Government

    Bob Wandrei just won reelection to Bedford City Council in November, but now he has to do it all over again. That’s because City Council will cease to exist on June 30 and Wandrei wants to be on the new town council that takes on July 1.

    Last fall’s election was contested, but this time there are seven candidates for seven seats. However, there is competition. The top four vote-getters in next week’s election will get full four year terms on the town council. The others get two-year terms.

    When Bedford’s new town council convenes for its first meeting in July, Mary Flood will not be on it. After serving on City Council since 1995, Flood is not seeking a seat on Town Council.

    Flood was appointed to City Council to fill the unexpired term of Peyton Otey. She was elected to her first full term in 1998.

    Bedford County’s supervisors unanimously approved an $89.17 million budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. This includes a local transfer of $38.04 million to Bedford County Schools, $3.5 million less than the school board had asked for.

    Although all supervisors voted in favor of the budget, some expressed concerns. District 2 Supervisor Curry Martin wanted assurance that the budget did not endanger the 3 percent raises for school employees that the school board’s budget contained.

    Delegate Lacey Putney appeared at the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce’s legislative wrap-up breakfast for the last time. The annual event was held at Olde Liberty Station last week. Putney received accolades from his fellow state legislators.

    “There are great parallels between the great men of America and the great man of Bedford County,” said Senator Steve Newman.
    “He has protected you, he has protected me, he has protected liberty,” Newman said.