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Counterpoint:

By Darin Thomas

I am proud to be from southeastern Guilford County.

While away on business this past week, I received word that Guilford County commissioners rejected the school board’s request to purchase the latest property being proposed as the site for a new southeast area elementary school.

I want to express how proud I am of those southeastern Guilford citizens who have been tireless champions of this cause and engaged elected officials in attempts to hold them accountable on fulfilling the will of the voters on this issue.

Regardless of your opinion on  which location is best for a new school, it’s important that the system works, as long as there are those willing to stand and be a voice.

This situation demonstrates what is good about our government. As Americans, we sometimes take for granted the right to hold our elected officials accountable. Now, in the history of our country, we should all be reminded that those whom we put in office to represent us have been granted the power to develop budgets, set tax rates, make policy and craft laws on a temporary basis only.

Effectively, we have only loaned power to them and when they fail to represent us, we take that power back through the election process.

Many will agree that transparency in political decision-making is at an all-time low. Across our country a number of elected officials at the local, state and national levels are making decisions against the will of the people. We must demand that elected officials do our will and not their will, or the will of special-interest groups.

In November, voters will speak. All incumbents, Republican or Democrat, who have turned the elected office into long-term careers seeking to leverage the temporary power we’ve granted them for their own benefit are likely to be shown the door.

I commend those who have been brave enough to ensure that for this particular issue, political decision-making is done with full transparency. What we have seen from this school situation is that it is unacceptable for elected bodies to ignore constituents by voting against the will of the people.

To my fellow southeastern citizens, you make me proud.

The writer lives in Greensboro and is a candidate for N.C. House District 58.