The San Benito County Farm Bureau’s poll provides the proof to
what many folks around this area had already suspected: Citizens of
our county have a disturbing lack of faith in their local
government.
The San Benito County Farm Bureau’s poll provides the proof to what many folks around this area had already suspected: Citizens of our county have a disturbing lack of faith in their local government.
The Farm Bureau had pollsters call 400 random registered voters in the county to ask them everything from how they felt about growth in San Benito County to their opinions about the Board of Supervisors and City Council.
The details provide hard facts to the mountain of anecdotal evidence that the public – as well as 95 percent of people polled – has tired of the political infighting and is ready for local government leaders to check their egos at the door and get down to the business of solving problems.
The Free Lance has called for leaders to return honor to our governments in past editorials and poll results prove residents agree. Almost 70 percent of the sample believes the Board of Supervisors and the City Council have performed only fair or poorly in their duties.
It’s no secret public opinion of local government has been in a shameful downward spiral for years, but this latest information shouldn’t only be a wake up call – it should be an alarm. The public brought sweeping change to the Hollister City Council last election, sending the message that residents had had enough.
The new board, however, shouldn’t simply peg these problems on the past. This is a perception they must work to change in the future.
Through performing their duties strictly with the public’s interest in mind and disclosing all of their actions for public scrutiny, our local governments can reverse this disturbing trend of disapproval.
But should they choose to follow the course of the past, voters again will speak at the polls and our problems will continue in the future.
To comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or e-mail to ed****@fr***********.com
