James City County Supervisor Jim Kennedy has been absent from several recent meetings due to health issues, but expects to return soon – though possibly not before the Board votes on a hot-button issue.
Kennedy left during the Sept. 11 board meeting and has missed the subsequent meetings since that time. He has had four surgeries in the last month, one of which was completed Monday, Kennedy reported. Speakers at the last supervisors meeting objected to the Board voting on whether to bring back staggered terms without Kennedy present. Though the Board deferred action until this week’s meeting, Chair John McGlennon noted at the time that Kennedy could participate in meetings by telephone and that the Board was inclined to go forward without Kennedy on decisions in order to continue county business without making applicants and citizens wait any longer.
Kennedy has asked that the Board wait until he returns, likely on Nov. 13, before making a decision on the staggered terms issue. County staff can establish a phone connection during the meeting, according to the County Administrator; Kennedy said he is taking medication that would make it hard for him to participate in long meetings by phone.
“Since Stonehouse District is at the County’s northwestern border and is bordered only by Powhatan District within the County, the residents I represent have been among the most negatively affected by the County’s use of staggered terms,” Kennedy said in an emailed statement.
He explained that in 2001, neighborhoods were shifted into the Stonehouse district from the Powhatan district. Those who were moved had to wait six years between elections for county offices. This process was repeated when populations shifted after the most recent 2010 census that triggered the recent redistricting.
During last year’s redistricting, “whole neighborhoods had to be moved from Stonehouse to Powhatan, with those voters, too, being forced to wait for six years between their elections for County offices.
“Because of these circumstances, I believe the Board should wait until I am able to participate on November 13 before re-imposing staggered terms, which are inherently discriminatory in a locality that elects candidates by districts.”
Kennedy expects to be back at the dais in November. “Barring any unforeseen complications, I will be fully able to participate in the November 13 meeting of the Board,” he said.
The Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Building F of the county government complex on Mounts Bay Road. Staggered terms is on the agenda for the Board’s consideration.
