"I just don't believe you, Albemarle County."

Here is my reaction to Albemarle County’s $42,000 referendum “Awareness Campaign” designed, presented, and explained yesterday to the six Democrat Supervisors by County Executive Tom Foley and his Staff:

1) I just don’t believe you, Albemarle County. I don’t believe you can keep this campaign educational and informational only. I believe that you government class folks — whether elected, appointed, or hired in both General Government and in the School Division — will end up advocating in your official capacities for passage of this fall’s referendum. I believe that you will cross the legal line from education to advocacy as you promote passage of the referendum both in what you say and what you do between now and November 8.

2) Thank you, Supervisor Rick Randolph (D, Scottsville), for voting no on this alleged public “education” plan related to the $35 million general obligation bond referendum. I don’t know why you voted against the “Awareness Campaign.” I didn’t hear you say while I listened to the live streaming of yesterday’s Board meeting. I simply thank you for sticking up publicly for your minority stance.

3) Drop your plans, Albemarle County, to produce referendum Sample Ballots — as noted in the August and September time frames of your “Awareness Campaign” matrix. What voter has ever been handed a Sample Ballot that doesn’t ADVOCATE? Really! Give me a political break, Albemarle!

4) And a final request here, Albemarle County. Take my name and address (Gary Grant, 3765 Bleak House Road, Earlysville, VA 22936) off the list for your $25,000 mass mailing of referendum promotional materials. Your “Awareness Campaign” says this mailing is to be sent out to 48,000 County households between September 19 and October 3.

And while you’re at it, take the 52¢ that would have been spent on the mailing to my household and . . . let’s see . . . perhaps apply it to police department salaries, legal fees to fight the Revenue-Sharing Agreement, a school choice plan for all students instead of just those of County employees, Sunday library hours, or perhaps for a shovelful of asphalt to a pothole or two.

Somehow, I just don’t believe you will, Albemarle County.