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I want to thank James Klenner Festerman for the trashy way he conducted himself on election day. I attempted to ask him a question about his campaign finance report and he told me to "Get away from him" and that he "didn't have time for me". That was the exact response I got from his son last year when I attempted to ask him about the drugs, drinking and guns at his rental property behind my home.

Festerman is in violation of campaign finance law, having raised and spent more than $3,000 during this election. He told me he had no clue about the campaign finance law, despite the fact that he is his own treasurer and required to complete a training course like the rest of us. I also asked him if he intended to correct the matter and he responded, "I don't believe I will."

During the last month, Festerman has spent his days and nights going around town whispering about "the black vote" and even told a group at the Methodist Church that they had to turn out the white vote because his opponent was mobilizing "the black churches".

So many people from his country club set told me they could not believe he still thinks in terms of blacks versus whites. It is the year 2009 and I for one took a stand against the old boy mindset.

Enjoy your 50 vote margin James. The whispering campaign takes the day again.

Your perspective is fine and I can accept it. However, look beyond your blinders for a moment and realize that I can back up everything I stated with hard facts.

Here we go again (first post by jeffreyhsykes). More sore heads all puffy because their candidate lost. Maybe the poster is licking his wounds too from his sound defeat? Even though it wasn't a wide victory in the mayors race, Mr. Gorham lost and you don't get points for coming in second. Why did Festerman win? Because the people trust James Klenner Festerman as you called him. And was that an attempt to shame James about his middle name, that Klenner jab? If so there are lots of people named after Doc Klenner around here, so shame them too while you're at it. As far as what you say about inaccuracies, why weren't you shouting those from the rooftops during the campaign? Did you mention it at the chamber forum? Was it in the newspaper? No? Why? I'll tell you why, because you were going to forget all about if you won a seat, it wouldn't matter then because you would have been working together arm in arm. But no, you didn't get the job, so now you're dishing dirt. Amazing. And back to Festerman and Gorham and the campaign, do you honestly think that Gorham didn't use the race card? If you say he didn't, you're a liar. You know it and I know it. With the exception of a handful of signs on the south side, most of Gorham's signs were on the northern side, the predominantly black area of Reidsville, and helping in the push for black votes was Rucker, Henderson and Richard Johnson. If you didn't know the man you wouldn't even know that Gorham was running for office. Maybe he thought he was going to slide in as mayor. But he didn't. And while it wasn't a landslide election in the mayors race, only one person can get the job, you don't get points for coming in second in the race no matter how close it was. And the person that the people chose is James Klenner Festerman. He really cares about Reidsville since he's devoted over 40 years in public service. I applaud the mayor for his re-election to a second term. The people made the right choice. And for Sykes, three words - GET OVER IT!

Let it go, Jeffrey. You lost by a huge margin. Let's move on with improving Reidsville.

It's amazing how easily people can tell others to get over it when a situation falls in their favor. James Festerman is not a friend to black people and there shouldn't be any confusion about that. When he was Chief Of Police he NEVER promoted any Black man beyond the rank of Sergeant. The thought in Reidsville is long as Black people stay in their proper place and that's in a less than leadership role then everything is alright.He is to never question city government and not speak for the voiceless citizens that don't have a clue that their city don't have their best interest at heart. Reidsville is the only place I know where an "uneducated" white man can excel over any educated Black man. Some of you are already trying to think of something to get Richard Johnson out of the council. It's too much for a Black man to be proud to gain acceptance in Reidsville you have to be a "bowed down, boot licking" on his/her knees negro. Look at any Black man in a leadership role in Reidsville to include department heads(if you can find one). They're not to have a mind of their own.

