Small town values and miracles

By David Eno and John Payne

David Eno and John Payne have been friends for forty years. They have some things in common and others not in common at all. They both moved to Purcellville, but were raised in other states. David in New York, John in California. Both worked at one time or another as reporters. John stayed in journalism. David moved to a career in government service and, they both bought old houses here in Purcellville. But, on the national level, not much in common at all. David is a Republican and John is a Democrat. 

John: What we do have in common is the Town of Purcellville. And our desire, a commitment even, to the principle of slow growth, maintenance of the character that brought us here to begin with—a town responsive to the needs of its citizens in the fullest meaning of that phrase, and with that commitment, an opposition to the untoward and unseemly hazards of reckless annexations. Annexations that serve only a few and policies leading only to higher taxes, congested roads, poor schools, all nightmares for its citizens and their families, equally so for businesses and public services.

David: Annexations are only part of the problem, John. You know that. Problems are everywhere. Look at the increases in water and sewer rates, for example. Everyone is talking about them and those increases will hit every family, every individual. And attacks on former Mayor Kwasi Fraser, who reduced the town debt by ten million dollars, and has spoken out against other accounting practices, is getting blamed and for doing the right thing! 

And Mayor Stan Milan and his allies who sacked three of the most knowledgeable and veteran members of the planning commission, including Chair Nan Forbes, former Councilman Nedim Ogelman, and Vice Chair Ed Neham, who stood up against wholesale and reckless development pressure. 

There is a long history of politicians in this area being for slow growth but end up voting 100 percent opposite after they take office. This year voters should understand that our small-town identity is at risk, and with it, a certain intangible thing. That intangible thing has many names. It is honesty, and something more, something at the very core of our national being. 

John: That is why we both support Chris Bertaut for mayor, and the slow growth team for town council of Brian Green, Susan Kahil, Jonathan Arnburg, and cop turned candidate Ben Nett, whose campaign slogan “Mayberry Not Metropolis” neatly sums up the essence of not only his campaign, but his running mates’ as well.   

David and John: If you are a Democrat and plan to vote for Vice President Harris or a Republican who will vote for Former President Trump or anyone else, for that matter, whether you don’t care for either or anyone else, whether you just would, at times, like to forget about both, whether the spectacle turns you off and makes you want to escape the noise of modern politics, you can still safely exercise that great privilege and awesome responsibility and vote for a team in Purcellville that will respect and honor that commitment, a team that will be impressed only with its  duty to its citizens, their future and their well being, whether you are Republican, Democrat or Independent. 

The only qualifier is dedication to the town and its citizens and in that regard, Chris Bertaut and other members of the slow growth team have the support of both this Democrat and this Republican, who can understand each other but still after nearly forty years cannot fathom or understand the other’s political choice for any place except those for this small town, Purcellville. And, perhaps, that is, undeniably, a small miracle, but still a miracle. And for everyone who believes in such things, miracles are not an end. They are a beginning.