Another set of facts about Eddie Holbrook and his do-nothing job at CCC is how he got the job to start with. Many speculate it is because Eddie married into “Old” Shelby money and long time CCC BoT Chairman Hoyt Bailey liked him. I think that is true on both accounts. But now Holbrook is 82 with 12 years on the County Commissioner Board. Those twelve y ears have been good for Eddie Holbrook’s bank account but mostly bad for Cleveland County residents and students. High taxes, higher than average unemployment rates, a total distrust in county government, etc. But mostly a disaster for Cleveland County Education. Go back and read the start of this article again, just in case you have forgotten.
OK Williams!!! you must be saying by now. We know Holbrook is bad and Speaker Tim Moore just handed Holbrook more job security at CCC, more control and more power. How can you say Tim Moore has rescued us from anything?
The answer is simple and long term. For the few months and days between now and the 2018 Election Day, Yes, Holbrook has power and influence. But, that is what Elections are all about. Three Commissioners are up for election this year. A majority. Three Commissioners will again be up for election in 2020. Three Commissioners. a majority, are up for election two times in a row. Holbrook is vulnerable this year as the Democrat Primary Election shows.
Tim Moore and HB 12 will allow the voters in Cleveland County to have two major opportunities to clean house on the Board of Commissioners. The new elected commissioners will have the opportunity to run off the bad CCC BoTs and appoint good ones. The “good” CCC BoTs will then have the opportunity to clean house at CCC once and for all.
But more than cleaning house is necessary. The Commissioners raise taxes t pay for education in Cleveland County. Allowing the Commissioners to appoint the majority of CCC BoT puts them in a much better position to require leadership, oversight and accountability at CCS as well as CCC and other county agencies.
But, Hey, Rome was not built in a day. HB 12 basically puts the power back into the hands of the people. Right where it belongs. Tim Moore has provided Cleveland County voters the opportunity to take command of education in Cleveland County as well as “fix” other problems too. No matter what the real reasons, if they are different ones, for passing HB 12 the results are the same. Voters can make the changes on the Commissioner’s offices that are necessary to fix our educational facilities if they will. If they won’t, Well, we just get what we deserve. And Tim Moore has wasted his time.
