What's the deal, Bruce???

What's the Deal, Bruce??
Time to put professional commissioners back on the board

By Jon Mayhew

I couldn't help but notice in the last several county commission meetings
I've covered that one of the commissioners seems to have a chip on his
shoulder.

He growls and grits his teeth. He holds his head like he's "bothered" by
some issues that the commission are discussing. He's forceful and
unapproachable. I'm talking about commissioner Bruce Carlton.

Never one to mince words or really care about how he comes across,
Bruce recently chewed up and spit out the supervisor over the work first
program at DSS, Candy Wilcox.

What was shocking is first, commisisoners got their information on the
DSS funding in advance. The information comes to commissioners in the
form of a packet before each meeting, which (I'm assuming) the
commissioners review and study.

Upon review of this particular agenda item, commissioners should have
discovered the Work First program is federally mandated; therefore,
funding is a must. In other words, it's not up for debate. The program must
be funded.

While commissioner Jim Klein took the lead in asking questions in a
polite and professional manner, Carlton resorted to bullying Wilcox and
chewing her out in front of a room full of people. Shameful that an elected
official would act that way in a public forum.

Of course, I've learned that some of the commissioners -- even state rep.
Joe Kiser -- apologized for Carlton's conduct. That's shameful, as
colleagues having to apologize for another's unprofessional conduct.

What makes this whole situation even worse is when Carlton was running
for election to his first term, he told voters he'd be a one-term
commissioner.

Why did we rush to put this guy into office?????

Shameful. Absolutely shameful. What were the voters of Lincoln County
thinking?

Carlton needs to make a public apology at the next commissioner's
meeting; otherwise, chairman Anderson should require it.

Let's make a statement on Nov. 4 that we want professionals leading our
county into the future. Let's send a message to Bruce Carlton that his
conduct of growling at people and acting like a "grumpy old man" isn't
going to be tolerated.

The Carolina Scoop is endorsing Alex Patton and Carrol Mitchem as two
of the three choices for Lincoln County Commission.

And a personal message to Bruce Carlton: do the right thing. It's
something you claim to do, now lets see you put your words into action.

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