Williamsburg-James City Sheriff Robert Deeds had a message posted on the county website in February voicing his support for citizens’ rights—including the right to bear arms—that was promptly removed from the website because of its political nature.
A potential county website policy is now included on the agenda for the James City County Board of Supervisors’ work session scheduled for Tuesday.
At the March 26 board meeting, 13 citizens spoke in support of Deeds’ statement and asked for it be restored to the county website. Deeds was not in attendance to see the residents speak out in support of his statement, but did submit a letter that Berkeley Supervisor Mary Jones read to the board and the citizens in attendance.
“Let me state that just as I support the right to keep and bear arms, I support the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. I am not offended by those expressing dissent and respect their right to speak their minds,” Deeds’ statement read. It continued later, “I am happy to stand up for our Constitutions, our Bills of Rights and our citizens’ right to bear arms. My statement of policy on our website was simply to let our citizens know this.”
A board discussion following Jones reading ended with Roberts Supervisor John McGlennon asking for a work session to discuss a county website policy. Stonehouse Supervisor Jim Kennedy also wanted Deeds to attend a work session to explain what he meant by the statement, whether it was intended as political or not, to the board.
Deeds’ statement on the county website went up around the same time Kennedy questioned a newsletter, called the Jamestown Journal, that Jamestown Supervisor Jim Icenhour published for his district’s residents. Icenhour requested a link to his website, where the newsletter posted, be put on the county’s website. Kennedy did not believe it appropriate.
Kennedy wanted to know who would verify the facts in Icenhour’s newsletter. Icenhour is running for re-election this November;
“Nothing is separate in an election year,” Kennedy said at the time.
The proposed website policy for discussion at the work session includes language that the county website not be used for any political promotion or as a public forum to express opinions. Displaying links to external websites will be decided by the county, the draft policy reads, and does not imply the county endorses the organization, product or service. Links or references to websites that are political or advocate for a specific issue would not be allowed.
External links are only permitted if they are to other government websites or provide information pertaining to government administration.
No decision from the board is expected at the work session. Deeds told James City County staff he would not attend the work session.
The board meets in Building F at 101 Mounts Bay Road. The meetings are open to the public and are also broadcast live on JCC TV on Cox Cable channel 48 and are webcast live on the county’s website. Meetings and work sessions are rebroadcast on Community Channel 46 at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Archived board meetings and work sessions are also available on the county’s website.
Agenda materials are available online.
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