Well I never would have guessed it, but NONE of the incumbent commissioners that are up for reelection have filed for running next Nov! Tom Pack, Michael Gage and Keith Holbert apparently chose not to run. Perhaps they got the message that most locals wanted a change from what they offered or perhaps they knew they would be bounced out anyway!
A Better Polk County's goal has always been to pay attention to what our commissioners are doing and let YOU know. We expect thoughtful decision making that takes into account public opinion and shows transparency in decision making. Some of the current batch of commissioners just never got that and seemed to assume that heavy handed tactics and continual obfuscation would work just fine like it has in the past. This has never been about one party or the other, but just asking for good governance. THANK YOU all for coming out, letting your voices and objections be heard!
Republicans and Democrats will have to have a runoff for three slots for their party (for those of us that were worried no one would be willing to run this is GREAT news):
For the Republicans: Josh Denton, Tommy Melton, Dennis Hill, Myron Yoder, and Jake Johnson.
For the Democrats: Rhonda Lewis, Penny Padgett, Russell Mierop, and Kim Pack.
Good luck to all of these folks, and THANK YOU to them for taking an interest in local governance and for being willing to enter public service on the county level!
*Note that Ray Gasperson (D) and Shane Bradley (R) will continue on the board as they are not up for reelection in 2018.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!
A Better Polk County's goal has always been to pay attention to what our commissioners are doing and let YOU know. We expect thoughtful decision making that takes into account public opinion and shows transparency in decision making. Some of the current batch of commissioners just never got that and seemed to assume that heavy handed tactics and continual obfuscation would work just fine like it has in the past. This has never been about one party or the other, but just asking for good governance. THANK YOU all for coming out, letting your voices and objections be heard!
Republicans and Democrats will have to have a runoff for three slots for their party (for those of us that were worried no one would be willing to run this is GREAT news):
For the Republicans: Josh Denton, Tommy Melton, Dennis Hill, Myron Yoder, and Jake Johnson.
For the Democrats: Rhonda Lewis, Penny Padgett, Russell Mierop, and Kim Pack.
Good luck to all of these folks, and THANK YOU to them for taking an interest in local governance and for being willing to enter public service on the county level!
*Note that Ray Gasperson (D) and Shane Bradley (R) will continue on the board as they are not up for reelection in 2018.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!