Transparency News, 8/13/21

In 2012, then-Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe told an employee to drive McCabe’s girlfriend and her mother to Atlantic City, the employee testified. It wasn’t the first time Gerry Sharrow had driven for the sheriff. As an administrative assistant for the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, Sharrow said he chauffeured McCabe to ODU football games and golf outings, picked up the sheriff’s son from school and retrieved people from the airport. Sharrow said he sometimes worked 80 hours a week and wore a suit — sometimes a tuxedo jacket and hat — when he drove, at the sheriff’s request. He said he was trained to do whatever McCabe told him: “I never said no to the sheriff.”
The Virginian-Pilot

A Chesterfield County substitute judge said two political donations listed in his name actually came from his wife through a joint account, and said state investigators dismissed a complaint against him. Two donations of $250 listed as from Judge Timothy Hauler appeared on a campaign finance report of Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Cox, a state delegate from Colonial Heights who was unsuccessful in this year’s GOP nomination contest for governor. Cox’s finance report filed Jan. 15 showed the donations, with Hauler’s name and address. Under the field for the donor’s employer, the report said “retired.” Hauler is retired from the Chesterfield Circuit Court but continues to hear cases as a substitute judge. The Canons of Judicial Conduct for the Commonwealth of Virginia forbid judges from making political donations, publicly endorsing a candidate for public office, or engaging in most political activity. “A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety,” the canons say.
Richmond Times-Dispatch

The Dayton Town Council passed a resolution Monday formally rebuking and reprimanding fellow council member Emily Estes for her conduct at the town’s July meeting, according to the resolution document. Council introduced and approved the resolution 5-0 after a closed session. Estes left the meeting before council went into the closed session and Heidi Hoover was absent, according to the draft minutes and council members. The July Town Council meeting was a rambunctious one as the town attorney’s draft for a yard sale ordinance would have limited homes to two yard sales a year and some other changes if it had been passed without amendment. During the July meeting, residents and Estes regularly interrupted staff and Town Council as they worked through the agenda item, following procedure, and repeatedly explained they did not write the proposed ordinance and were not in favor of it. As council explained to the public how the draft came to be, Estes regularly interrupted even when they agreed about their problems with the proposed ordinance.
Daily News Record

Following several outbursts from members of the public, the Bedford County School Board momentarily paused its Thursday night meeting and removed the public from the meeting room. The board resumed the meeting momentarily and the public was allowed back into the room. During the public comment section of the meeting, several members of the public spoke out of turn, interrupting those who had signed up to speak. Despite being asked several times to refrain from speaking while it was not their turn, attendees continued the outbursts and board chair Jason Johnson asked members of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office to clear the approximately 40 members of the public from the room. Following the public comment section of the meeting, the board entered closed session to consult with legal counsel regarding how the meeting will proceed with regard to public access. The board returned shortly and the public was allowed back into the room.
The Roanoke Times

“So you’re saying that you have no confidence that anything in the council will be productive moving forward?” “That’s correct.” “Then why are you still on the city council?”  The steam was almost seeping out of Council member Carolyn Dull’s ears after Facilitator Kim Payne asked her the question. The entire group was knee deep in a bout of bickering during their final hours of the Staunton City Council retreat. They stood up, shouted, slammed fists and cried.  On Wednesday, rehashed issues returned from the past year, accusations of lies and insults and deep dives into what constitutes as an attack on someone’s character.
News Leader

Rocky Holcomb, the chief deputy of the Sheriff’s Office and a former state delegate, will be the next Kempsville District representative on the Virginia Beach City Council. The City Council voted to appoint Holcomb to the vacant Kempsville seat until the result of a special election is determined. That will probably happen in November 2022. The vote by the council was unanimous, 9-0, though City Councilmember Aaron Rouse, who holds an at-large seat, was not present. The decision followed a public comment session in which many people spoke on behalf of three finalists for the appointment. A relatively brief closed session discussion came after the comments, and then the council returned to the chamber to make its pick.
The Princess Anne Independent News

 

 

Prince Edward County has some excellent public meeting facilities where citizen leaders can hear and address the concerns of the citizens. The Board of Supervisors has a great meeting room and has added broadcasting capabilities during the pandemic. The Farmville Town Council recently spent thousands in CARES fund money to upgrade its meeting room to one of the best in the region. So why the Prince Edward County School Board continues to meet in what appears to be the remodeled game room of a 1970s brick rancher is a mystery. Complete with wood paneling and wires duct taped to the carpet, the meeting room lends no credence to any sense of professionalism and leadership the School Board may attempt to project. The purpose of a public meeting is to actually allow the public the attend the meetings. That didn’t happen last Wednesday. A school official came into the board meeting and could be heard telling the board that a large crowd had gathered and asked to be present at the meeting. The board decided to bring in the eight speakers who signed up to address the board one by one. It sounded like there were many more people outside than the eight who came in to speak to the board.
The Farmville Herald