Hampton Park board deprives member's rights

Dear Editor,

The residents of Hampton Park should recall the other members of their board, rather than Shelly Schuetz [Mar. 28]. The other members of the Hampton Park Homeowners Association Board of Directors seem to believe that a benefit one derives from serving on their board is the forfeiture of one's First Amendment rights.

Instead of a recall, the residents of Hampton Park should be throwing Shelly a party and giving her a standing ovation for taking time away from her family to research issues and present her views on them to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and School Board. On many occasions I have been present when Shelly has spoken to each of these public bodies. Each and every time, Shelly has spoken as a resident of the Matoaca District and a citizen of Chesterfield County. Unless one has taken the time and effort to research issues, prepare a presentation and stand up in public to present your position to both your elected officials and a cable television audience, criticizing someone else for having the gumption and the wherewithal to do so is nothing short of "spineless."

During the discussions of the middle school in 2004, Shelly used her own finances and creativity to develop an eye-catching and effective personal media campaign.

To Shelly I say, "Thank you and don't let the crab mentality pull you down or slow you down. You're doing something right or they wouldn't be after you!"

To the whiners, I mean other board members, "Get a life and be willing to give someone credit for doing what you are only willing to sit back and complain about."

If we had more people, like Shelly Schuetz, as devoted and committed to preserving our quality of life, ensuring that our children have proper educational facilities in which to learn and grow, and looking over the shoulders of our elected officials, then just maybe we wouldn't find ourselves in the dilemma in which we find ourselves in 2007!

Bob Herndon

Chesterfield

For an update on the Hampton Park recall vote, see story on page 5. Editor

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