Transparency News 8/24/16
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
State and Local Stories
Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney James Plowman has filed suit against Gov. Terry McAuliffe over access to the records of the 206,000 felons whose rights would have been restored by the governor's order (since struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court). Read Plowman's petition for a writ of mandamus and the governor's plea in bar (response).
VCOG
Virginian-Pilot
Virginia Beach School Board member Carolyn Weems said Tuesday that she will sever her printing business’s ties with the city’s schools after an article in The Virginian-Pilot detailed her company’s history with the division. The Pilot reported Sunday that Weems’ printing company, Simply Sales, has received more than $56,000 from the city’s schools since 2009. State law allows board members to enter into individual contracts with schools up to $500. Weems’ company has regularly charged schools within $50 of the limit – twice within 20 cents, a Pilot analysis found. Weems issued a statement Tuesday that said: “We have always followed the law, but if the School Board policies aren’t strong enough, then let’s make them stronger. I intend to introduce policy changes that would make it crystal clear that no School Board member will do any business with schools, and I will be doing this at our next School Board meeting.”
Virginian-Pilot
If you want to hear for yourself what happened at a Pound Town Council meeting, make plans to either be there in person or prepare to request a copy of the digital recording at town hall. Over the objections of two members, town council has decided once again to not post on its website the actual digital recording of the monthly meetings. Saying the material is public record and should be made easily accessible, councilmembers Terry Short and Clifton Cauthorne both have pressed for putting the recording online but have been in the minority.
Coalfield Progress
(no link)
Editorials/Columns
It isn’t the scandal of the year. Or the month. Or even the week, given the daily headlines about lying and other shenanigans by politicians on the national stage. Still, revelations that a company owned by Virginia Beach School Board member Carolyn Weems and her husband has been doing business with the city schools is cause for concern. By fans of good government, that is. All of Weems’ actions may be within the law – dangerously close to the $500 limit set by the state on some transactions – but that doesn’t make them right.
Kerry Dougherty, Virginian-Pilot
Categories: