The Art of Listening

Last night I had the chance to be in-person for the County Commissioners meeting and the drama that ensued was the stuff for national news on a slow news day. I usually stream the meetings online but I wanted to make public comment (about a pretty incredible opportunity for the county in the Rural Health Transformation Program.) I arrived early to get on the list since I expected many public comments from community members about the ongoing controversy about the Flock Cameras.

I have been called upon by the world of social media to react to what I witnessed because as someone currently running for County Commissioner the voters want to hear how their candidates feel. I love being listened to---thanks for asking! There are 3 things I would like to react to.

Thing 1. I sure hope when (cough, cough) I am elected as county commissioner, I will never, ever forget to listen. Active listening is--in my eyes--perhaps the most critical part of the job for public servants. The opportunity for public comment is a feature of our democracy. Yes, hearing 20 different people speak for 3 minutes each might become redundant. Commissioner work is hard and budget season is brutal. The fact is, when 20 poeple from a very rural and far flung community are actively asking you to listen, changing the rules on a dime and turning a deaf ear is hurtful, irresponsible, and as we saw last night, certain to backfire. Bottom line---what they chose to do was allowable within the statute. You will never see that during my leadership.

Notice and Comment Regs: https://canons.sog.unc.edu/blog/2026/06/09/reference-guide-for-local-government-public-comment-periods-public-comment-period-statutes/

Madison County Rules: https://www.madisoncountync.gov/uploads/5/9/7/0/59701963/scanner_madisoncountync.gov_20221220_134827.pdf

Thing 2. The passionate and articulate public comment about the lack of responsiveness to Freedom of Information requests is really concerning. NC has a version of FOIA(which is federal rule) called the Public Records Law. As someone who has served at the county, state and federal level as a public servant, I know Every. Single. Thing. I ever put in writing was subject to be requested by the media, my neighbor, or by just about anyone who asks. At any time. For pretty much any reason. It's a feature, not a bug, of bringing transparency to government. If months of requests have gone unanswered or bounced around as a delay tactic there are things people can do about it. https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/course_materials/public_records_overview.pdf

Thing 3. Clearly, the commissioners came prepared with a plan that they did not share with the public in advance---having a ready print out of the "rules" regarding public comment told that story. What if instead of shutting down public comment, they had made this a formal agenda item and explained point-by-point why they do not feel like they have jurisdiction over this matter in a thoughtful and transparent way? Personally, I was really looking forward to the public comment because I am trying to understand this controversy more deeply. There are a lot of people---at least 20---who have spent time learning and thinking about this deeply and it would have been nice to hear and understand their informed opinions, as well as those of our elected officials.

If we think we have true privacy anymore we are probably deluding ourselves---cell phones are listening and tracking us and placing paid ads in every corner and web based cameras are a dime a dozen. I use my cameras so I don't miss my goats so much when I travel. The line we are trying to find is where does liberty and the pursuit of justice intersect in this brave new world.

“I want to know what passion is. I want to feel something strongly.”― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World