Monday afternoon's Wake Commissioners meeting proved to be pretty lively.
Beyond the fact that Harold Webb cut off Commissioner Tony Gurley from speaking against Webb's sacred cow of forced busing (yes - the great program that puts minority children on old buses for hours on end each week and somehow that makes them smarter), Paul Coble seemed to provoke a hyper-sensitive response from Betty Lou Ward.
Hmmm.
Commissioner Coble made an entirely reasonable suggestion. That being that the County Commissioners participate in budget cuts as they are asking all Wake County Departments to do.
Paul did not even suggest doing away with trips, which would have suited Wake Community just fine. He suggested that perhaps just one commissioner travel and report back.
Heck he even suggested that Betty Lou could attend "since she was so experienced at it."
Wonder why?
Because Paul Coble suggested taking away Betty's sacred cow.
Betty Lou Ward is legendary for never meeting a taxpayer funded trip she didn't like.
Watch the video here. Under the video screen go to the "Jump To" bar and scroll down to the consent agenda. It's the first video that will appear once you jump to the consent agenda.
And what does Betty Lou Ward have to say about Wake County taxpayer funded trips?
"Commissioner Betty Lou Ward said she supports putting the public records online ...... "
"You're held up to a lot more scrutiny when you use public money than if you're in a private sector job," Ward said.
"Ward said more oversight might be needed to ensure county money isn't wasted."
"I think there will definitely be changes. In the 20 years that I've been a commissioner, nothing like this has ever happened," she said.
You can probably gather that Betty Lou was not speaking about her personal trips.
We applaud Betty Lou Ward for wanting to put the public records online and hope that she'll hold herself to the same standard she wants of others.
Here's a great place where a link should be posted front and center.
Ask Betty Lou Ward why her travel records aren't posted online. You can email her at _____________ . Oh that's right, she's the only Wake Commissioner who does not list an email address.
