Did Butch Church Undermine Jobs Recruitment?

Butch Church

Got a call first thing this morning--while I was out walking--from somebody who would know, insisting that Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Butch Church recently told Roanoke County Administrator Clay Goodman to call off the recruitment of Backcountry.com.

The reason given by the person talking to me was that Church didn't want anything controversial happening in his district (Catawba) before the November elections. He  is in a vigorous campaign fight for his seat with, among others, the popular Carter Turner.

Goodman said this morning, "It is not true."

Church was the subject of a front page story in a local daily Sunday accusing him, in effect, of using his influence to get a county employee fired because he didn't like working with her. Backcountry.com's fulfillment center went to Montgomery (which was delighted to get the 200 jobs). Montgomery likely would have won it with or without Roanoke County's efforts, from what I understand.

I'm told that Roanoke County recruiters talked to Backcountry.com officials at a trade show some time back and established a relationship which led to recruiting efforts. My guess is that the reason Backcountry.com might be considered controversial is that it is a fulfillment center with relatively low wage jobs and the site being discussed for its building was near Lock Haven Country Club in a distinctly residential area.

(Photo: joebutchchurchsupervisor.com)