I have attended more County Commissioners’ meetings than most (I grant this record was not hard to accomplish) and have endured long, folksy rants on topics unrelated to the business at hand. I have listened as the Commissioners made decisions based on what some person said, instructed the County Administrator to write a letter only to hear them later discover that someone else had new facts that warranted a new letter contradicting the first.
The lack of professionalism by the members of the Commission is on display at every meeting. After three years, they still do not have a full grasp of Robert’s Rules of Order. Often, at least one of the Commissioners will claim not to know anything about the topic on the agenda only to be told that information was in their packet. Motions are justified by support from unknown people who are “too afraid to comment in person or in writing.” At one comment session, Mr. Jacob proposed cutting off the call from one of the few informed citizens who took the time to participate.
During the County Commissioners’ Forum, Commissioner Jacob spent the time when he was not speaking giving himself a manicure. At one point he brought out the clippers. The mess in his office for Zoom session was embarrassing. However, the least professional element of Mr. Jacob’s performance was the reason he gave as to why he is against moving the eighth graders to the High School – “because you are never going to keep eighth graders away from seniors because if I was a senior, I always knew where the young girls were out in the school. You couldn’t keep me away from them.” And who can forget Mr. Mason’s comment that he “didn’t want his granddaughter leaving school dumber than when she started”?
The Commissioners appointed Mr. Mason as liaison to the Planning Commission and Mr. Jacob liaison to the Economic Development Board. These roles are typically held by citizens. Instead, we have Commissioners embedded in the policy making bodies, commenting during discussions and then being the final arbitrator as County Commissioner. In addition, Mr. Mason has appointed himself to the Comprehensive Rezoning Commission where he frequently has the last word.
I would hope that the voters in Kent County not “be happy with what we have” as the Commissioners advise. We deserve better and we have better choices.
Judy Gifford
Kennedyville
Carol Casey says
Agreed.
Gretchen F Stroh says
We need intelligent commissioners who have a command of the English language, just sayin’
Carla Massoni says
You get what you vote for and these are the folks who were elected. Don’t just pull the lever this week. Determine who has the best skill set to run our County. Doesn’t have to be someone you “like” just someone who respects the office enough to do the research and listen to the voters who may also have expertise and wish to serve. Would you let a “nice guy/gal” manage your retirement fund, or put in a septic system, or remove a mole from your nose if they did not have experience? Our elected officials don’t need to know everything…but they do need to be willing to learn and that requires humility and commitment. And in November, be willing to cross party lines if the candidate is the best for the job.
Thomas Highfield-Clark says
Well said and quite a revelation, Judy!
Debra Blanchfield says
Judy, thanks for your civic involvement.
Experience counts regardless of party affiliation.
Self interest as business and landowners is not the way to govern our county.
Gren Whitman says
No matter which three candidates survive this five-man GOP primary, the real election is in November.
If you agree with Ms. Gifford — and I do, emphatically! — vote for the three Democrats.
William Norris says
Ms. Gifford’s personal attack on the present County Commissioners is uncalled for and inappropriate. Her personal agenda is not what’s best for all citizens of Kent County. My observation!
Janet Christensen-Lewis says
Citizens expressing their experiences of listening and participating in government are not attacks but “their observation”. Just as you have expressed your observation of Ms. Gifford’s statement.
Here is my observation. Your personal agenda is not what is best for all citizens of Kent County.
Michael V Johnson says
Fellow Kent Countians, the above letter is good citizenship. Hats off to you Judy Gifford.