First it was the firing of Leslie Smith, a dedicated public servant who served this county well for over 20 years, for cause that is still not apparent to the general public. Next was the Journal’s report that Commissioner Lyn Widmeyer has made a “business decision” to rent office space to the “Vote No Table Games” group, an obvious conflict of interest in the current debate over table games in Jefferson County. Now, Commissioner Jim Surkamp is alleged to have attempted to vote twice in the recent zoning referendum. What kind of people are we electing to these offices?

The debate over Leslie Smith’s very public and offensive firing is a debate that has come and gone in the media, but it is not something that we the voters will soon forget, if ever. As for Commissioner Widmeyer and her “business decision” – how can this not be in conflict of her fiduciary responsibilities as a Commissioner? Her “business decision” could cost this county millions annually for public services and education if the Vote No group is successful in their attempt to kill this county’s opportunity for new revenues. Yet Commissioner Widmeyer asserts that she is still “undecided” on her support for the upcoming referendum. Give me a break. As for Commissioner Surkamp and his penchant to subscribe to Louisiana-style politics of “vote early and vote often,” this County Commission has become nothing more than a joke and a detriment to our County’s future.