On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Summerfield Town Councilmember Jonathan Hamilton had a whole lot to say about some things that Summerfield Mayor Tim Sessoms has said in the past few weeks.
Sessoms, largely speaking to the Northwest Observer, has made comments blaming the Summerfield Town Council for many of the town’s challenges and made statements to the effect that the council’s recent decision not to renew the contract of Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker was “inhumane.”
Hamilton who made the motion not to renew Whitaker’s contract said he decided this week that he’d had enough and he sent out a scathing press release in which he defended the actions of the new council and accused the mayor of ducking responsibility for problems that Hamilton said the mayor and his supporters had caused.
This was on the day before the Town Council was holding an extremely packed special called February 29 meeting to discuss the resignation of the town attorney, the situation with the town manager, and the town’s efforts to keep local farmer and developer David Couch from having the state de-annex nearly a thousand acres of land where Couch wants to build a residential and mixed used development.
Hamilton is one of the new members of the council, winning election late last year. His comments were meant not just for the mayor but for the others in town who question the wisdom of letting Whitaker go.
“With only two months of being seated, I can say fresh perspectives and new expertise have been desperately needed,” his release states. “As this change occurs, there will be backlash from a small and loud crowd. These will be the folks who will probably feel very disempowered as their connections to the inside are broken, and I imagine there will be some desperate flailing about as they try to stay relevant.”
He continues, “Truth is, and I believe most folks know, the problems we are facing in Summerfield are not because of a newly elected board that was sworn in roughly 75 days ago. The challenges we face are a culmination of failures over the years and a refusal of those in charge to acknowledge fault and to adequately prepare.”
Then he calls out the mayor by name: “Mayor Tim Sessoms is now accusing the newly elected council as the reason Summerfield is facing de-annexation and potential lawsuits from the NAACP. I would like to address these accusations head-on as it is becoming apparent that the mayor is trying to pass the buck wherever he can.”
The NCAAP is accusing the town of unfair zoning practices and not providing affordable housing. The group contacted the Town of Summerfield in early 2022 regarding exclusionary zoning practices, and Hamilton stated he had recently been made aware that they might file a claim to preserve one potential cause of action from 2023. Hamilton pointed out he had not been a council member during that time but added that Sessom’s was mayor.
“Concerning the issue of potential de-annexation, the Town of Summerfield was informed by David Couch’s attorneys in May of 2023 that the time for a compromise had already passed,” he stated. “Couch’s attorney later elaborated that the town’s elected leadership rejected compromise discussions in November of 2022. History is not on Tim Sessom’s side, yet he is pointing the finger at people who were nowhere around when these problems originated. Poor leaders place blame on others, and Tim Sessoms is no exception.”
The town is deeply divided regarding the amount and density of development, and many in town are trying to do what they can to keep the North Carolina General Assembly from supporting a move by Couch to have the property de-annexed from the town so he won’t have to appease the Summerfield Planning Board and Town Council
“Unlike Tim Sessoms,” Hamilton wrote in the release, “I will take responsibility and bear the burden of any problem that comes knocking on Summerfield’s door. I will do everything I can to right Summerfield’s ship and get our house in order. If the NAACP has a legitimate claim, I want to work with them. If David Couch wants to work on a real compromise, I’m here. If Senator Berger is interested in a more meaningful conversation, I’ll have it. For those looking to make trouble where there is none, I’m at the gate waiting.”
Got to love small town politics! How many have been bought by Berger and Couch? Is Summerfield going to be the next city or an annexation of Greensboro? Instead of pointing fingers, as most politicians do, why not work together? You are elected officials by the citizens of Summerfield, act like it. Berger only has financial interest in your community. He threatens your citizens, is this what an elected official who supposedly represents your community does, threatening citizens with his power? The power of your vote is much more powerful!
Except he redistricted Summerfield out of HIS district, so they can’t vote against him…he’s a real a-hole but good with his power.
OMG, let’s let the NAACP address Summerfield AFTER they bother Oak Ridge. Oh, that won’t happen because Oak Ridge is about as far left as Greensboro. Where was the NAACP when Oak Ridge turned down a Goodwill training facility because “they didn’t want that riff-raff in there”. Pay attention to the projections and BS from the left versus what they actually do, it’s easy to see. Then, ignore it. Summerfield’s unaffordability problem is caused by the same left-wing wackos that screech all the time about that stuff but own the million dollar houses they don’t want medium priced housing near. Godspeed to Mr. Couch and de-annex from this town. Then, with his property that’s near the town, put in a monster truck mud bog and a long gun shooting range.
It’s time for the mayor to be put out to pasture. Instead of constructively working to protect the town he’s too busy blaming others and throwing our council under the bus in an attempt to self preserve. If you can’t get past your personal differences and help the town you need to step down. We’re in the fight of our lives and the mayor must think arguing and placing blame is more important than leading. The mayor needs to check his priorities and stop serving himself and start serving the town.
Sessoms, unlike Hamilton, sees that Couch holds all the cards. Hamilton is just starting his political career and hopes to get his name in the press as much as possible. He had someone stand to the side and take his picture in the presence of Berger to give the appearance of him standing up to Berger, it’s hilarious, (looks like he is being told to go away) straight out of the Kamala Harris playbook.
I noticed that this article failed to mention that Mayor Sessoms publicly called the “new” council “uneducated” and “incompetent” more than once. Why did the author of this article choose to exclude that important information from his lengthy article?
Sounds like Greensboro….same county so it is understandable.
Mr. Hamill took many liberties in his juvenile distribe. Hamilton sounds like an entitled, spoiled little brat clamoring to get his name in the RT. It’s no surprise he’s an Attorney (insert joke here). I don’t live in Summerfield but have followed Guilford County politics for two decades and been engaged at the local, state and federal levels respectively. Mr. Hamilton, instead of throwing grenades and acting as if your the savior of the town in your millisecond career as a public servant, how about pouring your energies into the real work. Maybe try less self agrandizement, phony populist b.s. and more relationship building. Guilford BOCC used to be the laughing stock of North Carolina because of acts like yours. It’s no wonder it took years to attract & retain business here and be taken seriously. You sound like a wanna be political player that just has to call in the media so you can get your faux tough guy act on. Do the work and you’ll get all the media attention you can handle.
Is “standing at the gates waiting” a threat for all those who don’t agree with you righting Summerfield’s misdirected ship? You just appear to be an arrogant young man who believes all the trains will run on time only because you have spoken.