Did Supervisor Hap Connors Save Supervisor Gary Jackson’s Political Tail?

During the Board of Supervisors break last night, and after they had adopted the 62-cent tax rate, I approached Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Eudailey to ask him about the staffing concerns he and others have with the new station in the Salem District that will soon open.

Rewind back to the April 1 public hearing and watch the video below of the president of the Spotsylvania Career Firefighter’s Association calling out Supervisor Gary Jackson.

Mr. Jackson was steadfast in not raising the tax rate, joining Supervisor Jerry Logan. But will it come at a cost more than that 6-cent tax rate he voted against?

Now fast-forward to last night.

I asked Mr. Eudailey about this staffing and it appeared that supervisors were not going to add the $575,000 necessary for eight additional career personnel. He said that the volunteers at Chancellor agreed to staff it nights and weekends. But day staffing was going to be a problem without these positions.

The county board came back to session and went through four public hearings before it returned back to the budget for adoption.

Then Supervisor Hap Connors, who made a ton of cuts to the budget to help social services and public safety, stepped up to the plate again when he asked that $575,000 be appropriated to fund these jobs.

Mr. Eudailey left a happy man.

And Mr. Connors may very well have saved Mr. Jackson’s political tail.

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