Editor:

The purpose of this letter is to voice my objection to the new contract that Prince Edward supervisors voted to give County Administrator Wade Bartlett recently.

I would like to thank supervisors Jim Wilck and Pattie Cooper-Jones for voting against the contract.

Bartlett was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to court records. Bartlett was convicted of a lesser charge of reckless driving and court records indicate a sentence of 53 days with probation time of 12 months. Court records indicate Bartlett was under a restricted license for six months and was ordered to attend VASAP.

Bartlett has pushed and supported projects that have cost millions of dollars but not yielded a positive return on investment to the taxpayers of the county. Two of these projects are the Sandy River Water Project and Granite Falls Boulevard (“Road to Nowhere”).

Bartlett previously recommended to the board that monies received from Fire Programs Funds be diverted to the Piedmont Regional Jail. 

This was obviously a misuse of these funds as was indicated by a letter to Bartlett from then-state Sen. Thomas A. Garrett Jr. who is now a U.S. Congressman representing this district. This could have resulted in the loss of these funds to fire departments.

Prince Edward County citizens are paying Bartlett a high salary and bestowing lavish benefits upon him.

We deserve better.

Sam Campbell

Pamplin