Our first indication that the new Republican majority were wielding their power and not considering the people they represent was in black and white on the agenda. Public comment was listed as the last item of the day. That basically quashed any meaningful input from the public about the subject at hand.
Thank you Catrelia Hunter and Kenneth Stutts for not accepting unreasonable proposals
Can lawmakers destroy the right of freedom of conscience? Evidently James Madison thought it a possibility in 1785 and feared that loss could end representative government and lead to those in power becoming tyrants. (thank you historian Heather Cox Richardson) Sadly, we had our own example of some local appointed officials trying to quash and ignore that freedom of conscience on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, as we gathered to address the newly sworn-in Rowan Board of Elections members.
As has become the norm in recent years before both general and local elections, fairly large numbers of voters in Rowan County show up to present public comments and a public face before the Board members vote on the new Early Voting calendar.
Our right of freedom of conscience led many of us to the meeting to employ our rights as citizens to address the officials charged with selecting an Early Calendar that will affect all voters in Rowan County during this year’s 2025 municipal elections. Not everyone can make a 12:30 pm meeting on a workday so many retirees show up. We proposed Plan C that added one Sunday and one Saturday to the state mandated calendar. The public in attendance chose not to advocate for Plan D that included 2 Sundays as we felt that compromise was in order. No one attending proposed either Plan A, B, or D and no one spoke publicly against Plan C.
Our first indication that the new Republican majority were wielding their power and not considering the people they represent was in black and white on the agenda. Public comment was listed as the last item of the day. That basically quashed any meaningful input from the public about the subject at hand. Thankfully board member Kenneth Stutts pointed out the obviousness of the problem to Republican Chair Dave Collins and public comments were moved to precede the discussion and vote. Sometimes common sense precedes power grabs.
To make a long story short, after unwelcoming comments from Chair Collins to the citizens before public comment, (to which he did later apologize), the Board was not unanimous in reaching a decision. So now the NC State Board will make a decision because the Chair and the two new members, Elaine Hewitt and John Leatherman, refused to consider any plan that included a Sunday unless the workday week hours were also cut.
My favorite comment that I read on Facebook from someone I didn’t know and someone who did not attend the meeting, yet learned about it, was “Don’t any of those people work?!!”
No sir, the plight of the working people does not sway those intent on their own power. Thankfully there are two experienced members on the Board, Democrats Catrelia Hunter and Kenneth Stutts, willing to fight for the working class and their need for accessible voting. Meanwhile, a bunch of retirees will be showing up, determined to exercise their freedom of conscience while actively quelling any tyrannical behaviors by appointed officials.
As for me, I will look to our history and with Ben Franklin will fight for ‘a republic if you can keep it,” and along with James Madison will fight to preserve my right to freedom of conscience as I continue to show up and take actions.