Amherst County Won’t Adopt Code of Ethics
October 9, 2009
ACVDN
After months of debate, the Amherst County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted against adopting an ethics code at a work session Monday.
Lets look at the history involved with rejecting this Code of Ethics.
July 22, 2009
The Amherst County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to let taxpayers have a say on a proposed code of ethics policy. Also same date, Chairman Leon Parrish said in a recent phone interview that the code would be a model to guide the supervisors and “keep us in line.” Supervisor Ray Vandall also said during Tuesday’s meeting the document“is directing us to act as a board.”
July 8, 2009
Parrish Seeking Fifth Term as Amherst Supervisor
Leon Parrish is running for his fifth term on the Amherst County Board of Supervisors, while three other residents are also running in two upcoming races.
Parrish, a Democrat, is the board chairman and represents District 5, which includes Old Town Madison Heights. He was first elected in 1993 after several years of serving on the Amherst County School Board, and has the longest tenure among current supervisors.
Frank Campbell, a county native who has lived all his life in Madison Heights, is challenging Parrish for the seat. Campbell, a neighbor of Parrish, was the only resident to ever oppose the supervisor in his previous four terms and came up short in 2005 when Parrish garnered nearly 57 percent of the vote.
Meanwhile, Claudia Tucker and Bonnie Limbrick are running for the District 2 seat on the board that will be vacated at the end of this year by Vernon Wood. Each has served on the county planning commission and Tucker is currently a member.
The candidates are running at a time when the board is dealing with controversy that ensued after the recent resignation of Rodney Taylor as county administrator.
Taylor quit after conflicts with several supervisors, which unfolded in closed meetings and were recently made public. Residents angry over perceived secrecy of the matters have voiced concerns to the board in recent meetings as it searches for a new county administrator.
Amherst County Virginia Democratic News
Here's an update on the conflict that seperated the Supervisors from Mr. Taylor.
A judge on Wednesday certified to a grand jury the case of a former Amherst County official accused of inappropriate contact with a young girl.
John Mulvey, 48, formerly of Amherst and the county’s former economic development director, has been charged with attempted aggravated sexual battery stemming from a March 29 incident near the girl’s home in Amherst.
Wednesday’s hearing, in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, included testimony from the child, who is in elementary school. Judge Michael Garrett closed the courtroom during her testimony, which lasted about 45 minutes.
The girl alleged that Mulvey had touched her and made her feel uncomfortable on a Sunday afternoon after she had attended church, according to her mother’s testimony and details that emerged later in the proceeding as attorneys made their arguments.
“This has really upset her,” the girl’s mother testified, fighting off tears.
The family has since moved out of state.
Mulvey, wearing a dark suit, took notes and sometimes slightly shook his head during the proceeding. He was suspended without pay on April 15 from his $60,000-per-year position with the county; he re-signed after he was arrested June 18.
The mother testified that her daughter confided that Mulvey had touched her four times behind a shed, hidden from view from her home. They had gone behind the shed to retrieve their dogs, she said.
The girl, whom Payne characterized as “stellar,” became uncomfortable with his actions and told Mul-vey that her mother and grandmother needed her and that she wanted to go home.
“Only because of the wisdom of this little girl did she get away from it,” Deputy Commonwealth’s Attor-ney Cary Payne told Garrett.
The girl ran home, and confided to her mother about the encounter, the mother said. The family contacted Amherst police the next day.
Mulvey remains free on bond. Garrett amended the bond conditions Wednesday to stipulate that Mulvey could live with a relative in the area of Greensboro, N.C. Mulvey’s attorney, Craig Tiller, declined comment afterward. The grand jury meets Oct. 13.
Here are some quotes from Mr. Parrish
“We have to get the trust of the constituency back to where it should be with open government,” Parrish said. “I feel like this situation has divided the board (of supervisors). It gives people opportunity to really question the board.”
Parrish said he favors hiring a “seasoned” administrator to lead the county in a new direction. “When you see something going wrong, you nip it in the bud. It’s going to have to be a strong administrator.”
Parrish also said he favors the board holding fewer closed meetings and not becoming “sucked in on personal agendas.”
His opponent Mr. Campbell, who described himself as “a conservative open to change,” said the Taylor situation probably wouldn’t have gone as far as it did if handled in regular meetings. “I feel the government should be more open,” he said.
Campbell said he would strive to keep businesses in Amherst and the county has potential to “flourish and be a model county.”
Here's the background on the two candidates.
Leon Parrish (District 5)Parrish seeking fifth term- Age: 68
Experience: Four terms as a county supervisor and the current Board of Supervisors chairman, serves as the liaison to the planning commission and has served on the school board, attends Old Town Community Action Group meetings.
- Profession: Retired
- Thoughts on District 5: Projects and issues such as revitalization of Old Town Madison Heights, the Amherst Adult
Detention Center and a park along the James River need to come to fruition.
- Quotable: “I believe in honesty and integrity.”
Frank Campbell (District 5)- Age: 39
- Experience: Served on a board of assessors that dealt with public concerns during the last county reassessment, is involved in Old Town Community Action Group.
- Profession: Sole proprietor of American Customized Exteriors in Madison Heights.
- Thoughts on District 5: Would like to see a new high school and new hospital rather than a new jail, favors more economic development opportunities and the revitalization of Old Town Madison Heights.
- Quotable: “I represent the average hardworking taxpayer and I feel I bring a lot of common sense.”
Also contesting for the seat in District 2.
Bonnie Limbrick (District 2)- Age: 57
- Experience: Has served on the planning commission and held the chairperson seat, currently serves on the board of zoning appeals.
- Profession: Co-owner of Amcar Rental in Madison Heights, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Forehand & Company in Lynchburg.
- Thoughts on District 2: As with the rest of the county, it needs more business expansion, lower taxes, environmental stewardship and “smart growth.”
- Quotable: “My mother, a former Cub Scout den mother, always said ‘be prepared.’ If elected, I plan on being prepared.”
Claudia Tucker (District 2)- Age: 52
- Experience: Currently serving on the planning commission.
- Profession: Senior director of government affairs for Medco Health Solutions.
- Thoughts on District 2: Multiple constituencies like the town of Amherst and Sweet Briar need to be balanced and its agricultural nature requires a supervisor “very in tune” with issues affecting farmers.
- Quotable: “I really think we need to bring an era of professionalism to the county.”
Voter dissatisfaction with the board may produce unexpected election results. The Taylor matter was a disaster for trust and confidence and still clouds the voters minds. To mishandle such a matter required the supervisors to plumb the depths of their incompetence and they approached that task with zest. The rejection of a Code of Ethics will further erode the relationship of the citizens and the board. What group of officials representing the public says No To Ethics?
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