FRANKLIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
101 WEST NASH STREET
LOUISBURG, NORTH CAROLINA 27549
(919) 496-1469
www.FranklinNCGOP.com

March 5, 2006

   In The News...  

1991 Flashback:
Norman Pushes for Open Meetings

My Turn, Greg Cunard, March 4, 2006 Franklin Times:

Last week we ran a couple of stories about secrecy in county government. In March, 1991, we carried a story about local attorney Larry Norman appearing before the county commissioners urging them to follow the state's open meeting law to "its fullest extent and purpose."

Norman's comments came after then county commission Chairman Ronnie Goswick urged fellow commissioners to "have their minds made up on how to vote" before they came to meetings. That, obviously, would have required some secret pow-wows to get everyone on the same page.

Just recently Sidney Dunston, the current commission chair, chastised two fellow board members [Republicans Harry Foy and Don Lancaster] for wanting the county to receive its full restitution from someone stealing from the county. He called a request "grandstanding" but I call it seeking justice.

Oh, well, perhaps Norman kept his notes from 1991 and could be persuaded to make the same open government speech again. Our officials need to hear it!

Larry Norman is a former Franklin County Republican Party chairman.