BENNETT OVERWHELMS BURKE FOR TOWN COUNCIL
Dan Burke and Steve Bennett outside the Cape Charles UMC polling place Tuesday afternoon. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
November 6, 2012
Cape Charles Town Council candidate Steve Bennett was narrowly defeated for re-election in May, but he got a second chance in November — and this time his victory margin was huge.
The final total showed 355 votes for Bennett and 215 for newcomer Dan Burke.
Bennett more than doubled the 146 votes he received in May. Percentage-wise, his win was even bigger, with 62 percent of the vote. In May he received 18 percent of the vote.
Cape Charles has about 700 registered voters, of whom close to 70 percent turned out for today’s Presidential election.
Contrast that with last May, when little more than half as many voters came to the polls.
Today is believed to be the first time Cape Charles has held a town council election concurrent with a Presidential election.
The reason was the passing of councilman-elect Don Clarke in May. Today’s council election was to fill Clarke’s unexpired term.
Following Clarke’s passing, Town Council members chose Larry Veber to serve until a special election could be held.
Veber initially filed to run in the special election along with Bennett and Burke, but dropped out in mid-September.
In other local election results, Northampton County voters endorsed by a nearly 4 to 1 margin a proposal to elect members of the county school board rather than their being appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. [Read more…]
WEDNESDAY 11/7: Awana Youth Registration at Cheriton Baptist Church
Orientation and Registration for children and parents at Cheriton Baptist Church Awana Clubs Children/Youth Ministries is Wednesday, November 7. Awana Clubs will meet from 5:45-7:45 p.m. each Wednesday. Preschool through high school youth are invited.
Last Chance to Review Sample Ballots Before Voting
FIRST SCREEN ON THE VOTING MACHINE: Cape Charles voters will see four screens on the electronic voting machines. The first screen (BELOW) lists Presidential, Senate, and Congressional ballots.
SECOND SCREEN: The second screen on the voting machine (BELOW) lists two proposed amendments to the Virginia state constitution.
THIRD SCREEN: The third voting screen (BELOW) asks whether Northampton County School Board members should be elected by the voters instead of appointed.
FOURTH SCREEN: Only Cape Charles voters will see a fourth screen (BELOW) to select a replacement member of Town Council.
Don’t Look at These Pictures Unless You Want a Kitten
Grey Bright Eyes
I Love You!
Grey Striper
Sandy the hurricane has departed, but nothing can vanquish Sandy the animal rescue lady. She will not rest until every stray kitten in Cape Charles has adoption papers.
Sandy can counter your every excuse.
No litter box? Included.
No kitty bed? Included.
No cat food? — yep, that’s included too.
Be one of the first three callers, and you can choose your kitten’s name. [Read more…]
Cape Charles Town Council Candidate(s) Statement(s)
Steve Bennett
Dan Burke
EDITOR’S NOTE: Last week the Wave asked both Cape Charles Town Council candidates in person to write something about themselves to assist the voters.
The suggested topic was “Why I’m Running for Town Council.”
Both candidates agreed to submit a statement. The Wave regrets that despite two reminders, only one candidate has provided a submission.
In giving each candidate an opportunity to speak for himself, the Wave’s intent was to provide unbiased coverage. But now we have had to choose between printing only one candidate’s statement, or printing nothing at all. Since we had already promised both candidates that we would print whatever they wrote, without edits, that is exactly what we have done below.
WHY I’M RUNNING FOR TOWN COUNCIL
By DAN BURKE
November 5, 2012
In case the reader is interested and has not seen one of my brochures or attended any of the meetings I have had around Town, I have included a career background summary at the end of this article.
My wife and I are full-time residents. We purchased a house in the Historic District in July of 2011. Like most Cape Charles residents we were attracted by the water-oriented lifestyle and all it has to offer. We love living here and have encouraged our family and friends to consider investing in Cape Charles.
I have three principles that will guide my conduct if elected to the Town Council.
1. Fiscal Accountability
2. Transparent, open government
3. Common Sense
I place fiscal accountability number one. It is the single, most important aspect of local government. We are a small town of approximately 1,000 residents and as such we are the foundation upon which Cape Charles operates. As property owners in Northampton County we are subject to a relentless barrage of taxes for businesses, houses, automobiles, boats, trailers and other personal property. As property owners in Cape Charles we see more of the same. My main goal, if elected, is to address the upward spiral of ever increasing taxes, water fees and assessments in Cape Charles. [Read more…]
Wetlands Board Approves South Port Yacht Center Plans
South Port engineer Don MacLennan points to mitigation area on map. (Wave photo)
Cape Charles Wave
November 5, 2012
Cape Charles Wetlands and Dunes Board November 2 approved a request by South Port Investors, LLC, to relocate the wetland mitigation approved in 2008.
The approval brings South Port’s proposed Cape Charles Yacht Center one step closer to construction.
Don MacLennan, president of Engineering Resources Group, LLC, told the Board, “If we get approval tonight, we are ready right away, now, to make it happen.”
The Board approved the application, but there are a few more steps before work begins.
Next, South Port is requesting a conditional use permit at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting. [Read more…]
TUESDAY 11/6: Planning Commission to Hear Request from South Port Investors for Conditional Use Permit
Cape Charles Planning Commission will meet 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 6, at Town Hall. [Read more…]
Election Day in Cape Charles Presents Historic Complication
Only Cape Charles voters will see a fourth screen (ABOVE) to select a replacement member of Town Council.
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
November 4, 2012
Tuesday is believed to be the first time in Cape Charles’ history that a Town Council election will be held concurrent with a Presidential election.
And it’s not just a matter of adding an additional page (or screen) to the voting machine.
What complicates matters is that when voters walk into Trinity UMC Fellowship Hall on Tazewell Avenue, some of them will be eligible to vote in the Town Council election and the rest will not.
District 1 covers most of the lower third of Northampton County, extending all the way south past Kiptopeke, and everyone in District 1 has to come to Cape Charles to vote.
About 1,800 voters reside in District 1. Only about 700 of them live in the Town of Cape Charles.
Further complicating the procedure is that all the voting machines will be programed to accept both residents of Cape Charles and non-residents.
Northampton Registrar Terrence “Terry” Flynn told the Wave that dedicating a machine to Cape Charles voters risked creating delays for non-town voters.
Kind of like seeing a long line at the ladies restroom, with no waiting for the mens room. [Read more…]
