Transparency &
Open Government

“Fredericksburg is a great city in which to live and raise a family.  But it is a city that faces many challenges in the future. If City Council faces those challenges honestly, keeps the community informed of the pros and cons and long-term direction, makes the strategic investments necessary, and keeps the focus on Fredericksburg’s unique character, it will remain the city that attracted us all here in the first place.”

I directed the above comments to the new City Council which took office in January 2023. Instead, this City Council has:

• At the Council’s first public hearings members texted each other in response to questions from the public—“Smile through the BS,” and “Oh yeah, this is fun. Or at least it will be when we pass this with no fanfare.”
• When residents asked City Council to address concerns about the Maty’s Landing Project the Mayor response was—go talk to the developer.
• The City Council did not allow residents of Wad 3 to participate in determining who would represent them on the City Council. Instead withholding the names of those interviewed, and conducting a closed interviews at the Police Station.
• Questions and concerns addressed to City Council about data centers coming to Fredericksburg were in some cases not even acknowledged. The majority were not addressed before the vote was taken.
• Trying to get information from City Council has cost city residents thousands of dollars in city fees and legal expenses.  Even then the council has taken every opportunity to withhold information.
• Regardless of the issues residents should expect that City Council provided the needed information, answer residents’ questions and address their concerns before a vote is taken.  That is a commitment I take very seriously now and have shown that commitment in my prior service to the city.