EDITORIAL – After Fairfield County Council Chairman Clarence Gilbert appointed every member of council except Peggy Swearingen, council’s only female member, to council’s five standing committees last month, Ms. Swearingen asked Gilbert at the Feb. 24 meeting why she had been left out.
“Is it because I’m a woman?” she asked.
Gilbert was dismissive, saying he would answer her during his portion of county council time at the end of the meeting – but he did not.
Instead, he read a scathing, prepared statement that quoted the Bible and referenced his authority as chairman, his leadership, his experience, and the rationale – that some would consider flawed – for how he made selections for the standing committee seats.
“The role of chairman holds the most authority and provides leadership in appointing roles based on assessment of character, background and ability,” Gilbert said.
However, there are no such requirements listed in the bylaws for assessing members for service on county council, much less on the standing committees.
Lost in the headiness of his ability to assess others, Mr. Gilbert continued in his quest to justify his standing committee selections.
“My experience and longevity on council lends greatly to my ability to assess individual strengths and abilities to accomplish goals,” he said. “My appointments to committees have been well thought out and given much consideration.”
Has Mr. Gilbert concluded that Ms. Swearingen possesses less character, background, strength and abilities than the other six members of council, rendering her unfit to serve on even one of the standing committees?
Even a casual observance of almost any council meeting will readily shred that conclusion.
Ms. Swearingen has championed – not just voted for, but championed – myriad issues that would improve conditions for the people and county she serves, including:
- better pay, vehicles, and equipment for the county’s Sheriff’s deputies
- better pay for the County’s Fire Service, Detention Center, and EMS
- better conditions for the county’s animals
- support for the Fairfield Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market which not only receives no support from council, but was charged a punishing $50 per hour fee by council – later reduced to $25 per hour – to use the market building to sell their produce.
And when council would not provide needed funding for the Fairfield County Council on Aging’s (FCCOA) weekend meals program for 76 of the neediest of the community’s senior citizens, Swearingen rolled up her sleeves, picked up the phone, and raised $20,000 toward the total $33,000 needed by the FCCOA.
Mr. Gilbert and the majority of the other council members have been mostly, if not entirely, silent on these and other important issues, including Mr. Gilbert’s failure to place the weekend meal funding issue on the agenda for council to discuss.
So how did Mr. Gilbert conclude that Ms. Swearingen is not capable of serving on a standing committee?
Is Ms. Swearingen’s willingness to advocate for such worthy causes threatening to Mr. Gilbert?
Or is it that Mr. Gilbert is daunted by Ms. Swearingen’s eagerness to do her best – to do what council members are being paid to do?
“A good leader accepts appointments at the pleasure of the Chairman,” Mr. Gilbert insisted at the Feb. 24 meeting in what appeared to be an effort to put Ms. Swearingen in her place.
This is wrong.
Ms. Swearingen may not be Winston Churchill but neither is Mr. Gilbert.
Ms. Swearingen has proven that she is able and ready to fulfill the important role of a member or chair of one or more standing committees. She was elected by the good people of District 3 to look out for their interests, and she deserves the opportunity to do that. She deserves the respect of Mr. Gilbert and her fellow council members for her strengths, her abilities and her eagerness to serve and advocate for the citizens of Fairfield County.
Moreover, Ms. Swearingen deserves nothing less than a seat at the table.
Chairman Gilbert’s Speech
The role of Chairman holds the most authority and provides leadership in appointing roles based on assessment of character, background, and ability. I faithfully lead this fine group of individuals in overseeing meetings, facilitating discussions, ensuring proper governance practices (sic), and guiding the strategic direction of our council.
My experience and longevity on council lends greatly to my ability to assess individual strengths and abilities to accomplish goals. My appointments to committees have been well thought out and given much consideration.
Yet, I am not a foolish man. Statements made here tonight by a couple of our members are an attempt to publicly shame this council and undermine the authority of the Chairman. This behavior has been displayed and in turn, validates my decision and assessment as to the professional abilities to govern. All concerns and requests have been privately addressed and settled. There has been no violation of bylaws, as per our legal representative.
In seeking to achieve goals for the betterment of Fairfield County, members must address full council and afford the Chairman the courtesy of transparence. This has not been the case with a few. We have a few disgruntled members who are using this public forum to upset the balance of unity that we have worked hard to achieve.
A good leader accepts appointments to work at the pleasure of the Chairman. Let’s get back on track and stop the distractions in the public eye, and move forward in our assignments of duty. I am counting on everyone here to be professional, respectful, and do a good job. Otherwise, why are we here? Hopefully not to divide, but to unite.
I leave you with the following from Philippians 2:3. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.”
Barbara Ball is the publisher of The Voice of Fairfield County and The Voice of Blythewood.