I'd like to congratulate both Mr. Festerman and Mr. Gorham for well ran campaigns. I, for one can't throw stones, because I have too much in my own life to take care of. Past mistakes and consequences because of those mistakes, cause me to be careful in belittling anyone. I like to think of the good that people have done. I remember Mr. Gorham when he taught at Williamsburg Elementary School and my son loved him. Before my son passed away in 2002, he'd always talk about the great times at Williamsburg Elementary and he'd tell me that Mr. Gorham was one of his favorites. I've lived in the county most of my life and until I moved to the city (about 4 years ago), I'd never been involved in city elections. I've watched how Mr. Gorham has excelled and moved up in the ranks in public education. That says a lot about a man and his convictions. I personally thank Mr. Gorham for his service to the school system and our children and also to our city. In turn, I got to know Mr. Festerman about 10 years ago and he always offered his hand in helping when problems came my way. At the company where I worked, Mr. Festerman always took time to see that the facility was properly secured. Many times devouting his own time to take care of situations that really was our job and he and his company did it for us. He is a friend to me and he's is affectionally known to me now as "chief". I want to personally thank Mr. Festerman for his years of service to our city throughout his life as a public servant. One heck of a campaign for you both and I thank you both for your hard work in making Reidsville a great place to live.

Wow Wize64, profound words. So tell us all, who among the blacks working there when Festerman was Chief of Police, was qualified to go beyond the rank of sergeant? Name one. Could it be that the majority of the few that worked there at that time were not qualified to be promoted beyond that rank, either from lack of education or newness on the force? I can name two right off the top of my head who didn't even have a high school diploma, one made it as far as the ninth grade, and both were hired two chiefs ahead of Festerman (chief Ray Roberts), and Rufus Speaks was hired beyond him. The ones promoted to lieutenant or above had high school diplomas, and most went to basic law enforcement school at the bare minimum, the rest has some college or college degrees. So Wize64, are you saying that blacks who worked under Festerman should have been promoted beyond their capabilities because they were, dare I say, black? Let me be clear when I say that the black people that worked under Festerman's leadership as Chief were great guys and had street smarts. Having street smarts is a great thing. But when you can't write a simple report or have no qualifications to be promoted to a position, you can't blame that on Festerman or anyone else except the person who isn't qualified. Sorry, but being a nice guy doesn't make you qualified. You know, all your talk about "negros" boot licking and bowing down for the white man -- seems like a little race card in your hand too huh? Eh tu?

Jeff Sykes doesn't have a lot of room to criticize. I've personally witnessed his arrogant, hateful, smug and condescending attitude and that was just while being involved with youth sports programs...

My husband and I purchased a home here 5 years ago. As a relative newcomer to Reidsville, I do see a huge disparity between the citizens of this city, and although I don't have a complete history on why things are the way they are. I do recognize that very little is being done to make lasting and meaningful change for ALL the people of this city. It is great to have a Market Square, but how does that attract jobs and foster industry in this area? I would rather my tax dollars be spent more wisely. Arts and aesthetics are great, but they don't put food on the table or provide for an individuals safety. There are far too many parts of the city that are riddled with crime, far too many unemployed, far, far too many slumlords getting rich on the backs of the poorest among us.
Fixing buildings, widening monuments, paying shop keepers to paint their facades doesn't help many people. In addition, I just like to add that winning by 48% does not a mandate make. I think both candidates are affable fellows, but I think a change in the current political picture is certainly in order. This is of course if change is really wanted. Just my two cents!

WIZE64, you said "I was born in Reidsville,I left for two years to enter the military and came back.I am sorry I came back and I don't understand why non-white person would want to live in Reidsville. I don't see many changes taking place when you have an "uneducated" mayor who only views things in black and white and a city manager who is nothing more than a "blood sucker" in this community(He is one of the highest paid city managers in the state of NC).Every one of those city council members who allowed the city manager a $10,000 pay increase should be ashamed of themselves."

So Wize64, a question for you. WHY ARE YOU HERE? Who is forcing you to stay in Reidsville? Don't like it? The bus doesn't run here anymore, but if you drive, US29 goes north and south. I cannot believe you're raising all these idiotic points about what you see as some injustice, but you just can't get enough of the city you hate so bad. What is keeping you here? What forces you to stay here? Anybody that supposedly served their country and traveled has surely seen that there is more to the world than Reidsville. So if you hate it so bad, pack your bags and just leave. It is a still a free country so set yourself free from your bondage in Reidsville. And that response you gave, the one above me, sure sounds like the same crap that was spewed during the Berger/Foster DA campaign. The Foster bunch was a bunch of sore losers and the race card was played there every hand too, mainly by Belinda's supporters. Sure sounds like the same bullspit, just a different election.

Bye, bye Donald!