A Tough Job

Being a County Commissioner is a difficult job. It doesn’t pay much, but it requires a lot of time in meetings and getting up-to-speed on the key issues before making some tough decisions. The best Commissioners work hard and try to make decisions they feel are in the best interest of the County as a whole. Given the wide diversity of the County’s needs - Moyock bedroom community, Crawford agriculture, Lower Currituck commercial businesses, Corolla absentee owners, Northern Beaches devoid of infrastructure and Knotts Island sportsman’s haven - the decisions are tough. No matter how you decide someone will be upset.

Other elected County officials include the Sheriff, the Clerk of Court, Registrar of Deeds, and the Board of Education. All of these individuals serve to help their community as a whole.

Supporting the elected Commissioners and other officials is the full time County Management, headed by a County Manager and Budget Director. His staff of professionals help carry out the day-to-day responsibility for delivery and cost management of County basic services.

The best people who have served in these positions over the years have been willing to listen, open to criticism and carefully considered new ideas. The best are willing to openly state their views and their rationale, but also willing to listen to opposing viewpoints, consider new facts and sometimes change their opinions. This is the model that all elected officials and all County staff should strive toward. Fortunately, most of our elected officials and County staff do their best to meet this standard.

As I learned from my career in business, it only takes a few bad actors in an organization to move it off track. A few who are unwilling to listen to criticism, who try to cover up mistakes, or who have their own agenda. These few, when questions are raised, will try to silence or discredit the questioner, rather than engage in open discussion.

Source: The Daily Haymaker