Silence Is Golden (?)

Commentary by Gloria Way

  Several people spoke at Chambers County Commissioners Court this past Tuesday to speak during public comments on agenda item #1.2. The item reads “discuss and consider consolidating Justice of the Peace and Constable Precincts 5 and 2 effective January 2, 2027, abolishing the office of Constable Precinct 5; Renaming the current Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 to “Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 2”, renaming the current Justice of the Peace Pct 2 to “Justice of the Peace Pct 2, Place 1; Abolishing the old office of Justice of the Peace Precinct 5; and Abolishing Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 1 on December 31, 2030;”.

  Understand this?! Let me try to explain.  (1) combining both offices of JP and Constable Pct 5 with the offices of JP and Constable 2 but eliminating the office of Constable Pct 5 effective January 2, 2027. This means that there would be two JPs and only one constable for precincts 2 and 5. (2) renaming the current JP Pct 5 to JP Pct 2, Place 2 and renaming the current JP Pct 2 to JP Pct 2, Place 1; (3) abolish the office of JP Pct 5, and abolishing the JP Pct 2, Place 1, on December 31, 2030. There was no mention about the future of the Constable Pct 2 position.

  Peace office Carlton Carrington spoke in public comments asking the court to appoint him as Constable Pct 2 since the passing last month of Constable Pct 2 John Mulraney. He spoke of the importance of having a law enforcement presence in Smith Island, Double Bayou, and Oak Island. Tammy Jenkins, JP Pct 6, spoke on the workload that would be placed on other JP offices if the court eliminates another JP court. She told the court that eliminating an office or consolidating offices is not an easy task. “It’s not just taking down or changing a name on a door,” she said. “IT is a huge issue when changes are made.”

  When the item was presented to the court, no one on commissioners court spoke to defend this item. Judge Sylvia had to ask the commissioners if anyone wanted to discuss the item. After an awkward pause, Jimmy Gore, Commissioner Pct 1, said he was against the consolidation, and asked why anyone would want to downsize the JP and Constable offices when the county was growing. Ryan Dagley said that he had a legal question having to do with how redistricting could possibly affect JPs and Constables districts.

  Judge Sylvia advised the court to table the item and “let the next court decide”, referring to this being his last officiating commissioners court.

  So, no one admitted to placing the item on the agenda. No one defended the item. No one explained why the item was on the agenda or the benefit of consolidating and abolishing some of these elected offices. No one explained the benefit to the county if the item was approved.

 Things that make you go “hmmm”.