REFLECTIONS ...continued from p. 1
reaching out to some of the newer Stokesdale residents who are living in the subdivisions and had not previously participated in the direction of the town. As a result of our efforts, I was most proud to see such a diverse group of citizens come out to vote. “I will be working with the other council members to identify opportunities to address the many concerns that were expressed from the citizens.”
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I liken the last two years to driving through a wildfire,” said Scott Whitaker, Summerfield town manager. “The landscape is burning around you and survival (of the town) replaces normal business. But the flames are mainly in the rearview mirror now, the smoke is clearing, and I think the road ahead for Summerfield will be easier to navigate. Perspective reminds us that we’re still a young, desirable town with growth pressures and finding our way.
“Mayor-elect (BJ) Barnes and I have talked about expectations and early initiatives. I know him and incoming Council members Sessoms and DeVaney expect solid working relationships, and believe their motives are honorable and geared toward town improvement. I’m looking forward to Council being more unified, professional, and policy-focused with staff supporting their directives… and to less brimstone and more sun.”
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The biggest thing that surprised me is how many young families are here in Oak Ridge,” Doug Nodine said of what he learned in conversations with people leading up to the Nov. 5 election. Nodine was recently elected to his second term on the council. “I was shocked. And of course, they have a whole different set of ideas that they are interested in, as opposed to us old fogeys up here (referring to himself and his fellow council members). I think maybe we haven’t got out and spoken to them enough to find out their interests. If you look at the age of the people who have the time to serve on this council versus the younger people, you
can see why there is a big difference in what we think should be versus what they would like. So I think that helped (to talk with those with younger families – that was an eye-opener for me.” Nodine said the town park master plan is one area where he hopes to implement citizen input he recently gained. “We’ve got a lot of people interested in more horse activity, trails, and maybe even incorporating the horse trails in with the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. And surprisingly, there is a lot of interest from people interested in re-instituting the Oak Ridge Horse Show.”
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I am thankful for the support and the confidence that 229 people placed in me by voting for me. It is indeed humbling to consider,” said Tim Jones, who lost his bid for reelection to Stokesdale Town Council. “Hopefully someone better suited for the position will want to seek office in the future to protect our citizens and I will be able to help them do so. “I would have preferred the 2019 election contest have been about votes I have made in the past and issues that concern the Town going forward. Instead the campaign for me, anyway, became about trying to defend myself from so many wild and questionable accusations being made by a handful of unscrupulous people. It is clear that groups of voters may have been unknowingly used to the disadvantage of average individual voters
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14
NOV. 14 - 20, 2019
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
in Stokesdale. This is in part a function of a new and larger Town population where people don’t know and respect each other as a whole like they once did. Nonetheless, I am confident our citizens and our form of government are the best. “… I am especially looking forward to not having any responsibility to attempt to monitor the Town finances in a hostile and dysfunctional environment. I have voted my conscious each and every time. The other Council members and Town staff own what they have done at this point. I am not going to be part of a Tammany Hall/Boss Tweed administration. “I hope the new Town Council members can deliver on their promises for so many new or expanded services without a property tax. If they can, they should indeed be on the Town Council instead of me and I will be the first to applaud them.”
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I have every morning spent time trying to put together my feelings concerning this election. Since I don’t believe in spin, I’d just like to thank the people who have the faith in me to hold a council seat,” said Jimmy Landreth, newly elected Stokesdale Town Council member. “I would like to say I will never disappoint anyone, but I know that won’t be true no matter how hard I try. I will attempt to be open, honest and use common sense. I’ll do my best to show respect to citizens, staff and council members even when disagreeing.”
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