Letter: Forum on public issues needed

Staff


To the Editor:
I believe Mr. Gannon’s concerns regarding our current election process are quite valid. Without some structured neutral process that informs voters gossip and rumor will circulate as fact.

Conducting public discussions of our issues is what we need at this critical time in our county’s history. Public forums could be structured and hosted by one or more of our civil, business, social or faith based associations. By coordinating their efforts to conduct forums the issues can be thoroughly discussed and in that process voters will become informed. Then concerns about the negative effects of a lack of process for discussing issues will be significantly reduced.

All candidates running for the office of County Executive should be invited to each forum. Each candidate would have an opportunity to present their thoughts on various issues, offer solutions and make commitments to the Voters of Cannon County.

The public discussion of issues currently facing voters should include: developing business growth; land use restrictions; transparency in county agencies transactions; and fiscal accountability for all agencies to name a few.
Such discussions will offer voters insight into each candidates intentions and their capabilities. Hopefully one of our broadly based organizations such as; the Historical Society, Senior Center, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion or a faith based association will step forward and for the good of our county host such forums.

The process could be coordinated and the public kept fairly and effectively informed through our county’s newspaper the Cannon Courier. That also would be a very good thing because the current and future prosperity of a county is reflected and reinforced by the success of it’s local newspaper.                                                                                                                                                      
John Hackett  
Locke Creek Road