We hope all the politicians are paying attention to what’s transpiring in Jackson County.
Two members of the Board of Supervisors have been voted out. Two more are at risk.
Our political system worked.
Too often, voters forget the misdeeds and failings of elected officials by the time the next election rolls around. Singing River Health System’s employees and retirees wouldn’t let the voters of Jackson County forget the role the board had in the debacle at the county- owned health-care system.
They were relentless.
They sued to save their pension plan, which at one time was about to be ended. Then they took their case public.
On social media. At church. At the grocery store. On the supervisors’ home turf.
They marched for hours in the hot sun.
They spoke up at meetings.
They wrote Letters to the Editor.
They wrote Sound Off.
In the end, the message was simple: “We need a new Board of Supervisors.”
And it worked.
They showed elected officials a grass-roots movement can have a power campaign contributions can’t buy. They showed them homemade signs can overshadow billboards.
We hope their success makes all elected officials a little nervous. Nothing — absolutely nothing — keeps a politician honest as well as knowing he or she is being watched.
And we hope Coast residents are taking note of what an informed and motivated electorate can accomplish.
The (Biloxi) Sun Herald
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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