In 2011, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors decided then to break with tradition and not elevate Supervisor James Holland (Dale-D) to Board Chairman. In typical back room deal fashion- denied of course by Supervisor Gecker and Jaeckle---Holland's consideration at the last minute was removed and instead Supervisor Art Warren would Chair the Board. This would satisfy two interests in the County; one the interest that wants to control the agenda and two, the old line that had no desire for Chesterfield to have its first African-American Chairman. The former is important because of the issues that we face as a County, especially the new Comprehensive Plan as well as the potential shortfall in school funding moving forward. The latter of course would be denied publicly that such notion even exist on the Board or in the County, but we as citizens no better. You do not break tradition for no reason and the manner in which it was done whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent is shameful.
That said, we learn today that Supervisor Daniel Gecker (Midlothian-D) has been elected by the Board to be Chairman for 2012 and Supervisor Dorthy Jaeckle (Bermuda-R) as the Vice Chairman which is the same duo that thwarted Mr. Holland's elevation in 2011 who they perceived as aligned with former Supervisor Marlene Durfee from Matoaca. During the process, Mr. Holland has set an example of grace and integrity while his colleagues have demonstrated a willingness to return Chesterfield County back four decades and have shown themselves to be true "political animals". Supervisor Holland abstained from voting on the Chairmanship issue this week and rose above the 2011 matter and demonstrated true leadership in this regard. All too often our Board plays to its lowest denominator and is more about "personalities" than issues. Frankly, this was the issue that Supervisors over the last four years could not rise above and in large part you have elected officials like Supervisor Gecker that do not particularly liked to be questioned on anything nor do they willing accept accountability let alone be held accountable by colleagues in a public forum. This was why over the last four years our Board has become so contentious. Some Supervisors did not feel comfortable with the challenges being made by former Supervisor Durfee regarding policy and frankly the influence peddling going on at the County level.
I recall one discussion with Ms. Durfee in 2010 regarding zoning and development with regard to both the residential side but also the commercial but in particular the government-related projects that were underway in the County. It made little sense to many of us that schools were costing dramatically more to build in Chesterfield County- even when you remove land as compared to other localities when these projects were often being undertaken by the same firms. These same firms were also engaged not only in school projects but also government buildings and residential developments. The question arose just how is it the the same firms seem to be winning the majority of these contracts in Chesterfield. Are we as a County getting the best bang for our buck? Ms. Durfee challenged many things in her term and frankly many people in the halls of County government and the Board did not like that, but especially Supervisor Gecker. The matter would always be dismissed as "styles" publicly, but in truth the matter was many did not want to address publicly many of these matters that they intended to keep below the radar. It did not matter that Durfee voiced concerns over Cosby High School- size and scope, location of middle school as well- along with hundreds of residents demanding the school be built for at the very least 2,200. Of course, these number was ignored and the project moved forward in a manner that the established interests wanted and in the end Cosby High School was over capacity within one full year of opening. The most shameful result is the lack on responsibility and accountability by those on the Board then and now regarding this issue. Will the Board have anyone in 2012 on it to hold others accountable or is this Board hoping that the silent majority (citizens) remain silent? It is no secret that members wanted Durfee gone and it very well may have been more her than Holland himself that prevented Holland from assuming the role of Chairman in 2011, but do not forget who has benefited from that back room deal. The proof is now in the pudding!
It hard to tell what shape the new Board will take under the direction of Supervisor Gecker as Chairman. Gecker has been all over the map on various issues, especially the Comprehensive Planning debate where his influence from his urban planning background that appears aligned with such policy as Agenda 21 and very well may have been a participating factor in the Renaissance Group being selected to devise the Chesterfield Comprehensive Plan. We should all watch this issue and the debate that ensues with the January 25, 2012 Public Hearing on the Comp Plan, which will be f the first major policy issue this Board faces in 2012. Gecker has proven not to be a friend of the CCPS and the School Board and has been more critical of that body than any other member on the Board in recent years and his relationship with his district's School Board Representative Patty Carpenter-Midlothian has been tenuous at best.
At this point it is apparent that we have no way of knowing just which Chairman of the Board of Supervisors will lead the new Board; Supervisor Jekyll or Chairman Hyde!!!
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