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Editorial: Two Hernando County commissioners guided by pettiness

 
Published Jan. 17, 2014

There is no end to the political pettiness from Republican Hernando Commissioners Wayne Dukes and Jim Adkins.

Tuesday, the pair voted against naming Democrat Diane Rowden as the commission's second vice chairman during the board's annual election of officers. Second vice chair? Hardly a pillar of power. You'd need two absences before you'd actually get to hold the gavel and run a meeting.

Didn't matter to the ingrates, Dukes and Adkins. Their bullying came after Rowden had nominated Adkins to serve as chairman for 2014 and after she joined the unanimous vote to select Dukes for the role because Adkins demurred and nominated his pal.

The vindictiveness from Dukes and Adkins failed, however. Republicans Nick Nicholson and David Russell didn't buy into the spite and gave Rowden their support. Good for them.

Dukes will now serve as chairman for the second time in his four-year term and be granted the higher visibility that comes with the role in his re-election year. By voting against Rowden as second vice chairman, Dukes and Adkins attempted to block her from the same benefit. If future boards follow the traditional protocol of promoting the vice chairman and second vice chairman each year, Rowden will be elected chairman in 2016.

Of course, that's a big "if.'' Commissioners guided by personal political grudges are doing a better job of serving their party than serving the public.