Commissioner Richard Johnson has gotten so far out of touch with the voters in Dare County, he might as well be sitting on the moon. Perhaps, his title as the "current longest serving commissioner" has gone to his head, or so it seems, as his arrogance in dealing with the people's business gets worst by the day.
 |
| Dare Commissioner Richard Johnson |
Johnson's list of not supporting the majority of Dare County voters grows by the month, and it's difficult to pinpoint where it all started.
Perhaps it began back in the days when Dare was struggling over the issue of new schools, etc. We remember that Johnson was in the thick of it...tugging as hard as he could in the opposite direction.
His record shows he has never been a friend of education in Dare County, with the possible exception of some tenure, bumping elbows with the folks over at the College of the Albemarle. And, that relationship appears to have gotten boring for him lately, as he now appears ready to jump over on the UNC Coastal Studies ship, where he is, astonishingly, vice-chairman of the board of directors, and support, of all things, a 500 foot windmill that will only benefit some local landowner and a mega-corporation from Spain. In short, he finds anything to do with the needs of the local school system, as totally unnecessary. Just last week, he voted against a planning board request that would allow a non-government entity in the county to help local school teachers. In voting "no", Johnson said teachers are well paid and didn't need his help.
Further proof that Johnson doesn't care about or understand voting numbers has been shown in the way he has turned his back on the majority of residents who have said, time and again, "we don't support beach nourishment". Yet, Johnson, along with chairman Warren Judge, is the driving force behind pushing truckloads of money towards special interest groups for beach nourishment.
Toss in his elitist attitude that the county owes him an annual/junket/vacation every year, along with dirt race tracks for his friends and Johnson's presence on the board of commissioners get harder to bear every day.
The 2012 elections aren't far away. Let's hope someone will step forward and allow the voters to put Commissioner Richard Johnson where he belongs...back on the sidelines.
Enough is enough.
4 comments:
I have to disagree with you on this one. I think we should do everything we can do diversify the local economy, and the windmill project is a move in the right direction.
You forgot that Johnson took all the local mental health jobs away and ran the place into the ground. All the while supporting a huge salary for his buddy. He is not fit to serve Dare County any longer.
It's not that I'm a against windmills...I just agree with Commissioners Mike Johnson and Virginia Tillett when they asked "how" Dare County would benefit. I didn't hear a good answer...maybe later...
Our local economy needs diversification from the "Dutch Disease" development community that we are tied to. I disagree with your statement that "a 500 foot windmill that will only benefit some local landowner and a mega-corporation from Spain". We all benifit from clean energy technology. If UNC-CSI is successfull more money flows to the campus, more jobs, etc; look at any town with a college. UNC-CSI will be able to target grants, and other opportunities that would not be available without the turbine. Also, CSI and COA can offer classes in turbine maintenance etc that train our workforce in emmerging technologies. I agree with you a lot and support your site, but you are wrong "that (the turbine) will only benefit some local landowner and a mega-corporation from Spain".
Post a Comment