News-Record.com

In sheer numbers, the total cost of the raise is only a sliver of an overall county budget that totals more than $510 million. But the whole episode points out, in nauseatingly clear terms, what is wrong with this board.

These commissioners aren't about leadership; they are about power and intimidation. He who has the most seats (in this case, the Democrats) wins. Even the members of the ruling party are subject to strong-arming, blackballing and reprisals. Some Democrats say privately that they oppose some moves of the Skip Alston-Bruce Davis cabal. But they avoid speaking up for fear of suffering Alston's wrath in particular.
That means Alston might block initiatives that they strongly support, such as public school funding, if he perceives that they've broken ranks.

Alston also has used his considerable support in the black community to unseat some candidates who displease him. Just ask John Parks, who incurred Alston's ire as an incumbent and lost his seat in 2000.
But Parks got his mind right for the 2004 election, polled well in the black community (with Alston's blessings) and bested Wade for an at-large seat by 223 votes. He probably will take a seat on the board once his disputed victory over Wade becomes official.

"John came to me and said, 'Skip, I've made some mistakes,' " Alston told me in an interview after the 2004 election. "He extended the olive branch and I accepted it."
So, how can this board be saved?

Some humble suggestions from this county taxpayer:

1. Make the "safe" seats less safe. The Democrats' power is built on seats won in uncontested elections. Part of the reason commissioners' Chairman Davis and the board's self-appointed kingmaker, Alston, have done things with so much impunity is because, at least for now, they can. They see themselves as comfortably cocooned in district seats with meager or zero competition. The community should take fuller advantage of district seats by mustering stronger fields of candidates.
Contrary to popular misconception, Alston is not unbeatable and he is not universally admired among black folk.

2. Create bipartisan coalitions where it makes sense. Yes, Democrats and Republicans disagree on fundamental issues such as Iraq and Supreme Court nominees. Closer to home, there's a lot more common ground. Defy Alston. Defy Steve Arnold and build alliances on important issues. That should have happened on the pay raise issue, but potentially reasonable Democrats such as Paul Gibson lost their nerve.

3. Stop the bullying. Sure, the spoils go to the party with the most seats, but that shouldn't mean the minority party has no say or input. Yes, there are times when playing hardball is the only way to get things done, but the Democrats on this board are playing hardball 24/7.

4. Hold these people accountable. There's no excuse in the world for Billy Yow getting re-elected against a quality challenger. And there's no excuse for Alston getting a free pass in the black community.

5. Hold ourselves accountable. What we have on his board is what we elected. Quality candidates such as Roger Cotten and Bill Wright are sitting at home on Thursday nights because we put them there.

To paraphrase Colin Powell, now that we've broken this board, we own it. Now let's fix it.