WELCOME TO THE BOCC CIRCUS

POLITICAL CLOWN CAR SKIDS OUT OF CONTROL

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis Mason County Progressive

It has often been said that "the more things change the more they remain the same", and the proceedings by which Steve Bloomfield was appointed County Commissioner, District #3, does little to upset that sage observation.

To be fair, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) were thrust into a lose/lose situation by having to fill, not only an elected political position by appointment, but also the shoes of one of the most loved and respected men in local history, Jerry Lingle. Needless to say, the process was not without its detractors, of which I count myself.

Here’s what happened:

By refusing to enter into an Executive Session, Commissioner Tim Sheldon set the stage for what can only be described as an awkward eleventh hour moment, during which Commissioners Sheldon and Ring-Erickson debated a procedural point of Robert’s Rules of Order, resulting in a somewhat less than seamless nominating process.

Procedural wonks were aware that Commissioner Ring-Erickson, as Chair, was restricted from making any nomination; she could only second a nomination. And because Steve Bloomfield was the first name nominated by Sheldon and immediately seconded by Ring-Erickson, the attending public never got to hear the descending order of candidate preference of either Commissioner. (More importantly, I lost a $20 bet.)

After enduring one of the longest lists of agenda items in recent BOCC history, the public was understandably foaming at the mouth in anticipation of the nomination process. But instead of being carried to the climactic moment on a symphonic wave of procedural competency, we were bumped over the finish line by a political clown car skidding out of control.

With this one, there’s enough blame to go around:

First, if Tim could have resisted the temptation to “one up” Lynda by agreeing to enter into Executive Session, the public might have been spared an embarrassing moment.

Secondly, if Lynda would have gone the extra step to question the advice of our spanking new Prosecutor, she could have saved herself from looking like a novice politician, especially at a time when seeking higher office.

And finally, if the Prosecutor had shown up for the meeting (as Lynda had requested), we would all have been spared the backside of Emmett Dobey trotting out of Commission Chambers in a futile attempt to fetch said Prosecutor.

And so it was from out of this circus big-tent, Steve Bloomfield emerged as Mason County’s newest Commissioner. Which brings me back to my opening remark: The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Graphic: www.istockphoto.com