see for yourself – here is your 2018 field of six for three seats on the Front Royal Town Council: