Oct. 3, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: A few weeks ago David Hawkins urged voters to support Boyd Brown for supervisor because Steve Hart, his opponent, objects to long-term debt. Mr. Hawkins asserted that the county has a “well-constructed financial position.” Rockbridge County currently has $87 million in debt obligations and 22,650 residents. That’s not a “well-constructed” financial position in anyone’s books.
In fact, it was Mr. Hawkins who made the motion in the Rockbridge Economic Development Authority to obligate county money to study whether Rockbridge should have a vanity airport. The Federal Aviation Administration’s online calculator reveals that an airport here would cost over $50 million to build. Who is going to come up with the money to build and maintain it?
Taxpayers are right to be worried about the inevitable tax obligations that the existing debt will require and the poor judgment that led to it in the first place. Frankly, commitment to the status quo does not recommend itself to concerned residents. It’s time for fiscal sanity, not more go-along, get-along. I’m voting for Steve Hart because he wants decision-making to be public and rational. Rockbridge needs someone who is willing to say “no” to bad ideas. BECKY ALMY Kerrs Creek
