To the editor:
I’ve heard suggestions that I am the driving force behind the recall petition against Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall. Let me be clear — I am not the petitioner, nor am I the architect of the recall campaign.
What I have done — and will continue to do — is advocate for transparency, due process, and shared responsibility in how our board conducts business. I’ve consistently requested public discussions, including executive sessions, to address matters that affect our organization, the delivery of public services, and ultimately, the community’s trust in local government.
Decisions such as excluding constituents from public meetings (including Christine Hutchins), redacting public records, or denying commissioner agenda requests have not been made by the full board. I’ve raised concerns about this pattern and will continue to advocate for clearer policies and fairer procedures — so that all elected officials are included in decision-making and our community can participate in that process.
Good governance depends on inclusive, collaborative leadership — not unilateral authority. I remain committed to ensuring that all voices are respected, including those who may disagree with me or others in Lincoln County leadership.
I believe in accountability for all of us. We can — and must — do better. I will continue working to strengthen public process, rebuild trust, and ensure that the community remains at the center of our work.
- Casey Miller/Newport/Lincoln County commissioner
“Transparency is a ‘nebulous concept’ that lacks a generally accepted definition due to its growing popularity and varied usage among politicians, academics, and practitioners in diverse fields.”
Indeed.
Here are my takeaways from the research cited below:
1. The assertion that transparency enhances local government accountability lacks conclusive empirical support.
2. There is insufficient evidence to back the claim that transparent government is inherently trustworthy.
3. Transparency does not directly impact corruption levels or citizens’ satisfaction with their government.
Local elected officials need to shift their focus from merely discussing transparency to demonstrating accountability through concrete actions.
How are you preparing Lincoln County to cope with the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credit, the Rural Health Transformation Fund, the Medicaid Expansion Financial Incentive, and the potential sequestration of Medicare funds when the President’s proposed legislation takes effect after the November 2026 election?
One elected official in particular needs to move beyond advocating for collaboration while simultaneously threatening fellow commissioners with litigation. The time for grandstanding is over. We need three commissioners working at 110% on essential county business right now.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0160323X20970245
Maybe they both need to go, who knows. Like when the parent punishes both bratty kids no matter which one started the fight, and doesn’t care that it’s not fair, because the whole thing’s stupid and the parent just doesn’t have time for it. We’re the county, the focus shouldn’t be on these temporary servants of the county. Get someone else in there and see if they can do better. It would be an experiment (as I commented on another article). I’m very open to trying experiments with ousting individual officials, because they’re not important. All of us are. And like Janet Jackson once sang, “What have [they] done for me lately?”
What has happened to Casey this past year at the hands of his coworkers is beyond ridiculous. He was cleared of any bullying/harassment by an independent investigator and yet the punishment and ostracization continues. Being banned from working at the county offices and instead using taxpayer dollars to rent him another off-site office is absolutely insane. How else are you suppose to resolve serious issues as an employee when one commissioner and her cronies seizes all the power. Your only remedy in to pursue legal action.
I agree that our commissioners should be focused on the multitude of daunting issues facing the county. Yet one elected official thinks its more important to continue to silence people that don’t agree with her. The voters will decide if Casey deserves to continue representing us in the next election cycle. For now, a recall petition has been initiated to remove Hall and I full support that effort. We desperately need a change and fresh thinking and Hall has had 20 years to do it. Is Lincoln County better off today? I personally don’t think so.