Commissioners Disregarded the Will of the People
Residents pled for the Burke County Commissioners to delay voting on a resolution they believed would harm the most vulnerability in our community. The Commission passed it anyways.
BURKE COUNTY, North Carolina—I witnessed democracy in action on Tuesday night. I also saw what it looks like when elected politicians brazenly disregard the will of the people.
At the County Commissioner’s monthly meeting, with standing room only, more than a dozen informed members of our community pled with the Commission to delay passing a resolution that would completely restructure Burke’s Board of Health and Department of Social Services. They asked for the issue to be further studied before the Commission stripped the two boards of their authority. Their speeches were passionate, intelligent, and heartfelt.
We heard from several seasoned healthcare and social services professionals, current and former Health Board members, a pastor, educators, and several concerned citizens.
They were unanimous in their request to postpone the vote, citing concerns over how it would impact our most vulnerable community members, open the door for politics to dictate our public health policies rather than science, and undermine the independence of two boards that have received numerous state and national recognitions for how well they address the needs of our rural county.
The common refrain heard on Tuesday night: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Be it editorials, letters to the editor, or conversations around the county, the opposition to this resolution has been universal. I’ve yet to meet a person voicing support for this move, a resolution that was announced to the public with the bare minimum number of days required by law. Burke residents wanted more time.
The air completely let out of the room when the vote passed 4-1, with outgoing Commissioner Johnnie Carswell the lone dissenting voice. I want to commend him for his integrity and willingness to listen to our community. When I reflect on his legacy as commissioner, this moment will always stand out in my mind.
Our community will also be left with the memory that the rest of the Board stared democracy directly in the face and said, “Nah, we’re going to do this anyway.” It seemed their minds were already made up when they walked into that room, before the public even had a chance to voice our concerns.
I am gobsmacked.
This is a disheartening blow to democratic principles and will likely harm the most vulnerable among us, the poor in spirit who face increased uncertainty about the healthcare and social services on which they depend.