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Recent attacks on Mayor Bill Beck and Vice Mayor Scott Howson have, in essence, signaled the opening of the next political cycle for Fredericksburg. Who will the developer-friendly opposition run after the overwhelming defeats suffered in the last two elections?
Speculation of a Councilman Joe Wilson run for mayor has been heard, but his political baggage and voting record from the old "gang-of-five" may present a problem.
Additional problems may be just under the surface when voters compare his public statements with court testimony during The Free Lance-Star's Freedom-of-Information lawsuit concerning the secret council meeting on the slavery museum. He defends what he said as out of context, and not exactly what he meant.
Looking into the well-funded bag of Sheltonism, political observers find Anthony Jenkins, who despite his experience of serving for over 15 years on obscure boards and commissions, has yet to build a voter base even with the help of the old "gang-of-five," his mentor and public court-system cohort, Gordon Shelton.
Mr. Jenkins' answers during the Freedom of Information Act case against the new City Council, of "I don't recall" and "I'm not sure" (which cost city taxpayers thousands), are not necessarily confidence builders when trying to build another voter base for running--once again--for public office.
Who will the developer-friendly crowd run during the next election? Maybe a well-funded dark horse or an old reliable that has been starched, pressed, repainted and recycled in order to show a new veneer of propriety that can possibly garner votes.
John E. Moss
Fredericksburg