Editorial: Commissioners’ decision bordered on absurd

The Herald’s Editorial Board consists of Kevin Degon, R.V. Hight, Bill Horner III and Billy Liggett.

There aren’t enough pages between the listings of the words “disingenuous” and “farcical” in the average dictionary to discuss the absurdities of the Lee County Board of Commissioners’ appointment this week of John Quiggle to the seat vacated by Kirk Smith.
Nothing against Quiggle. The former Lee County Board of Education member is a good man and, as a once-elected official, he knows a bit about what he’s getting into as a member of the body that does much of the funding for the school board.
Even so, Harry Undy Sr. was the man for the job. Undy was the Lee County Republican Party’s choice, and tradition, decorum and integrity would dictate that Undy get the nod. But the Democrat wing of this board has a history of ignoring those noble attributes. They tried to ignore the process six months ago. This week, they succeeded.
So why is Quiggle getting the seat of Smith, who resigned from the post because of job requirements? Was it because the current board was tired of seeing Republicans resign from the seat? (Smith filled Amy Smith’s District 2 seat when Smith moved outside the district.)
That might be a valid argument, but the fact is Quiggle doesn’t plan on running for the seat this November; in addition, he’s building a home in another district. So essentially, you’re replacing a six-month tenure with what will barely be a 10-month tenure. On top of that, we’re having to refill a school board seat to make this happen.
No, Quiggle was instead chosen because he used to coach youth sports with board member Jamie Kelly. At least that’s the big reason Kelly gave during the meeting.
Like the Sanford City Council proved twice in recent years, all you have to do is “shoot pool with an employee here” — in the immortal words of the evil Mr. Potter in “It’s A Wonderful Life” — and you can get pretty much anything you want, including a government office.
Just exactly how naive do Reives, Kelly & Co. think we are?
The appointment of Quiggle over Undy was probably the worst-kept secret in Lee County. To actually see it happen, however, and and to see it go down the way it did, is still hard to believe.
And all that after the fight the board put up during the nomination process of Smith?
The growing partisan rift in Lee County widened with this insanity, and the four men who made this choice — Commission Chairman Bob Brown, Jerry Lemmond, Robert Reives and Kelly — very possibly violated open meetings laws by gathering prior to the meeting to set up this sneak attack. It just goes to show you that the voters of Lee County continue to have their wishes ignored.
Not a smart thing to do entering an election year.