According to high-profile progressives in Chatham County, the quest for better race relations “came to a halt” in January when the new county commission eliminated the $80,000 per year position of the executive director of the Human Relations Commission(HRC) in order to save money. So, the HRC members have all resigned in protest. Undeterred by the histrionics, County Commission Chairman Brian Bock says they’ll find others who want to serve. From the News & Observer:
After the meeting, Chairman Brian Bock said the move was a disappointment and a shock, since he said Clark told him he would talk about how the HRC was transitioning from a board with a director to an advisory committee.
The county will now advertise for new applicants to join the 12-member board, he said.
“If they feel that they can’t serve without a director, then we’ll find people who can,” Bock said.
I give a pat on the back to Chairman Bock for (1) taking seriously his board’s responsibility to be a good fiscal steward of public money and (2) for understanding the Chatham community has many fine residents who will set a good example for respecting all citizens without a government funded $80,000 per year HRC director.
