To the editor:

I recently read with some amusement, and not a little incredulity, a letter entitled “Democracy in Tryon” wherein the author decries lack of transparency in Tryon town government. (Tryon Daily Bulletin, Nov. 27, 2015)

While I cannot, and neither can he, know why Mayor Wright and Commissioner McLeod resigned before their terms were completed, there was certainly no “fight.” Only Mayor Wright and Commissioner McLeod can comment on their reasons; they have chosen not to do so, we have little choice but to respect their decisions. As far as I know, both of those actions were independent of each other.

More to the point, the currently sitting town council has chosen to appoint a replacement for Commissioner McLeod, and Mayor Pro-Tem Miller has by law occupied the mayor’s role.

As far as choice made for the appointment, Commissioner Ingham nominated now Commissioner Crowell and gave a long explanation of his reasons. Anyone could have been present during the meeting and would have been recognized to speak on the matter. I agreed with Commissioner Ingham, and along with Mayor Pro-Tem Miller we voted unanimously to seat Mr. Crowell as commissioner.

Let us talk about the claim of transparency in town government. The board of commissioners acts under a North Carolina law, governing “open meetings.” That statute is easily obtained online, or if one needs to be spoon-fed, by contacting the town attorney.

We do not operate in this country by a “democracy,” but rather by a representative republic. Benjamin Franklin famously said, when questioned at the Constitutional Convention about the formation of our government by a lady in the crowd, that, “It is a republic, Madame, if you can keep it.”

None less than Adlai Stevenson said, “Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding on the lunch menu.”

In regard to the complainant of the letter, I have not missed a single council meeting in four years, and I have never seen him at one. There is no record of him ever volunteering for any board, committee, or study group to benefit the town with his expertise.

Complaints are a reasonable avenue for pointing out the need for change; complaints without contribution are just noise.

The writer seems to be spot on about not having “a dog in this fight,” with the exception that he works with the third place candidate. The fact is the Polk County Election Board has no record of him getting off his derriere and voting.

George Baker
Tryon, N.C.