Letter to the Eastern Shore News, October 13, 2007

Thornton will ‘make up facts on the fly’

To the editor:
This letter is based on an excerpt from the Oct. 1 Chincoteague Town Council meeting and printed in the ChincoteagueReports.com Web site.

This type of manipulation and fact-twisting is a grave disservice to the brave men and women of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co.

It is a grave disservice to the Town Council and the residents of our fine island. Our fire company deserves more. Our citizens deserve more. They deserve, pardon my French, the truth.

Unfortunately, my opponent’s propensity to interpret and make up facts on the fly was the reason I passed on the many meet the candidates forums.

This was a calculated risk on my part. I believed that I would be better served meeting the town residents one on one than trying to respond to the hyperbolic situations my opponent would have thrown at me.

Our fire company has faithfully served our island for over 83 years. Their efforts at saving lives and protecting property are second to none. Our hats should always be off in salute to these fine volunteers.

Let no one question my resolve in my support of our fire company. Anyone who knows me is aware that I’ve been a regular volunteer at the carnival for decades. As to leave no doubt, let the record show that I strongly and emphatically support our Fire Company and the role they play in the community.

Again, the county is not going to, nor is it attempting to, take over the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co. Furthermore, the notion that the county would take our engines and ambulances and move them to the mainland is asinine. Who would want to be responsible for the lives that would be lost by such a move?

The County Supervisor for District 1 should be ashamed for the anxiety and fear she caused the residents of our fine Island and she owes the town and fire company an apology.

Although I may not be around another 83 years the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company will be.

Terry Elliott

Chincoteague