The first ReportCard! in this series wasn’t very kind to the Halifax County Board of Supervisors. But hey, they deserved it. Let’s drive up Route 57 to Chatham and deliver a ReportCard! to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
Just like before, these grades are based on their overall performance. Recent activity is counted more than something that they did way in the past. Let’s put the names in the randomizer and get to work.
- Coy Harville: Harville’s “Southern Alliance” was toppled from power when Jerry Hagerman switched back to Brenda Bowman’s side. Harville has been relatively quiet for the last three months except for his demands that Duke energy compensate Pittsylvania County for their losses in the coal ash spill. Duke Energy will be glad to pay Pittsylvania County the actual retail value of $0.00 for those losses. They might buy Harville a new fishing rod and a jonboat since his riverfront property was coal ashed for a few days. Harville’s grade still reflects the idiotic decision to eliminate the county’s economic development office because that was more damaging to the county then 28 trillion tons of coal ash could ever be. This new version of Coy Harville is improving though and he’s worked himself back up to a “C” grade.
- Brenda Bowman: Look up “revenge” and see Brenda Bowman’s face. Bowman was on top, then she had her legs cut out from underneath her. She was able to form a coalition to get control back and she’s back on top. She gets bonus credit for proposing the rebirth of the economic development office and has had no opposition from the ones who dismantled it. I’m sad to see that Bowman won’t be running for reelection, but she deserves the time to enjoy retirement. who knows? She might even visit “Shhh…” one day. Hee hee. She’s going out on top, so she deserves her “A” grade.
- Jerry Hagerman: When the Wheel of Hagerman spins, you never know what’s going to happen. He’ll vote Brenda Bowman out. He’ll vote Brenda Bowman in. He’ll record Bill Stanley’s phone call and cause hilarity to ensue. That makes him the balance of power on the board. He may look like he’s just following along with the others (whoever the others may be at that time), but his actions show a different story. Hagerman is quiet, reserved and very willing to let others be the leader while he orchestrates things from behind the curtain. He gets a high grade for being a politician, but loses a bit for his frequent side-switching. We’ll settle on a “B” grade for him.
- James Snead: Snead is gruff, tough and mean-spirited at times. He balances that out with a friendly attitude once you get to know him and I can see that he usually has the county’s best interests in mind. Except when he doesn’t and he’s motivated by revenge & anger… and that’s what still costs him in his grade. Just like Harville, he’s calmed down and is working cooperatively in the minority. As long has he keeps this mindset, he’s a safe bet for reelection. 18 months ago, he’d have been slapped with a big fat “F”. He’s worked his way up to a “B-” and trending upwards.
- Elton Blackstock: Boo on Blackstock, but I’ll explain. He was appointed to Marshall Ecker’s seat after Ecker died, then ran unopposed for the rest of the term. He was/is doing a great job representing his area in the truest Marshall Ecker way. But he’s not running for another term. Boo. I can’t hold that against him. I rarely have high expectations for first-time officeholders as they have to learn the process, and more so for ones elected in the middle of a term. Blackstock has shown he will stand up for his district and that he will stand up against political pressure. He hasn’t spearheaded anything special enough to get the top mark, but his performance easily adds up to a “B+“.
- Jessie Barksdale: Jessie Barksdale became chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors and led them into semi-functionality and away from the trainwreck that they had become. Barksdale is quiet but knows how to get things done. I had zero expectations for him when he got elected because he was replacing William Pritchett. I was wrong about that completely. He learned fast. He’s smart. He gets answers when you have questions. He gets solutions when you have problems. Jessie Barksdale is the best damn supervisor that Pittsylvania County has ever elected in my lifetime. Lock it in, boys… Barksdale gets the rare “A+“.
- Tim Barber: We get it. Tim Barber will fight this prayer issue until he’s dead. Not only that, he’s adamant about that prayer issue. Before that, he was the leader in the fight about the prayer issue. Just like Harville & Snead, Barber’s been quiet after having his alliance toppled. Unlike Snead, Barber’s got a challenger this time with a decent chance to beat him. Barber’s campaign start was reminding everybody what’s has been accomplished in the past. He failed to mention dismantling the county’s economic department and his face-palming “State of the County” speech from a few years ago that bashed foreign investments in local businesses. The Tunstall District voters will make their decision in November. Right now, I’m giving Barber a “D” grade.
That’s it! No failing grades in Pittsylvania County. Danville City Council, you’re next!
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