To the editor:

It is refreshing to hear that some county governments do still honor and compromise with the people they promised to serve since Polk County eliminated “for and by the people” and exchanged it with “for and by Tom Pack.” We know that absolute power corrupts and with the exception of commissioners Shane Bradley and Ray Gasperson, this is what we are left with. We have an increased budget, lost savings, and wasted talent and we remain impotent as they further destroy.
Does a rural county manager suddenly need two assistants to do his job for him? Is any of us so arrogant that we would not seek expert analysis in critical matters? Should we discriminate when choosing volunteer boards and county jobs based on political affiliation above qualification? Can we really pawn off all liability for damages down stream of our dam when a company buying the water agrees to fix the dam?
How, when and why did the people of Polk County lose their voice?

Julie Perkins
Tryon, N.C.