10/3/01
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Board, my name is Brenda Beazley.  As disappointing as you may find it, I don't intend to make a habit of this; but as you may recall, I did address this Board at your September 19 meeting, with concerns about Board of Election Guidelines as applied by our County to certain candidates for Board of Supervisor.  I spoke of these concerns after first declaring my pride in being an American citizen, my sorrow for our Nation's losses, and my support for our National leaders.  And I spoke of not losing sight of the local picture in light of the other very big picture.  Who among us can ever lose sight of that?  

You'll also recall that two other citizens spoke at that meeting regarding other serious issues affecting this community.  One citizen did speak of the personal losses he and his family experienced with the World Trade Center Attacks.  Concerns were raised about numerous other issues:  thefts and vandalism of campaign signs, questionable appointments of certain citizens to local commissions, landfill violations, and even a child playing among the hazards at the landfill.  These are VERY serious issues.  

YET, after the citizens finished addressing the Board, I heard you Mr. Chairman, make a remark that admittedly I reacted quite abruptly to in protest.  For the next few days following the meeting, I reflected on my response to your comments to determine if maybe I had over-reacted or even misunderstood what you had said.  I asked other witnesses what they had observed and I even replayed the tape of that portion of the meeting so I could be absolutely certain of what I heard.  Well, I was right about what I heard and I didn't misunderstand anything.  

For one thing, you referred to this forum as Public Opinion, as opposed to Public Comments, with Mr. Gardner speaking in agreement with you.  Not a bad observation actually.  But you then stated "these activities that continue to be reinforced are very petty," though, yes, in light of the Nation being very nearly at War.  Well, my OPINION of what really takes the pettiness prize is that, upon hearing a citizen talk of the losses experienced by himself and his family in the World Trade Center Attacks, you Mr. Chairman, found it somehow necessary to attempt a one-upmanship of this man's suffering by BOASTING of your own and your families' personal contributions.  

Few enough citizens ever take time out of their lives, from perhaps more pressing personal needs, even in good times much less tragic times, to get involved or stay aware of local issues.  This past year we saw how many tried to get involved, though, didn't we?  Allowing the public to express concerns at these meetings helps our entire community, good times or bad, because what happens here locally is the first link in the chain of democracy, on which our Nation was founded.  

Now, I was just sure enough, in fact, even to write it down here, that I would sit here, in this audience just now, listening to the Call to Order, the Reports, and the Opening Remarks, that I would NOT hear you make an apology, just for the record, for the callously PETTY remarks you made to the citizens at that last meeting--though I was prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt, which obviously wasn't necessary.  These are citizens themselves who have given blood, donated money, and made other significant contributions since this horrible National tragedy that you have not even a single clue about.  

I may be foolish yes for EXPECTING an apology from you, but certainly not foolish for KNOWING you OWE one to all the citizens, to your fellow board members, and to your staff, for the mockery you have made of democracy here in Fluvanna County.  Now this is just my Public Opinion understand, and for that I'm grateful, so grateful, in fact, it could just become habit-forming.

Thank you.