LETTER | Keeping county business focused and respectful
Letter to the Editor by Tiffani Landeen, Lincoln County Commissioner
The public’s business is too important to be drowned out by personal insults or political theater. Yet across the country, and sometimes even here at home, these distractions creep into public meetings, sapping time, trust, and focus from the real work that needs to be done. Open, honest public participation is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. In Lincoln County, we welcome thoughtful input from residents – whether they agree with us or challenge our decisions. Strong debate sharpens our thinking and leads to better outcomes.
What undermines that process, however, are personal attacks. When any participant in a meeting, whether a commissioner or a member of the public, resorts to attacking individuals rather than addressing issues, we all lose. Such remarks erode respect, derail productive conversation and distract from the work we’ve been entrusted to do.
