The following Op-Ed was submitted to the Mirror via email. After discussion, the author wishes to remain anonymous.
As Cape Charles faces challenges with affordable housing, the upcoming election offers a crucial opportunity to protect our beloved town from rising rents, property taxes, and gentrification. Jo Bronson, Ed Wells, and Mark Usry are committed to maintaining Cape Charles’s character while ensuring it remains a welcoming place for full-time residents and visitors alike.
Historically, Cape Charles thrived with a commercial district on Mason Avenue that catered primarily to residents, with local hardware stores, grocery shops, and clothing shops providing essential services. Jo, Ed, and Mark understand the importance of this legacy as they advocate for a sustainable economic future that doesn’t overly rely on tourism. Their vision includes a plan B for our economy, fostering diverse local businesses to ensure that Cape Charles remains a home for its residents.
A significant concern for residents is the impact of the short-term rental (STR) market, which diminishes the available housing stock for long-term residents and drives up rent and property taxes. Jo, Ed, and Mark advocate for reasonable regulations to curb this inflation, ensuring locals can afford to live in the town they cherish. They prioritize thoughtful, community-driven improvements that honor our heritage, resisting unchecked expansion that could erode the town’s unique quaintness.
In contrast, another candidate, Tara Ashworth, has a husband on the planning commission who recently expressed a concerning viewpoint on STRs, suggesting that outside investors operating more than five short-term rental properties is acceptable. This perspective raises alarms about the potential negative impact on our community, highlighting a troubling disregard for long-term residents.
The issue of gentrification poses a significant threat to our community. Jo, Ed, and Mark are dedicated to prioritizing the voices of full-time residents, protecting the essence of Cape Charles and fostering an inclusive environment.
As we consider our community’s needs, it’s essential to recognize that not all residents can afford a second home; many may only own one or none at all. Our financial interests are just as valid, and our votes carry equal weight.
Voting for Jo Bronson, Ed Wells, and Mark Usry means supporting candidates who understand the complexities of our housing crisis and are ready to take decisive action. They aim to improve what exists without compromising the integrity of our town, striking a balance between growth and preservation.
As residents of Cape Charles, we have the power to influence our community’s future. Let’s stand together to support candidates committed to keeping Cape Charles affordable, accessible, and true to its small-town roots. In this election, our choice is clear.
All three of these candidates live in the Historic District. They also care about maintaining a sense of community, where we actually have neighbors we know. It was said at the Rotary’s candidate forum last week, that people in Bay Creek are being told to vote for the two Bay Creek candidates. If you live in the Historic District, do you really want Town Council members who live in Bay Creek, making decisions on issues that only impact the Historic District? Bay Creek has its own board and an HOA that protects their interests. People from Bay Creek talk about the charm and quaintness of the town, but do not support limiting the number of STRs that are taking away the sense of community that drew us to purchase homes in the Historic District.
Below is the exact quote that went to the Bay Creek residents…from the Bay Creek Community Association (BCCA) Board President, Rob Harris. This was included in the September 2024 BCCA President’s Newsletter. How dare the BCCA HOA resources promote any candidate or politician??
Rob is clearly, in my opinion, a spokesperson for Preserve (the Bay Creek developer). Again, in my opinion, a vote for these candidates (Tara and Andy) is a vote supporting the direction of Preserve. You may want to search “Jack Fisher” to get a sense for their ethics as an organization…
Though I live in the Marina Villages neighborhood of Bay Creek, I moved to Cape Charles because I love the town…I definitely believe that STRs have ruined the sense of community in this town (both the Historic District AND Bay Creek). “Limit STRs” does NOT mean eliminating STRs!
“PS (from Rob): On a related note, two Bay Creek residents that I know of, Andy Bucholz and Tara Ashworth are running for town council. I know both of these people and I think they are great! At the bottom of this newsletter is Andy’s campaign flyer, next month I will include info on Tara Ashworth.”
Ms. Ashworth also appears to hold on to our small home town Cape Charles lifestyle.
Tara Ashworth
for Cape Charles Town Council
Tara Ashworth is a dedicated resident of Cape Charles with a strong commitment to the community and its ongoing success. As a parent raising her young family in Cape Charles, she has a unique perspective on the
future direction of the town.
Background & Experience
• William & Mary graduate • Decades-long professional experience managing multi-faceted projects,
leading dynamic teams, and providing sound fiscal oversight • Member of Cape Charles Main Street Board as Promotions Co-Chair
focused on community events such as Festive Fridays, LoveRun & Lovefest
• Created and spearheaded the team for the annual, family-friendly
St. Charles Oktobertest
• Member of the Cape Charles Memorial Library Board
• Marketing Committee Co-Chair for Sailfest planned for 2026
Issues
• Strongly support the economic stability of Cape
Charles • Need to address the issues that come hand in hand with tourism including parking, nuisance issues and
errant golf carts • Imperative that we maintain small town charm and
quaintness • Believe the Beach Front Master Plan should be limited in scope and in keeping with the rustic, charming nature of our beach it – focus on
bathrooms, accessibility and conservation • Harbor area zoning should be pragmatic, logical and complementary to the historic
and commercial districts
I don’t see anything that indicates that Mrs. Ashworth works for a local realtor. Maybe that is why she is so adamantly opposed to the Limit STR signs in yards in the Historic District. How many STRs are in her block in Bay Creek? Because if Limit STR signs will discourage people from purchasing homes and turning them into STRs in the Historic District, our sign is going to stay in our yard. We want homes, not hotels with revolving doors in the Historic District.
If the oldest house in Cape Charles was built around 1912, how do they have a historic district? Many homes on The Shore are easily 100 years older.
All smoke and mirrors.
In America today, anything older than about five minutes ago is considered “historic.”
Just another empty, meaningless word in the lexicon of American language.