Concerning the underbilled electrical accounts and a former administration’s decision to write it off, Bridgeport City Manager Brandon Emmons was recently quoted by the Wise County Messenger, “If we were to go back on that, we would lose some credibility.”

Mr. Emmons holds his position in Bridgeport because a former city council ignored the majority vote of the people and violated state law when it superseded the state legislature as state law requires a majority vote of the people to adopt the city manager form of government.

Obviously, whatever a former administration does in Bridgeport, the ongoing policy is to go with it or some credibility would be lost.

The municipally-owned electric system in Bridgeport is treated as though it is owned by the city council.

We, the people, are not allowed to know the cost of electricity that our money purchases.

As Bridgeport is not regulated by the PUC, we, the people, are not allowed to shop on the open market for cheaper rates.

Isn’t an arrogant, obstinate, secretive, unaccountable, dictatorial, collusive, hypocritical, lawless and un-American city government what Mr. Emmons should be concerned about?

Loyalty to God, the Constitution, the rule of law and being a true servant of the people is what holding public elective office is supposed to be about in our country.

In Bridgeport, the majority vote in five elections on three issues has been ignored.

Show me another city in America where its elected officials have exhibited such contempt and disdain for the vote of the people.

Meanwhile in Bridgeport, the city council runs the electric department with a buy-from-us-at-a-higher-price-or-leave-town-policy and operates the city with the city manager form of government without a state-required vote of the people.

And the city council and its city manager are concerned about losing credibility.

How does one lose what he doesn’t have?

Gerald Groves
Bridgeport