Linkous questions Harvey's methods and motives

Town Council Candidate

Glenn Harvey

I’ve always thought that the worst part about realizing that campaign rhetoric has given way to power thirsty politics ... is the way it makes the voter feel. Councilman Harvey, I have to say that was so very slick. The way you put aside any illusion of seeking and considering input from Valdese citizens in the appointment of Councilman Heavner was breathtaking ... and not in a good way.

For nearly a year, I’ve actually been saying privately what you displayed publicly so well ... “this is your town and you will run it any way you please.” Council meetings have become nothing more than the Glenn Harvey show. You do 90 percent of the talking, often presenting clever zingers like ... “not my first rodeo” “not the first time I’ve run a gauntlet” “not my first _____________ fill in your favorite one here.”

Once your minions (puppets) are properly inspired, a vote is taken and voila. Of course, the only problem is nothing really happens … with the exception of running up unprecedented legal fees.

Councilman Harvey … let’s review our town after only 11 months of your rule. You have appointed three interim town managers and despite insisting that you alone knew how to conduct an executive search … you blew it.

We have no manager ... we are out quite a bit of money and (it) appears we have no prospects. You have somehow found a way to make our municipal building department problems worse than a year ago, as it would now appear we own an office building that you are no longer interested in. More importantly, you have wasted yet another year as you criticize previous councils for wasting time on this issue.

You alone have flipped and flopped so many times regarding this problem ... our citizens struggle to keep up with your latest whim. You have been a constant source of embarrassment as you struggle to understand the most basic of N.C. Civics.

Your emails regarding town business are not private. You can call them Harvey Express ... or confidential ... or private ... or mark them “Don’t Open Until Christmas.” It doesn’t make them not public. It’s just not funny anymore. Why do you have such trouble learning this? Of course, the result is everyone is able to read your words attacking citizens, managers, and fellow councilpersons.

You have reduced funding for critical departments such as police, and yet you complain about crime and homelessness. You are a one-man major discourager of people who are trying to make a living and serve our town. And you now want to limit their ability to communicate with the council during meetings.

There is a reason that you disparage managers ... including any town manager that we happen to ever hire. You want to control every aspect of town government and management. It is that errant desire that has frozen our town to inaction on nearly every front.

Team means nothing to you … in fact, you consider the very concept as a threat to your singular authority. You have reduced tax revenue for Valdese by 20 percent. For me personally, that’s about 68 cents a day.

You’ve done this for one year, by cutting budgets that were already tight and by dipping into the general fund that was created by the previous council … that you very publicly abhor.

Lastly, you have created a hostile environment for recruiting new business. You spent the money for a survey of what Valdese citizens deemed important ... mostly the highest ranking answers were concerned with attracting higher paying jobs and affordable workforce housing.

Besides publicly harassing a (start-up) fiber optic cable company, specifically what have you done to support the items that are actually important to Valdese citizens?

For the rest of the council, especially our newest. I want to emphasize that I have no issues with Councilman Heavner. I believe he enters this duty as an intelligent, reasonable man and I expect that he has the ability to think independently. I say this in spite of the way he was appointed. We desperately need independent thinkers.

The people of Valdese have caught on to Glenn Harvey, and they are watching. This is such a great place to live. I have had many opportunities to leave over the last 35 years. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

I am asking all of you to please stand up to Glenn Harvey. I invite you to prove me wrong on anything I speak about above. He is bad for this town. Surely, you are able to see him more clearly now that you have served with him for a year.

BRADY LINKOUS

Valdese