Editorial: Questions and Authority in County Government

— by Margie Doyle —

Recently we were asked to publish a letter exposing the alleged wrong-doing of a County Councilman who was accused of violating the County Charter and overstepping his authority.

As we looked into the claim, which involved many private conversations with county officials, the accusations themselves of wrong-doing became questionable. We spent a great deal of time speaking and writing with the persons involved, and in our opinion, it appears that a Councilman expressed his opinions to the County Manager Mike Thomas. Thomas then withdrew a contract issued 12 days earlier.

The letter-writer claimed that the Councilman ordered the County Manager to rescind the contract; the councilman said he expressed his concerns about the contract. We who were not present at that meeting will never know exactly what was said.

Thus, it  becomes a matter of trust of our public officials, both those elected by the people and those hired by county government. Clearly the accuser doesn’t trust the Councilman, and holds the County Manager at fault for an outcome the accuser finds deplorable.

Government of the people, by the people, for the people (emphasis Abraham Lincoln’s), would guide us to trust that  the officials involved and the letter writer behaved in a manner they thought best: the councilman to have access to the manager to express his concerns; the manager to make a decision that doesn’t sit right with everyone; the letter writer to question the process.

But questions are not facts, anymore than opinions are. Some questions can never be satisfied.

So what should be the role of Orcas Issues in this and similar matters?

We are regularly informed of official and unofficial misconduct. Private matters are entitled to privacy, until they become public. Public officials, elected and appointed, paid or volunteer, do come under scrutiny and criticism. Sometimes the criticism starts with a question and turns into a charge.

We claim to offer “Community Journalism of the highest standards ” — those standards being accuracy, objectivity, fairness, courage, and questioning.  We also stand against anonymity, rumor-mongering and incivility. We salute those who take a stand against wrong-doing by public representatives. But we will question the facts of the claims, looking into the public records and at times requesting information through the Freedom of Information Act.

We strive to provide accurate information and civil opinions. If the information is not accurate, or if the opinion devolves into personal attack, we decline to publish. We think we owe the community that supports Orcas Issues that editorial judgment.

Sometimes the questions raised in Letters to the Editor have been answered, just not to the questioner’s satisfaction.  We may dislike that council members have access to the county manager more easily and often than John Q. Public does, but council members do go through the election process, with its attendant costs and questions. Once elected by popular vote, they are supposed to represent the concerns of all county constituents, and so they are called upon to confer with county staff, answer questions and justify criticism.

And, every four years, they ask the voters how they’re doing. Those officials who’ve earned the public trust most likely will be re-elected. Those who haven’t, won’t.  In between elections, a lot of questions will be asked, a lot of charges made.

We try our best to be questioning, accurate and fair in airing these questions. And like the elected officials in our government, sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes somebody is, well, outraged at our response. But we don’t think it’s fair to turn a private argument into a public call to action. Leave that to the Tea Party.