Stop Playing Games, PWC
On behalf of all the fed up residents of Prince William County, I hereby urge our County Executive, Melissa Peacor, and our Board of County Supervisors to stop playing these childish games and start acting like responsible adults who have been given the public trust. It is time to end the stonewalling and comply with Virginia law. Release the names of the citizens appointed to serve on the committee aiding the county in its selection of a new chief of police.
As I noted in my previous post, according to Potomac Local:
[Prince William County Chairman Corey] Stewart was not in favor of releasing the names of anyone on the interview panel keeping with concern aired by county officials that if the names get out, those on the panel, and their decision, may be unduly influenced by friends and neighbors.
Is that a legitimate concern? No. That is pure and simple hogwash.
First of all, there is no legal basis for this.
Second, if the people appointed are so weak-minded that they let someone else make their decision for them, then they have no business being on this panel.
Third, exactly what is wrong with friends and neighbors offering their input to them? Did any of the seven supervisors and county staffers who oppose making the identities of members of this panel public even consider that this might actually be beneficial to the process? Hearing a variety of perspectives before making a decision is usually wise.
If these men and women in county government fail to make this process transparent and release the names of the panel members, then they deserve to have their public trust revoked at the earliest opportunity. I can assure them that I won’t be alone in seeking to make that happen.
