Thursday, March 16, 2006

"Change" in Woodford County

We find it illuminating that the (to borrow a phrase from the PeoriaPundit) "award-winning" Editorial Board of the Peoria Journal Star, both through its published opinions and its choice of election letters from "readers" [here, and here], call for "change" in Woodford County politics.

This desired "change" though, seems to be confined to the Elected Officials of Woodford County (read Treasurer, Clerk/Recorder, Sheriff) and not the County Board. The call for "change" sounds suspiciously like, "we need more people that agree with our people on the board"; "keep us in, throw those other bums out".

As difficult as it may be to see through the haze of the press the last couple of years, the truth is that the Elected Officials of the County ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. They have been demonized as fighting "change", when the reality is that they have refused to be rolled over. Have some been a little too adamant in their opposition? Probably. Are some a little too set in their ways? Certainly. Some might call this integrity; whatever . . .

The County Board, however, must of needs be the entity that brings out the best in all elements, maximizing the good and minimizing the bad. Don't blame it on others. The buck stops with the Board. Make your "change" by looking in the mirror tomorrow morning.

"The folks" are speaking. Is anyone listening?

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