By Lewis Loflin
On June 30, 2016, former Bristol, Virginia mayor Don W. Ashley urged trust in the newly appointed Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU) Board, selected by the state to replace a scandal-ridden leadership. Yet, the board’s first act—holding an unannounced July 1 meeting, unnoticed even by some members and the press—undermined that call. As I wrote to the Bristol Herald Courier, trust is unearned when secrecy persists. BVU’s history of corruption, detailed in BVU Corruption, saw nine board members and contractors jailed or awaiting sentencing by 2016 for bribery and fraud, per federal court records. In 2025, with Bristol’s economy reliant on low-wage retail and transfers, as noted in Government Dependency, BVU’s opacity remains a barrier to recovery.
Ashley, mayor during BVU’s questionable deals, oversaw a city teetering on bankruptcy after a $100 million bond for a Cabela’s retail project, part of The Falls development, per Bristol’s Debt. He sidestepped BVU’s deeper issues: a culture of backroom deals, inflated contracts, and grant-chasing that enriched insiders. Federal indictments (2015-2016) revealed BVU executives took bribes for OptiNet contracts, defrauding taxpayers. The unannounced July 1, 2016, meeting—unreported to the press, frustrating reporters I spoke with—showed the new board, stacked with state-appointed figures, hadn’t broken from this pattern. One member learned of it that morning, per Bristol Herald Courier (July 2, 2016), raising doubts about openness.
Secrecy at BVU mirrors grant misuse across Southwest Virginia, like Big Stone Gap’s movie grants.
The new board, meant to restore trust, included figures tied to Bristol’s political and business circles, per local reports (2016). Ashley’s claim of reform ignored BVU’s entanglement in economic development schemes, like those I’ve critiqued in Tourism Grants. Southwest Virginia’s grant-driven projects—$900,000 for a failed movie, $157,000 in Abingdon—have enriched few while 50% of residents rely on government transfers, per King University (2016). BVU’s pursuit of grants for OptiNet expansion, meant to boost broadband, instead fueled corruption, with no measurable job growth, echoing TICR’s failures.
BVU’s issues reflect Southwest Virginia’s economic development woes, where taxpayer-funded grants lack oversight. The Virginia Tobacco Commission, a frequent BVU partner, spent $1 billion by 2013 with mixed results, audited for questionable non-profit funding, per Richmond Times-Dispatch (Aug. 6, 2013). I’ve met former BVU officials—now convicted—who started with good intentions but fell into a system rewarding secrecy. The public’s demand for jobs and services, expecting others to foot the bill, pressures leaders to chase risky grants, as seen in Trigiani’s film. BVU’s arrogance grew from unchecked power, not just bad actors.
Bristol’s citizens share blame, expecting government to deliver jobs and free services without accountability. This mindset fuels projects like The Falls, pushing Bristol toward $100 million in debt, per Bristol’s Debt. BVU’s grant-chasing for OptiNet ignored measurable standards, a pattern across Scott County and Energy Center. Compare this to former Governor Bob McDonnell’s 2014 corruption conviction for accepting gifts while promoting a business—routine for Virginia’s grant culture, yet he faced jail, per Washington Post (Sept. 4, 2014). Why does BVU’s larger fraud evade such scrutiny?
In 2025, BVU’s sale of OptiNet to private buyers, finalized post-2016, lacks transparent reporting, per local sources. Bristol’s economy, propped by Hard Rock Casino’s $182 million revenue (2024, Virginia Lottery) and 28% transfer payments, per Government Dependency, can’t afford more secrecy. The board’s failure to address past fraud—$10 million in misspent funds, per federal audits (2016)—or set clear standards leaves trust elusive. Southwest Virginia’s grant system, unchanged, risks further waste, as seen in Washington County.
Ashley’s call to trust BVU’s board ignores its secrecy and the region’s failed grant culture. Until openness and accountability replace insider deals, Bristol’s citizens should withhold support, demanding a system that serves the public, not elites.
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping me draft and refine this article. The final edits and perspective are my own.
