RICHMOND – The two Hopewell councilors who back legislation allowing Virginia to intervene in the management of a fiscally distressed locality have answered their colleagues’ written opposition with a letter of their own encouraging passage of the bills.
“If [the legislation] had been codified earlier, this calamity could have been avoided, and we could have saved local and state taxpayers millions of dollars!” Mayor Johnny Partin and Ward 1 Councilor Rita Joyner wrote in the letter, which Joyner said was sent to Hopewell’s state legislators and other General Assembly members Tuesday morning. “We urge you to pass this important legislation that will protect the quality of life of all Virginians!”
Partin and Joyner’s letter was dated Jan. 27, four days after the five other council members sent their own letter asking for bills from Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, and Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield County, to be defeated. Vice Mayor Jasmine Gore and councilors Janice Denton, Michael Harris, Dominic Holloway and Brenda Pelham oppose the legislation that would set up an “early warning system” for any locality delinquent on its annual state-mandated ledger reports to be deemed “fiscally distressed” and open a path for the Virginia Commission on Local Government, with agreement from the governor and key legislative committees, to appoint an emergency fiscal manager to come in and oversee reconciliation.