There's an old rule of thumb in politics as well as other areas of human endeavor - if you are in a hole, stop digging!
At least two of the three-member delegation from the Town of Oriental to the County Commission need refresher training on that point.
Mayor Bill Sage, accompanied by Commissioner Summers and Commissioner White represented the Town in an effort to obtain support from the County Commission for a proposed local bill from the state legislature to extend Town jurisdiction over adjacent waters to a distance of 200 yards. After complimenting the previous speaker (who reported results of the annual audit) for a succinct presentation, Mayor Sage proceeded to give a convoluted and lengthy presentation. So far as I could tell, he provided no visual aids except the text of a proposed bill. At one point, he mentioned "public trust waters."
When commissioners asked some fairly direct questions (was there a public hearing? did the Town Board approve the text of the proposed bill?, etc.), he avoided direct answers. The questions grew increasingly skeptical, if not downright hostile. Discussion about "public trust waters" was mostly in opposition to the Town's scheme.
County Commissioner Kenny Heath made a motion to the effect that the commissioners not only don't support the draft bill, but will not support it unless there is a county-wide public hearing. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Summers asked to speak during public comment period.
Bad idea.
When you're in a hole, stop digging.
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1 comment:
Verbosity is an ongoing trait of Mr. Summers and Mr. Sage. Now they have succeeded in making the town's case weaker than it needed to be. As a lawyer, Mr. Sage should know this basic tenant of pleading a case.
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