Prospect District Supervisor’s Seat Sparks Public Debate

A special election is being held in Prince Edward County on November 4, 2014 for, among other things, the position of County Supervisor for the Prospect District. The position has been temporarily filled due to the untimely passing of Howard “Pete” Campbell, on July 9, 2014.

The position has to this point been filled by the Reverend Calvin Gray, who served as interim representative of the Prospect District until such time as an official election could be held.

Pursuant to the special election on November 4th, a debate between the candidates, with a neutral moderator, was held at the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department on October 16th. The debate was open to the public; however, only questions from voters registered in the Prospect district were allowed.

The three candidates, Calvin Gray, Jeanette Tarlton, and Cornell Walker, fielded questions from the concerned citizens of the Prospect District. The debate was very well attended by the public, virtually all seats were filled. The questions asked, either by neutral moderator Dr. Brian Bates on behalf of citizens, or by the citizens themselves, covered a myriad of legitimate concerns that need to be addressed in the District. Without a doubt the most frequently asked questions had to do with the lagging SOL scores in Prince Edward County and the candidate’s plans for dealing with them. While the three candidates did having differing views on how to deal with the school issues, they did agree that there was work to be done, right away. Mrs. Tarlton maintained that there was only so much that the Board could do with regard to the school scores, and that the trouble is primarily with the students. Cornell Walker had a different point of view. He voiced the need for parents and the community on the whole to be involved in our children’s education, and that the best way to see what was happening was to go to School Board meetings. Calvin Gray was reassuring as well, stating that the citizens and Board were there for the kids. The three agreed that the creation of the finance committee by the Board of Supervisors was a step in the right direction.

When asked about the dire need for a solution to the Pamplin EMS situation that has recently been brought before the Board of Supervisors, all three generally agreed that the area would not be forgotten, and that a solution to the problem would be a priority. A specific difference of opinion came over YMCA funding. Both Calvin Gray and Jeanette Tarlton said that they would support financial help to the YMCA, but not at the current levels. Cornell Walker, on the other hand, was of the opinion that the YMCA should not receive funds from the County, and that it should be a stand- alone entity. The only possible exception he mentioned was the possibility of a college scholarship program for area youth.

When the candidates were asked what they each had as short term goals for the Prospect District, all three candidates, while having somewhat different approaches to achieving the goals, seemed to envision basically the same things for the future of the Prospect District; an increase in industry and commerce and a plan for bringing new businesses to the area. A community center for the area was also mentioned by Mrs. Tarlton. Mr. Walker spoke of tapping into the County’s Recreation fund to realize some of the goals. All three candidates see the revitalization of the Prospect Train Depot as a possible project that would eventually benefit the area.