by Diane Benjamin
It should be no surprise that Sunday the Pantagraph printed an “unbiased” editorial from Kathy Michael on eliminating the Recorder position. Today they issued their opinion that supports hers, if you read between her lines.
The truth is – both offices should be appointed. Voters are not capable of knowing the position or who is qualified to run the offices. Both offices are charged with protecting our freedoms and liberty – one with property rights and one with our votes. These should not be a contest on who can best win a popularity contest.
Lee Newcom is more than great at the job he does – it is more than record keeping. I found errors on the system from Lee’s predecessor when investigating land purchases. Lee has worked hard to clean up the records, but this shows what happens when the job is treated as mere filing. We can not afford to remove Lee from this position!
The March primary election did not go well because ballots didn’t fit in the machine. There is still an investigation on how the ballots were handled. Yes Kathy, I expect you to protest that statement.
Do citizens actually think giving the County Clerk’s office more responsibility is the prudent thing to do? Do you want to risk your property rights because they are treated as filing? The Pantagraph was lied to by another County employee, and they used the lies to try to destroy Lee. They were proven wrong – finally – by Matt Sorenson before the primary. The Pantagraph has no love for conservatives and will not pass up an opportunity to get rid of one. This time their target is Lee. Who believes the Pantagraph anyway?
Vote NO on handing the Recorders office to the County Clerk. The time is not now!
Then where might the assumption come from that voters a capable of knowing whom should be in ANY office? I say keep Lee and keep Kathy in office. Let them be elected by We The People.
There is a big difference – we can judge others based on their votes! There is nothing Lee can be judged on unless you do research in his office. Kathy can be judged on how well elections are run – March wasn’t good. Representatives and Senators cast MANY votes – showing a clear record of their work.
Better to have an office holder ELECTED by the PEOPLE than an appointed beauracrat that is answerable to noone and almost impossible to terminate !
The Pantagraph is so blatantly WRONG on so many issues, taking sides without researching and uncovering the real facts in depth. The demise of wood pulp based old media (and their inherent biases) cannot come soon enough IMO.
It would be nice if there was a way to know who you are voting for. Local elections are dismal at best, anybody with a good lie can get elected. Integrity isn’t remotely involved-especially when the newspaper destroys anybody not a liberal communist. The County Board is accountable – if anybody is paying attention. Of course, they aren’t.
So who will do the appointing of these offices? WIthout further ado, NO THANKS! Let We The People have more choices, not less.
You have no idea the caliber of the elected officials. The County Board would appoint County employees.
Treasurer Rebecca McNeil, Auditor Michele Anderson,Sen. Bill Brady, County Board member George Wendt et al ALL got their start as appointees.