"Good ol boys" column is criticized

Dear Editor,

Your "Media Watch" criticism of the "Good ol' boys" report in the Richmond Times- Dispatch by Katherine Calos indicates you apparently do not understand exactly what is required to make one a "good ol' boy." It has nothing to do with where one was born, whether they are male or female, or where they might have lived for any part of their lives. It has to do with actions taken by one "good ol' boy" for the benefit of another person, another "good ol' boy," usually to the detriment of the general public. As in: Since I am a member of the board of supervisors I am omnipotent and am entitled to look after my "good ol' boy" land development friends and grant rezonings to them even though it is not in the best interests of the county or its citizens.

For the past 30 years and maybe longer, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors has been comprised of a majority that were "good ol' boys." It did not matter whether they were male or female, or whether or not they were lifelong residents of the county. They made decisions to benefit their friends and associates without regard to how such decisions would adversely impact the county. Their "good ol' boy" votes have directly resulted in the lack of infrastructure we now face. Other counties within the metropolitan Richmond area long ago rid themselves of their "good ol' boys," and those board members have been trying to make decisions for the well-being of their counties and constituents. Whereas, it was only in the last election that the citizens of Chesterfield finally disposed themselves of their "good ol' boys."

Ms. Calos' article was right on. Chesterfield's board of supervisors was the last county in the metropolitan Richmond area to rid themselves of "good ol' boys," making her article accurate and timely. Shame on you for criticizing her article.

Ridding ourselves of "good ol' boys" in the last election was probably our last best chance to regain control of runaway land development that could very well end up destroying the financial well-being of Chesterfield County. I only hope it is not too late.

Terry L. Cook

Midlothian

Dear Editor,

I am mildly surprised that you had a hard time figuring out who the "good ol' boys" are in the county. Could it be that looking at it from the lifelong Chesterfield resident pointof view was feigned ignorance?

The Richmond Times-Dispatch article you mention stating, "The good ol' boys are gone," was only partially correct. It is true for the board of supervisors, but they still populate many seats around the courthouse. But, who was Ms. Calos referring to? Was it just oldtime residents? That would be a smear against many old-timers in the county.

No, it was what many see as an informal alliance of some who have attained a position of influence and who see no problem with the idea that since they are doing some good for the county residents, they have no problem helping themselves and their buddies... and it has nothing to do with gender.

An excellent example of the good ol' boy network in operation was the board of supervisors requiring the addition of the road, complete with sidewalks, behind the Cosby High School. It goes nowhere, but permits access to developer-owned land. This added almost three-quarters of a million dollars to the already inflated cost of the palatial high school.

With the new board of supervisors we have the opportunity of seeing our county government work for the good of all the citizens of the county, not just have government of the few for the few.

Larry Miller

Chesterfield