What is puzzling to many people in Washington County is how some of the same individuals who once said county government needed serious cleanup are now criticizing the work required to fix it.
For years, there were real concerns about whether county code was being followed and whether decisions were exposing the county to legal risk. Now that officials are taking the law seriously and refusing to go along with questionable decisions, those efforts are being attacked.
That doesn’t add up.
The record matters. Poor planning and zoning decisions can and do lead to lawsuits. That is exactly why legal oversight is necessary.
That is also why it should concern voters that Kevin Jones, who is running for commissioner, has suggested legal advice is not needed. Ignoring legal counsel does not make problems go away. It creates them. And when those problems turn into litigation, taxpayers pay the price.
Governing is not about doing what is easy or popular. It is about following the law and protecting the county.
The people of Washington County should ask a simple question: if cleanup was needed before, why oppose it now?
Consistency matters and so does sound judgment
