Broadsword ignored obligations, voters

Joyce Broadsword’s resignation as Bonner County commissioner demonstrates irresponsibility and, in effect, transforms an elected position into a political appointment.

Joyce not only disregarded those voters who supported her election but the entire electorate. She chose to abandon her elected responsibilities as commissioner to pursue personal goals accepting an appointed position as a state district Health and Welfare director.

Joyce’s unilateral action in effect negates all county voters’ right to select a county commissioner via the election process. Now her vacated position will be filled by selection of three candidates by the GOP central committee and following appointment of one by the governor, a purely political process. This certainly opens the possibility that this replacement could be a person who would not be successful through the election process and/or a former elected official voted out in a previous election.

Joyce made many statements campaigning as to why she would be a good commissioner. Voters believed her, put their trust in her, and elected her although by only a very slim margin. She now has betrayed that trust and abandoned her elected responsibility and obligation. She has put her personal goals, perhaps well-intentioned, above the will of the voters and caused the election process to be circumvented.

By electing Joyce the voters obligated her to do the commissioner job to the best of her ability, full term. With this unilateral action Joyce has ignored this obligation, betrayed voter trust, and taken from voters their ability to choose their commissioner.

PHIL POUTRÉ

Cocolalla