Editorials - 10/26/00

Keep Jackson unique

We've heard all the logical arguments as to why we need a professional running the multi-million-dollar business that Jackson County has become. Such a person would be trained in public affairs, familiar with writing policy, at home in the board room, immune to political pressures and provide stability to a government that can toss out one set of commissioners for another every four years. With a manager hired to serve "at the pleasure of the commissioners," county board members can rid themselves of a manager who refuses to carry out their policies.

And while some of those arguments have merit, they don't convince us that our homegrown system isn't better.

Primarily, we're for an elected manager because it keeps more choice in the hands of the voters. In our view, the county's registered voters are like a great big board of commissioners, and every elected manager serves at their pleasure.

An elected manager answers to the people. An appointed manager answers to the representatives of the people. We favor the "hands-on" democracy that comes when the person in charge of the county's daily dealings knows that every telephone call is from a voter.

And we don't buy the argument that switching to an appointed manager takes politics out of it. As long as elected commissioners choose the manager, politics will be involved. It's just that instead of pleasing the county electorate, an appointed manager may choose only to please five board members.

Some have said the county would save money with the efficiency that a professional manager would bring. That may or may not be true. Professional managers command high salaries, a fact that could offset other savings. And, as with any job, it depends on the person. "Professional" can be a synonym for bureaucracy, or it can mean a streamlined approach to government.

Anyone who can win enough votes to gain the office probably has been here long enough to have developed feelings for Jackson County. Our mountains won't just be the next rung on his (or her) career ladder, they'll be home. Too many state regulations are written based on conditions in the Piedmont, and a manager trained elsewhere may not always know what's best for here.

Finally, and we're proud to admit it, we're for an elected manager because we're in favor of being different. This newspaper is one of only a handful in the state that is not owned by a conglomerate. Corporate ownership apparently works for other papers just as appointed managers achieve desired goals in other counties.

But this is our county, and it's one that prides itself on its uniqueness and independence.

We are glad the issue will be put to the voters, and we urge everyone to vote before the polls close Nov. 7. Like most of the commissioners, we believe in letting the people decide. We applaud their pledge to stand behind the will of the voters.

With that in mind, we hope county residents flock to the polls in record numbers and finally put this matter to rest.

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