Editor, The Smithfield Times:

Supervisor William McCarty will be sorely missed but never forgotten, especially by the citizens in the southern end of Isle of Wight County.

I had many interactions with him and found him to be a rare type of leader because he actually made decisions based on what he thought best for all the citizens and not just the ones he directly represented.

The best example was a few years ago when the state and county planned to put a juvenile prison near Windsor that would have housed some dangerous individuals. It seemed that four of the members on the Board of Supervisors had decided how they would vote on this project, two in favor and two against. The great majority of citizens who would be affected by this prison were vehemently opposed to the project. 

I know for a fact that many citizens, none of them who lived in his district, went to speak with Supervisor McCarty about this proposed project and he made time in his busy schedule to personally meet with each and every one of them. When the time came, he voted against this project and was the reason it was not built. 

He had nothing to gain or lose by his vote, he did what he thought was right for the citizens adversely affected by this project and took their opinions seriously.

I had many other interactions with Supervisor McCarty and always found him concerned about what decisions were right for all the citizens of the county, no matter where they lived.

I pray whoever takes his place on the Board of Supervisors has the same integrity and concern for all the citizens that he did. He was a great man and public servant.

 

Volpe Boykin

Carrsville