LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Chesterfield leadership is defended
 

Dear Editor,

As a Chesterfield resident since this county was predominantly an agricultural county and someone who has seen his share of municipal leadership, I feel strongly compelled to respond to Mr. Srock (Letter to the Editor July 12, 2005).

I can't argue that the members of our Board of Supervisors are perfect. Yes, they have indeed done some things that made me and about everybody around me ask, "What were they thinking?" But to call for the entire board to be "thrown out of office" is way off base and completely without much thought or consideration of exactly how far we have come. While I don't expect my leadership to be perfect in every way, I do, however, demand that my county leadership be responsible stewards of my tax money and create a better than average way of life for all citizens within our county. I want the slogan a "first choice" community to ring true.

This county is considered one of the best managed municipalities in this Commonwealth, and has been recognized across the nation as a community to live, work and raise children in for several years. Since I know many people who have "come here" from other parts of the country and who have told me about all the research and investigation of communities around the country that they have done before deciding on Chesterfield, I can say with some hometown pride that we are indeed a first choice community.

I submit that we are experiencing phenomenal growth beyond our initial expectations and that is where our biggest challenge is today. I dare say that we have problems no doubt that 90 percent of this country's municipalities would welcome. I applaud our county leadership, and I applaud the efforts of this paper to keep the good, the bad and the ugly right square out in front so the readers can make educated choices come election time.

Perhaps Mr. Srock would prefer the alternative example of municipal management that has been played out over the years by our neighbor to the north whose only saving grace is finally having a mayor willing to try to turn it around. By comparison to that cesspool of graft, corruption and rampant mismanagement next door, we ain't looking too shabby.

Chris Bates

Chesterfield County

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