Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:22:38 -0400
From: Heather Johnson
Subject: Response to Jeffrey Starkweather, declared candidate for County Commissioner vs Mike Cross
I don’t make a habit of going back and forth on posts like Starweather’s last week. But I would just implore everyone to WATCH THE VIDEO of the meeting. The video speaks for itself and Starkweather’s embarrassing behavior. The invited guest presenter came in response to repeated citizen input regarding hydraulic fracturing and Commissioner Kost’s involvement in anti-fracking efforts. The guest speaker was kind and responsive to the citizens and he was fully open to take everyone’s questions and he stayed afterward to continue hearing out their questions. Watch the video and you will not find a condescending presenter, in fact one citizen asking him a question opened up with “you are very charming” and the presenter quietly listened while the citizen named her concerns about the process. He let her finish and he answered calmly.
This was not so with Starkweather who had his documentary cameraman move to the front of the room to capture Starkweather point his finger at the presenter and yelling at him – interrupting the presenter’s attempts to ask questions to make his own political point, captured for the documentary.
Starkweather and Lynn Fass (a frequent poster to this very Chatlist about her perception of commissioner behavior during meetings) were yelled at by the people in front of them “shut up you guys are being RUDE!” mind you this person is on their side of the issue. But Fass swore loudly and Starweather proclaimed he would throw up as he stormed out of the room.
Citizens have been asking all year that both sides be heard – and this was provided, but because Starkweather doesn’t agree with the presentation it was propaganda? More education was needed for our citizens. Here is a link to the Commissioner Meeting videos:
chathambocmeetings
As to Commissioner Bock’s Bock employees and service providers he employs MANY Chatham residents at his business located across from Carolina Preserve at Amberly. His accounting, his water/coffee service, his insurance broker, desserts vendor are Chatham residents and he also is a proud Chatham Chamber of Commerce member.
You Mr. Starkweather, have Commissioner Bock and those who defend him all wrong. We all became loyal friends during the course of 2010. Why wouldn’t his friends and fellow meeting attendees want to defend totally outrageous accounts of his decisions and behavior.
I would like to close this post by just pointed out just a few of the NUMEROUS “out of town” and agenda based groups the citizens had to listen to during Commissioner meetings the last four years. There was no room for both sides to be heard:
Cedar Grove Institute (contracted by Esther Coleman)
La Razza
El Pueblo
Southern Coalition for Social Justice
North Carolina Smart Growth Alliance (in other words NO growth)
The Chapel Hill group who protested Pittsboro Place
Triangle J contracted and presented in defense of the Major Corridor Ordinance
Heather Johnson
Chatham Bookkeeping Services