THE REFUSENIKS:
CANDIDATES AND SUPERVISORS
WHO REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN SON’S SURVEY

There are sixteen candidates for election to the Accomack County Board of Supervisors in November. SONs representatives contacted all of them requesting participation in our survey of views and issues. Eleven of these candidates responded willingly and frankly, allowing the public to hear their views. Five candidates did not.

Kay Lewis (D4) did not respond to 9 phone messages or a copy of the survey mailed to her. Tim Raynor (D2) refused to participate despite 6 phone calls, a mailing and emails, citing a discussion with Wanda Thornton as part of his reasoning. Reneta Major (D9) initially refused then said she would submit her responses directly to the newspaper, to which we agreed. As of September 17th, she had not done so. Donald Hart (D8) and Wanda Thornton (D1) refused to participate.

Refused?

It is appropriate to comment about those who did not respond or refused to respond. SONs believes that a candidate for public office has the obligation to communicate his or her positions to the electorate. We may not agree with everything a candidate thinks, says or does but we all have a right to know.

We agree with many things the Board has done in recent years. We might, in fact, agree with the Refuseniks on certain issues, if we had the benefit of hearing their opinions. Too often, opinions are formed from hearsay or as a response to a single issue. This was a golden opportunity to reset one’s publicly held beliefs on a wide set of issues that the candidates could largely define. This applies equally to us as it does to them

Some Candidates have complained that they have not been treated fairly in the press or by us. How audacious that they should make this complaint but not attempt to set the record straight on equal terms with the rest of the field. Gone are the days in which we simply take people at face value and put them in positions of considerable authority without understanding what they would do to serve us responsibly.

Supervisors are elected to spend our tax dollars wisely and appropriately in pursuit of better services and better standards of living for all residents. As taxpayers, we have the right to know what their intentions are.

Additionally, candidates already serving in office have the benefit and familiarity of knowing what challenges the County faces. Through their experience, as elected officials, we think they are morally obliged to tell us how they would make the County a better place to live for all residents. To refuse to participate when objectivity and knowledge have been promised is simply arrogance.

To Reneta Major, Tim Raynor, Wanda Thornton, Kay Lewis and Donald Hart we say “shame on you” for refusing to participate. We are disappointed at your refusal to engage a legitimate public discussion. You demonstrate disrespect to the voters you allegedly serve for thinking that you have no obligation to respond to reasonable questions asked in a reasonable way.

To all five of you, we say, that if you will not communicate where you stand, you are unworthy to serve.

If you have questions or comments or would like to respond please click here.