As I watched the County Commissioners discuss the budget last night I was struck by the difference in tone from the citizen commenters. Much less angry posturing and performance art. I am frankly flummoxed by what goes on in Bolivia. I support every person that spoke from the heart to the TOL council, but I am ambivalent about the tone used. I agree wholeheartedly that this is not the way we want to represent ourselves to county or state level government.
There are certainly a lot of problems at the county level—and I have been frank about my friend of over 20 years, Frank Williams, who has engaged in a lot of dirty political dealings. If I was to speak before any public body, I would be firm and blunt and bring receipts, but I would not speak like I do on this substack. I would certainly call out this council for lying to the people, and their arrogance, but that would be about the limit. We have a lot of problems at every level of government in BC. It will take effort to dig out of this. If we do not act prudently in public in this manner, we will lose.
So I suppose I am wrong about how competent they seem to me compared to what I have watched for the last 3 months in Leland. Frankly I am wondering if the time I am spending trying to figure out every dirty deal in the past might be better spent figuring out how to move forward. I have conversated with Frank and have found him smart, knowledgeable and responsive to my questions. I might have my bar set too low. I feel the same way about Bill McHugh. But I can't mention him to anyone without getting an earful. I look favorably on most any elected official that's willing to be responsive and civil to questions until proven otherwise, of course.
What you state is fair. I am not a McHugh fan though—he is incompetent. He is also showing up to every left wing event and is in the company of people like Kevin Spears—who if you have heard the news today is in a bit of trouble and in jail in Columbus cty. His atendance of the Biden speech at the expense of the Leland council meeting demonstrates he is unfit for the office of council. His dumb support of electric fire trucks…well you know my position on that. McHugh is not our friend. He lies too much as well—like on how other cities are just like Leland (Fuquay Varina and Garner). Hard pass on him for me. But Frank definitely broke campaign finance law, and always supports high tax “republicans.” His duplicity is noted in my first two posts some time ago.
There are good officials and there are bad officials. I worked in municipal government for 30 years. I can tell you stories about the a$$-ki$$ing that goes on. It's about the $$$ and the EGOs and the POWER. Why? I don't know. Human nature. The kind that screws over the average folk and often gets people killed.
Each person has to make their own decision on this. I do not blame you for thinking you need to get out. I do know that many people in the GA who work there have told me, they would never move to Leland, and these are natives of the county.
All of this is a great along that border. I worry about Ga and their political issues, BUT you can still find land there. In NC land prices are outrageous—until you get into the mountains. The trick is to find a lot for sale outside of a planned community. unrestricted land is HARD TO FIND. That said, there is a lot of that out west.
As I watched the County Commissioners discuss the budget last night I was struck by the difference in tone from the citizen commenters. Much less angry posturing and performance art. I am frankly flummoxed by what goes on in Bolivia. I support every person that spoke from the heart to the TOL council, but I am ambivalent about the tone used. I agree wholeheartedly that this is not the way we want to represent ourselves to county or state level government.
There are certainly a lot of problems at the county level—and I have been frank about my friend of over 20 years, Frank Williams, who has engaged in a lot of dirty political dealings. If I was to speak before any public body, I would be firm and blunt and bring receipts, but I would not speak like I do on this substack. I would certainly call out this council for lying to the people, and their arrogance, but that would be about the limit. We have a lot of problems at every level of government in BC. It will take effort to dig out of this. If we do not act prudently in public in this manner, we will lose.
So I suppose I am wrong about how competent they seem to me compared to what I have watched for the last 3 months in Leland. Frankly I am wondering if the time I am spending trying to figure out every dirty deal in the past might be better spent figuring out how to move forward. I have conversated with Frank and have found him smart, knowledgeable and responsive to my questions. I might have my bar set too low. I feel the same way about Bill McHugh. But I can't mention him to anyone without getting an earful. I look favorably on most any elected official that's willing to be responsive and civil to questions until proven otherwise, of course.
What you state is fair. I am not a McHugh fan though—he is incompetent. He is also showing up to every left wing event and is in the company of people like Kevin Spears—who if you have heard the news today is in a bit of trouble and in jail in Columbus cty. His atendance of the Biden speech at the expense of the Leland council meeting demonstrates he is unfit for the office of council. His dumb support of electric fire trucks…well you know my position on that. McHugh is not our friend. He lies too much as well—like on how other cities are just like Leland (Fuquay Varina and Garner). Hard pass on him for me. But Frank definitely broke campaign finance law, and always supports high tax “republicans.” His duplicity is noted in my first two posts some time ago.
Allen, at least you're stating your honest opinion. It takes guts to do that.
There are good officials and there are bad officials. I worked in municipal government for 30 years. I can tell you stories about the a$$-ki$$ing that goes on. It's about the $$$ and the EGOs and the POWER. Why? I don't know. Human nature. The kind that screws over the average folk and often gets people killed.
So well said, Erik! Not sure whether this hole is worth digging out of, though. Time to move.... IF, I can sell.
Each person has to make their own decision on this. I do not blame you for thinking you need to get out. I do know that many people in the GA who work there have told me, they would never move to Leland, and these are natives of the county.
I'm thinking the GA/FL line. What say you? (True confession: I consider myself to be good friends of ET and LT. Yes, we are neighbors. 😁 )
All of this is a great along that border. I worry about Ga and their political issues, BUT you can still find land there. In NC land prices are outrageous—until you get into the mountains. The trick is to find a lot for sale outside of a planned community. unrestricted land is HARD TO FIND. That said, there is a lot of that out west.