The chairman's uncertain start
Bruce Davis hasn't gotten off to the best start as chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. His plan to hold their annual retreat in Chapel Hill was criticized, and he had to reverse his position on the health board's actions regarding former director Ramesh Krishnaraj. I think part of Davis' problem has to do with his limited political experience and his route to the chairman's seat.
Let me say that I think Davis is a fine person who wants to represent his district well and do what he thinks is best for Guilford County. He may be capable of being a good chairman at some point. However, I don't think he should be chairman. In my opinion, that title should be reserved for one of the two commissioners elected at large.
Consider Davis' brief political history. When District 1 Commissioner Donnie Dunovant died in 2002, the Democratic Party was charged with nominating a replacement. Davis and Ben Collins were the only two candidates for the appointment. Neither had held any political office. Davis got the nod, then was elected to a full term that November without opposition. He holds his seat without even having run a contested public campaign. Then, after only two years in office, he was selected by fellow Democrats on the board of commissioners to serve as 2005 chairman.
The chairman has a tough job. He has to manage the board as best he can but also work with a variety of special interests and constituencies from throughout the county. It would help if he could begin with a broad base of public support, but Davis can't claim that because he was only elected by the people in District 1, and even then in a noncontested race. And District 1 represents only one-ninth of the county's population.
It would be far better if Paul Gibson were chairman. He was elected at-large and was the leading vote-getter (by far) of all Guilford County commissioners candidates. His strong vote on Nov. 2 would give him a countywide mandate to lead the board.
Besides that, the experience of running a successful countywide campaign would help in governing. Gibson knows people throughout the county because he had to campaign in every community. More importantly, he is accountable to all the voters of Guilford County.
This is nothing personal in regard to Davis. I just think that a commissioner who's elected to the board by all the voters of Guilford County can be a more effective chairman from the very first day than can a commissioner who represents just one district.
What do you think?
Comments (4)
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Agreed, Mr. Gibson is the man for the job. He campaigned extraodinarily hard and was very approachable and reachable throughout. Plus he was against Am. 1, so if he can persuade our municipalities not to use it to go into deeper debt I'll be pleased as punch.
Posted on February 1, 2005 10:29 AM
Given how urban and complex our county has become, I wonder if it is not time to consider having an elected "mayor" for the county. It is done in many other parts of the country, and would give the voters more direct control over how our commissioners are organized and how they conduct themselves.
Posted on February 1, 2005 12:41 PM
Some excellent points. Anything that would raise the level of accountability and statesmanship on the County Board of Commissioners would be a welcome change. Partisan and ideological differences are acceptable; Daley-style machine politics is not.
Posted on February 1, 2005 3:29 PM
Also, don't forget about Bruce not paying his property tax bills on time. Although, he has NEVER paid his property tax bills on time. When a taxpayer sent him an email expressing concern about the matter, Bruce told him to mind his own business. I don't know about you, but when the Chairman of the County Commission doesn't feel the need to pay his taxes on time, it makes me wonder what OTHER important matters he doesn't take seriously.
Posted on February 1, 2005 9:05 PM