Cabarrus Cheap Seats

Harold Smith stated recently that Bob Carruth withdrew his proposal due to public outrage. Here’s the text:

March 14, 2006: Commissioner Carruth withdraws his proposal to limit public comments, 

Commissioner Carruth must have read the story of a Mooresville woman suing for the right to speak at a city council meeting.

Read story: >

http://www.salisburypost.com/kc/
opinion/297401360910456.php#

Note from Justin: That link doesn’t go to the story, it goes to a letter to the editor. Here’s the story: Woman forced board to listen

More likely Carruth was influenced by the public outrage. Thank you citizens for your public outrage.

Commissioner Carruth withdrew his proposal to limit public comment at the Commissioner work session.

Well, that isn’t the case actually. Here’s the note forwarded to me from Bob Carruth:

Harold, I was surprised to see that you have determined that I have dropped my changes to the informal public comment period, due to public pressure. 

I stated in our meeting on Monday that I did have some more tweaking to do, based on comments I had received.

“Town-Hall Cabarrus” will be unveiled Monday evening at our meeting. I believe it will provide for the concerns that have been voiced, and allow for ample opportunity for citizens to petition their government, protect their right to free speech, and still provide for order and decorum during our meeting.

There is a distinct difference between expressing outrage over a board decision, vs. using the podium for unfounded personal attacks and grandstanding - but this is something that the individual speaker should control, knowing that what they say, and how they say it, is a direct reflection on who they are as a person.

Bob Carruth

Maybe certain Commissioners should rethink having Harold as their personal stenographer.