Haven Shoemaker, a member of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners (Barbara Haddock Taylor,…)
June 22, 2011
A recent meeting of the Board of County Commissioners — in which members discussed changing the sprinkler system requirements for residences — revealed a refreshing, enlightening and, frankly, astonishing statement from one of the commissioners.
Haven Shoemaker was quoted as declaring the discussion "silly," and it concerned him that the current board's path — to streamline the process to make it easier for residential developers to build houses — was not why he was elected.
He emphasized that he was not elected to represent the residential building community, but to represent the people of Carroll County.
Political history has, on occasion, seen individuals who, after rising to responsible positions, have transformed into people with the unique ability to make positive decisions that benefit those with less influence.
They then are called statesmen.
Vince DePalmer
Manchester
