Three Gwinnett County Commissioners failed to show up Monday to what was supposed to be the final hearing for the GC Millage Rate. The final vote was supposed to have happened on Tuesday, July 19.
Chairwoman Nicole Love-Hendrickson and the one Commissioner who did show, Marlene Fosque, waited a half hour for the others before they finally called the whole thing off. That makes it seem like they didn’t know whether their fellow BoC members were coming or not.
Obviously, three people didn’t have personal emergencies on the same night that would have legitimately prevented them from attending. So, why did they do it?
According to this story (and I believe Curt Yeomans is telling the truth), “some commissioners haven’t ruled out the possibility of voting on a different rate, possibly one that is lower than the 2021 rate.”
Okay. Why skip the hearing instead of the vote? The hearing was just to listen to the Gwinnett County residents trying to be involved in THEIR government. Not showing up to that looks like you’re taking a stand against the residents, not the millage rate.
Why even skip the vote? If one made a motion to approve the millage rate, the others could VOTE NO. Any of them could move to lower the millage rate, or table the vote until another time.
But all that takes courage. And real knowledge. Neither of which run particularly strong in political circles. No one wants to break up the status quo or risk being politically targetted or scapegoated by the bureaucrats and political hacks who would then have to work within some financial limits.
So no. I do not believe for a single second that Kirkland Carden, Ben Ku, or Jasper Watkins are really interested in voting on a different rate, despite what they may be saying.
It’s all political theater intended to appease a rightfully disgruntled public and minimize blowback.
This show also lets them put off the decision so they can make a misguided and unpopular vote more privately, the way local government likes to handle business.
Ultimately, it’s up to the public to remain aware and stay on them before and after the vote. They can’t fly under the radar if you don’t let them. And the public has no responsibility to let their failings go afterward.