Mayor “Smitty” Dize has announced that he will not seek re-election. Dize made the announcement via a video posted on Facebook on March 4th.
While not unexpected, Dize noted that he needed to take some time off to re-charge and just take some time for himself. For the moment, this ends a successful run of service to the town for Mr. Dize. His tenure dates back to 2007 when he was Harbormaster. Dize is credited with thinking outside the box, and making the beach and harbor true destinations. Dize is credited with the creation of events such as the Cape Charles Clam Slam.
He did not rule out a run for office in the future.
Dize congratulated himself and his fellow council members for “moving the town forward”, a notion that creates a bit of disconcertment for some locals. As many locals will attest, progress cuts both ways–one person’s forward is usually ten other persons backward. It’s all a matter of perspective and point of view. Can we be honest: has any town council done more damage to locals than this one? Is it fair to call this gentrification? For many locals, the “new”, more forward-leaning Cape Charles is a place, at least in the summer that they avoid, not come to.
Despite the unintentional collateral damage to the local culture, Dize’s defining moment as a mayor came during his stalwart defense of the Northampton County working people. As a subterranean opposition mounted against Coastal Precast, an effort by newly minted retirees to severely curtail and even run off the concrete plant, Mayor Dize held his ground, casting the deciding vote which allowed the business to prosper and essentially rest a little easier in this location.
The farewell did have its ominous moments.
As Dize prepared his departure, he appeared to be taking aim at any local ‘born here’ types that may be considering a run for mayor. He warned citizens not to vote for someone that would want to undo the so-called “progress” of the last few years, someone that would take the town backward. He seemed to infer that, if you were born on the Shore, especially in Cape Charles, you are somehow a threat or menace. It was a curious moment, and many were left wondering where all that animosity was coming from, and who it was actually directed toward.
With Dize out, the play and jockeying have already begun. There are some, even some fairly young ones that have already stated their desire for the role.
Mirror Prediction: Tammy Holloway will run for mayor, and will win with 63+ % of the vote. Holloway has paid her dues–she has worked and volunteered for almost every community-focused organization including the wonderful New Roots Garden. She has served on Town Council, so she understands that aspect of the game. She was also instrumental in establishing the town’s Main Street initiative. We feel she also really understands the need to balance the success of businesses with the town’s overall quality of life. No one loves the town more, or is a bigger advocate for all things Cape Charles. She is the best person for the job, hands down. You read it here first, and the Mirror is never wrong. Well, we were wrong once, but that was the time we thought we were wrong.
So it goes.
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Great job Smitty and the best of luck on your future endeavors.