Sylva Commissioner Danny Allen has made public his intentions to resign, but has not announced an effective date. Should he do so anytime soon, the remaining commissioners would appoint his successor. The five-member board already consists of two appointees. Chris Matheson was appointed to fill the vacancy created when former commissioner Maurice Moody became mayor. Harold Hensley was appointed to replace Sarah Graham when she moved outside the town’s jurisdiction.
In neighboring Sylva, Danya Vanhook was appointed to replace former alderman Colin Edwards. Only Phil Aldridge voted against the appointment. He was the only board member to side with Edwards in the rift that led to Edwards’ resignation. Edwards was riled after he had been unable to communicate to his peers the seriousness of flagrant mismanagement in local ABC operations.
In a world of “us” and “them,” it spells defeat to step down and let a majority of “them” replace one of “us.” Normally, the problem arises when politically aggressive candidates kick their supporters in the teeth as they stretch for higher office, leaving in their glory trails an incomplete term. In two of the above cases, the officers, who find fact and reason powerless on boards where irrationality reigns, are stepping aside to make room for more insanity.
