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Editorials - 08/24/00Commissioners are right to insist on vote |
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We have to hand it to our county commissioners. When they make a promise, they stick to it come hell, high water or contradictory legal opinions.
We're referring, of course, to what has been a persistent question with regard to Jackson County government over the last four years: Whether we should have an elected or an appointed county manager. We've had resolutions and legal battles, all over an issue we thought was resolved by referendum in 1992. When current commissioners (all Democrats) took over from the previous board (mostly Republican), the first thing they did was make good on a campaign promise to "let the people decide." They undid the November 1996 resolution that said this county should have a professional manager and decided to hold a special election so county citizens could vote on the matter. After much debate and deliberation, commissioners determined it would be better to postpone the question until the 2000 presidential election. Voter turnout would be better, they reasoned, and they would avoid the cost of a special election while still resolving the matter before the 2002 county elections. When they found out last week that state statutes appear to read that such a question cannot be taken to the electorate without a special act of the legislature, our commissioners voted to put it on the ballot anyway. More power to them. This issue has been hovering over our elected leaders' heads for too long. As far as we're concerned, the vote should be now - or never. Give the people a chance to address the issue one more time and then put it to rest. After all, state courts have ruled that county commissioners can change from an appointed manager to an elected one and back again any time they choose. Any referendum on the subject will therefore be more symbolic than substantive. We believe that Jackson County voters have twice shown they want an elected county manager. They voted that way in 1992, and in 1998 they ousted the commissioners who changed to an appointed one. If that's not conclusive enough, and we need to ask the question again, let's get it done now. We're in a new century, and it's time to put the conflicts of the last one behind us. Editorial policyThe opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views. |
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