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was mandate
Ronald Gore’s commanding primary victory over incumbent county commissioner David Dutton was a mandate against business-as-usual for county government.
Either David McPherson or Ricky Bullard would have been a good choice in the other race, but Bullard has proven to be a bit of an independent while serving on the school board and is more likely to shake things up on the county commission if he wins in November.
That’s the type of candidate the people wanted in this election -- and with James Prevatte in the last one.
Gore’s victory over a two-term incumbent should send a message to the current board that the times are a changin’.
What do voters expect from these new candidates? Realistically, Columbus County isn’t going to add thousands of new industrial jobs, nor will its schools be propelled into the top 10 in the next four years. There may even have to be tax increases if the state can’t give counties Medicaid relief.
But people should always expect certain things from their commissioners: sound fiscal management is one. Another is open government where important decisions (or shady deals) aren’t made in back rooms or the cloak of darkness.
Gore and Bullard have pledged to do the county’s business in the sunshine if elected in November, and that’s the best starting place possible for better government.