Mayor Smitty Dize continued his social media hazing of candidate Tim McLatchy this week. There are times when, as a wise man once noted, “you need to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, when to walk away, when to run”. That logic apparently does not apply here.
After the first round of attacks, it would have seemed prudent to just let things simmer down, however, Dize doubled-down and refreshed his attack not just on McLatchy, but on local business owners that took offense to what appears to be an effort to influence the local Cape Charles election.
The root of the outburst became crazier, when the Dize chillingly channeled former Mayor Dora Sullivan by stating, “Cape Charles is a better community than that.”
Are we really, though?
From Dize:
I really don’t see the need to even make that an issue but obviously you feel that it is and it’s your choice to feel that way. If you had brought it up once in either your opening or closing I would have thought nothing of it. But in your opening statement you brought it and and I quote “when I said I was going to run, I declared that I would not take any campaign donations, I received calls from CC Citizens, Eastville, Exmore and Special interest groups”, “ I was reproached by someone who is not local, that was from the community beside us, and again, can I please donate to your campaign and I said that the only person that can donate to my campaign is me and the only person that will influence me is the citizens of Cape Charles.So you spent a good time in your open to make a point, later in the questions you brought up the same point and in closing you hammered home your point and I quote “That is why I refused to take campaign donations as I refuse to be influenced”.“And again I’m self funded, Did I spend $10,000 on my campaign? No” Personally we are a small town and all of us are neighbors. We are also not naive or dumb. When you open with it, talk about it during questions and hammer it home in closing you want to get the point out that Mr. Carney received campaign donations (completely legal), that Mr. Charney now has obligations if he’s elected to the people that funded him if elected, you can try and spin it anyway you want but you where Attacking, it don’t take a rocket scientist to read between those lines.
There is no place in small town USA for that especially Cape Charles, that is not who we are or want to look like. This is the reason for my post. Cape Charles is a better community than that.
Tim McLatchy responded:
Mayor Dize has continued his attack on my campaign for mayor. It’s personal and a little confusing since I’ve never had a conversation that lasted over 30 seconds. My latest response for transparency.
Smitty Dize Mayor of Cape Charles, VA Mayor your posts have been negative, we would all appreciate if you practiced what you’re preaching. I’m glad you clarified your statement from last week that you don’t condone candidates taking campaign contributions, you should delete that post from your FB page, otherwise the public will think you’re a flip flopping politician. I’m also a little bit taken back, you sent me a text yesterday that you’re done posting negative comments about me, 45 minutes later you were posting again. Please set a better example for the candidates and the Citizens of Cape Charles. The look isn’t very flattering and it’s obvious that you’re supporting a specific candidate and trying to influence the election.
From the Facebook thread:





I say it’s great that Smitty’s not afraid to say his piece! He’s been a great Mayor, and I’m thrilled to hear he’s returning to work at the Cape Charles Yacht Center, almost where he started. You want participation but when you get it, if it’s not your opinion you condemn it. Typical for today’s social media.
I agree. I hope he returns the Yacht Center to the dream it was, a harbor for The Shore. Cape Charles is great because of being rooted in Shore moralities, not whatever makes a dollar.
‘Cape Charles is great because of being rooted in Shore moralities’ ??????
‘Rooted in Moralities’ ????
You mean like Cape Charles, Gay Wedding Destination?
No Morals there.
You better leave that stuff alone, Keith, it has made you null and void.
Being a Fool is one thing, but not knowing you are a Fool is another thing.
–Merle Haggard–