RE: Speaking of Stokes County politics...
Ernest wants to set the record straight. Oh, let's do...
The boards in question are the planning board, the board of education, and the mental health board. All of those boards are eligible for compensation of board members. If Ernest is refusing compensation, he should just say so and he should tell the amount he is refusing.
This is dishonest. Board compensation is for the time board members spend in activities related to the board's purpose. Expenses, such as travel, meals, and lodging while on board business are separately reimbursed. In short, board members are paid for their time. There is nothing wrong with this, so one can only wonder why Ernest is so interested in denying that he is being compensated.
More dishonesty. The increase in veterans benefits paid has to do with the level of payments and the numbers of veterans in the county. One of Ernest's more nauseating traits is his tendency to take credit for things he didn't do. I have personally witnessed him taking credit for some things he didn't even understand.
But that's not what the Turpins said. They said the position pays almost $20,000 per year. Last time I knew, the expense portion of that budget was very small. I expect the salary part is over 90% of that budget, making it almost $20,000. Further, Ernest mentions benefits. If he is getting paid benefits for working two days a week, something is very wrong. Last I knew, an employee had to work 25 hours a week to get benefits.
Note also that Ernest completely dodges the issue of not being a veteran. I personally know of several veterans who won't use the county office's services for that reason.
Ernest likes to play at the "po' boy" image. He likes people to believe he is just a country boy, getting along the best he can. While Ernest is not rich, he is certainly not poor, or even middle tier economically. He retired from a supervisory position at RJ Reynolds. His retirement is probably more than most of the teachers in the school system are making. That also gets him full medical benefits. He works (if you can call it that) in the veteran's affairs office, where he draws an addition $1200 a month or so. He also owns considerable land in the county and is involved in one or more small businesses. Once again, there is nothing wrong with this, so why is Ernest so defensive? Could it be because the truth would ruin his down-home persona?
I am unaware of any such legal requirement. It is possible one exists, but I don't know of it if it does. There used to be a statute that required one to resign from whatever elected office they currently held in order to run for another office, but that was repealed years ago. Note that he weasels with, "I will have to resign..." I can almost hear Ernest dissembling when he "discovers" that he doesn't have to do any such thing.
Ernest is not the principled public servant he likes to portray. I have personally witnessed him shifting blame for constituent unhappiness to an amorphous entity, "the board." On multiple occasions, I have listened to conversations in which a constituent complained about the action of the board and in which Ernest never once indicated that he had voted with the board. On multiple occasions, I have witnessed him using diversionary language to make the constituent believe he had not voted with the board. And this doesn't even address whatever arrangements board members make to provide one another political cover for their votes. I sat in a meeting once in which a contentious subject was broached. Ernest agreed with the contender on every point. It was pointed out during the discussion that Ernest had voted with the board and the contender asked Ernest if this was so. Ernest said that he disagreed with the issue but that he voted with the board because "you have to have board unity." Something tells me that Ernest doesn't understand or chooses to ignore a pretty important facet of representative democracy.
But unlike their accusation that I receive payment from serving on all these boards I want to let the voters know that I do not...As for the other boards, they are voluntary and I do no receive pay for serving on these boards.
The boards in question are the planning board, the board of education, and the mental health board. All of those boards are eligible for compensation of board members. If Ernest is refusing compensation, he should just say so and he should tell the amount he is refusing.
School Board members, like County Commissioners, receive a stipend to cover expenses.
This is dishonest. Board compensation is for the time board members spend in activities related to the board's purpose. Expenses, such as travel, meals, and lodging while on board business are separately reimbursed. In short, board members are paid for their time. There is nothing wrong with this, so one can only wonder why Ernest is so interested in denying that he is being compensated.
Yes, I have proudly served the Veterans of this county as Veterans Service Offer for the past six years under the direction of the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs. During my tenure the federal benefits going to Veterans in our county has more than doubled.
More dishonesty. The increase in veterans benefits paid has to do with the level of payments and the numbers of veterans in the county. One of Ernest's more nauseating traits is his tendency to take credit for things he didn't do. I have personally witnessed him taking credit for some things he didn't even understand.
As far as my salary there, John and Joe should know – if they read the budget – that it's not $20,000 per year. The entire departmental budget is only a little over $18,000 per year, which includes salary, supplies, benefits, travel and training.
But that's not what the Turpins said. They said the position pays almost $20,000 per year. Last time I knew, the expense portion of that budget was very small. I expect the salary part is over 90% of that budget, making it almost $20,000. Further, Ernest mentions benefits. If he is getting paid benefits for working two days a week, something is very wrong. Last I knew, an employee had to work 25 hours a week to get benefits.
Note also that Ernest completely dodges the issue of not being a veteran. I personally know of several veterans who won't use the county office's services for that reason.
Ernest likes to play at the "po' boy" image. He likes people to believe he is just a country boy, getting along the best he can. While Ernest is not rich, he is certainly not poor, or even middle tier economically. He retired from a supervisory position at RJ Reynolds. His retirement is probably more than most of the teachers in the school system are making. That also gets him full medical benefits. He works (if you can call it that) in the veteran's affairs office, where he draws an addition $1200 a month or so. He also owns considerable land in the county and is involved in one or more small businesses. Once again, there is nothing wrong with this, so why is Ernest so defensive? Could it be because the truth would ruin his down-home persona?
Anyone should know that an individual cannot serve on two elected boards at the same time. If I win a seat as County Commissioner I will have to resign my seat as a member of the Board of Education.
I am unaware of any such legal requirement. It is possible one exists, but I don't know of it if it does. There used to be a statute that required one to resign from whatever elected office they currently held in order to run for another office, but that was repealed years ago. Note that he weasels with, "I will have to resign..." I can almost hear Ernest dissembling when he "discovers" that he doesn't have to do any such thing.
Ernest is not the principled public servant he likes to portray. I have personally witnessed him shifting blame for constituent unhappiness to an amorphous entity, "the board." On multiple occasions, I have listened to conversations in which a constituent complained about the action of the board and in which Ernest never once indicated that he had voted with the board. On multiple occasions, I have witnessed him using diversionary language to make the constituent believe he had not voted with the board. And this doesn't even address whatever arrangements board members make to provide one another political cover for their votes. I sat in a meeting once in which a contentious subject was broached. Ernest agreed with the contender on every point. It was pointed out during the discussion that Ernest had voted with the board and the contender asked Ernest if this was so. Ernest said that he disagreed with the issue but that he voted with the board because "you have to have board unity." Something tells me that Ernest doesn't understand or chooses to ignore a pretty important facet of representative democracy.
posted by Anonymous | 10:41 AM
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