There has been lots of talk lately in this 2024 Presidential Election cycle about which candidate, Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, is gonna cause the end of Democracy in the USA. Which one will “Kill Democracy” while claiming they are trying to “Save Democracy”? Folks, if you have watched the National News for two seconds this past week, you have heard this argument ten times: “Are you better off today than you were four years ago???” And, if you’ve been to the grocery store on a regular basis for the past four years, (or, the gas station, or, bought or rented a house) YOU know the answer to that question!!! A Great Big NO!!!
Folks, YOU have watched the debates, the fake news and FOX and NewsMax. There has been plenty of interviews, forums, speeches and such PRESENTED BY both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. However, this article is not about Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
This article is about the actual End of Democracy, right here in Cleveland County. Folks, Democracy has already been extinguished in Cleveland County, North Carolina. And right under YOUR noses. Drowned in the political ugliness that prevails right here and right now in our own back yards. Not at the top of the 2024 Elections ballot, but way down toward the bottom of the ballot. The Commissioners and School Board Elections. Where the candidates for office, especially the incumbents, are close enough to smile to your face and stab you in the back. Without moving but one step and NOT looking back.
Here are some examples of things that have happened in the past four years:
- The Number One 22/23 “Focus Area and Strategic Goalof the CC Commissioners is simply stated. Citizen Engagement. To implement outreach strategies that reflect “who we are” and inspire people to be part of it.
Note: This is the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Focus area on the Cleveland County Official Website. Which has not been updated. Or accomplished anything in regard to citizens engagement for that matter. Cleveland County Government is now in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. And at least two years behind. Has anybody asked the Cleveland County Commissioners to describe to them and show any commissioner actions at all that reflects “Who we are” and how the Commissioners have inspired any citizens to be a part of it?? A part of what, in particular. A Part of anything would be a good start.
Instead, the Cleveland County Commissioners, Kevin Gordon, Johnny Hutchins, et. al. have refused to accept any citizen engagement, even when it was offered.
Remember the MidPines Recycling Center near Kings Mountain? (And also, very near the Catawba Casino and the property former CC Commissioner Eddie Holbrook and his E5 Holdings crowd of secret investors; who bought about 10 acres near Midpines for around $650,000 and recently turned around and flipped that land to the Indian Casino for $40 Million$. (Source-Kings Mountain Herald). Rumors were (and probably still are) that Commissioners Kevin Gordon, Johnny Hutchins, et. al. will end up declaring Midpines as surplus and sell cheap to folks like the Eddie Holbrook crowd so they can turn around and make huge profits. And, likely reward, under the table, those who helped them along the way.
But those that have paid attention, will remember that Robert A, a well-seasoned engineer, had examined the Shelby Star pictures of Midpines after the county had dug up all the cracked and broken concrete at Midpines to disguise the real problems from nosy people like Robert A, who had offered to help the Commissioners repair Midpines to restore full and safe operations at Midpines as before.
NOTE, The Commissioners had refused to allow Robert A to actually tour the Midpines facility, but it was too late. The Star pictures of Midpines with the broken pieces of concrete all piled was enough for Robert A. From observing those broken pieces, many turned upside down, Robert A was able to determine that the land at Midpines had not been evenly graded at Midpines leaving many, many high spots. When the concrete was poured, the high spot became very thin places in the concrete slap. Instead of ending up with an even thickness of concrete at Midpines, the thickness would vary. Sometimes only 2 inches or so. But everything looked lovely on the surface. It is very likely that this poor grading of the underlying soil was done on purpose those many years before. A cutting of corners that meant less concrete to pour and more profits to concrete contractor. It is an old trick.
Then, when the big garbage trucks drove across the thin concrete, the concrete cracked in many places. Over the years, more and more cracking all over the surface.
