Protesters gather outside of the Jefferson County Commission meeting on July 21, asking Commissioner Tricia Jackson to either explain a photo of her posing with two individuals described as “Proud Boys flashing a white power sign” or resign from the Commission.
Editor’s note from the August 2022 print issue
The American experiment with democracy began with meetings — in churches, in taverns, in private homes, even in caves. The norm we’ve come to expect, enshrined in laws, is for meetings of local government commissions, councils and committees to be open to the public with opportunities for comment. It can be tiring for the folks sitting at the official table to listen, and sometimes it gets a little heated, but as has been said about other activities, if it’s too quiet, you’re not doing it right.
The Ranson City Council has been found taking shelter in a closed-door conference room, a habit that started during the pandemic, but which has continued well past its sell-by date. After a determined group of citizens made it clear they were not buying this situation, the Council has announced that open meetings will resume in August.
The Jefferson County Commission’s early-morning special sessions called on short notice make it difficult for many to attend in person, but the evening sessions have been well-attended of late. Marching in the streets may not be everyone’s cup of tea (photo above), but a steady flow of comments can help provide some sense of direction to the folks that we elect.
Speaking of elections, November is not far off and there are a lot of new candidates on the ballot. We’d like to hear what they have to say too. This month’s issue includes responses from the candidates running for WV Delegate in the 100th district, and we’ll continue with other candidates for state and local elections in the September and October issues.
Read the August 2022 issue online.
View a PDF of the August 2022 issue.
By Steve Pearson