But, Commissioners Kevin Gordon, Johnny Hutchins et. al. claimed that place was still dangerous. That groundwater had washed under the Midpines concrete from parts unknown and created large underground cavities under the concrete that was unsafe. And, since they had not found any problems with the site drainage, the cause of the washouts was unknown and it would have been too costly to re-engineer the whole place. But the situation was easy for Robert A to figure out. Over many years of heavy rains directly on the cracked concrete surface, the source of the washout water was clear to Robert A. Instead of rainwater flowing over the top of a good and uncracked concrete surface to sight drainage points, the rainwater had simply drained through the cracks in the concrete and then flowed UNDER the cracked concrete slap, slowly washing away the soil UNDER the concrete. Thusly creating a hazardous situation.
However, the CC Commissioners didn’t want to hear that the broken-up concrete that had already been pushed into the washed-out holes at Midpines, with the addition of gravel and such, and then properly compacted and then graded evenly would have been a good and proper “Fix” at Midpines. At a comparable price to what the commissioners eventually did, pour a good slab at another location that limited Midpines to much less of a service to the people in and around Kings Mountain. And, keep open the opportunity to justify deeming Midpines as surplus and selling cheap. So, the E5 Crowd could make much profits and maybe send the Commissioners a Turkey for Thanksgiving and a Ham at Christmas. Or some other form of illegal gratuity???
Folks, Somebody is obviously putting out the gratuities to the Incumbent Cleveland County Commissioners who are running for re-election in 2024. Kevin Gordon and Johnny Hutchins. And others. Gordon and Hutchins had done away with Citizen engagement. There have been no candidate forums, no debates, no nothing where the citizens of Cleveland County can ask Gordon and Hutchins questions and expect answers. Even Public Participation and Public Hearings at Commissioner meetings have been time limited with the addition or so many rules that most citizens have given up even trying to talk to the Commissioners. The Commissioners have even adopted certain rules known only to them where Sheriff’s Deputies do not allow citizens to even approach the commissioners Before. During and after Commissioner meetings. As Robert A’s Friend Tommy Pruitt once remarked, “If they weren’t so low down, they wouldn’t have to be so scared.”
Editor’s Note: Folks, now that MidPines situation is just simmering along under the Radar Scope, what other source of big bucks with little oversite being available that would grease the skids of graft and corruption that a crowd of Skunk, Crooked, Lying and Scheming Commissioners and others might be tempted by.
Robert A says, Folks, it’s like the old saying “Money Talks And Bullshit Walks!!” I don’t know about you, but the Catawba Casino seems to be at the center of where graft and corruption has already surfaced (for years) and thusly there may be other similar circumstances in the future.
The name Metcon Construction, the folks who are building the New Justice Center (probably a $300-$400 Million cash flow) are also building the Catawba Casino (Advertised as a $700 Million plus cash flow, and presently also doing other work in and around Kings Mountain (maybe a $100-$200 million cash flow); Totaling a $1.1 BILLION to $1.3 BILLION PLUS Cashflow, the largest flow of cash to a single entity in Cleveland County history, that Robert A is aware of, that certainly appears to be a place where gratuities might flow that would deserve special accountability and oversite. Hey, Somebody is paying for all those Kevin Gordon and other extravagant flyers, mailers, Billboards, big signs, little signs, etc. that have overflowed upon Cleveland County.
Editor’s Note: Robert A NOW recommends voting in the 2024 General Elections for the Commissioners and the CCS School Board Candidates as follows:
Cleveland County Commissioners Candidate
XXXX Write-In Emanuel Hunt, Jr.
(To vote for Emanuel Hunt, Jr YOU, the CC voter, must write-in (Print or in Cursive, his name as shown above on the line designated on your ballot and also mark the Oval for this Write-in Vote. If you have questions, ask a Poll Worker to help you.
XXXX Stormy Mongiello
XXXX David Peace
Cleveland County School Board Candidate recommendations: Vote for these five!
XXXX Kenneth A. Ledford
XXXX David Fisher
XXXX Gloria Sherman
XXXX Rod Powell
XXXX Tracy Ross
