At this week's County Commissioner meeting, we all got to see some dirty politics play out. Earlier this summer, Paul Koering had the audacity to say that he thought a challenger to Doug Houge might be a better person for the job. After those comments came to light to the board, commissioner Bill Brekken decided that the board needed to make a change. In a show of questionable tactics that smell of collusion, he and Steve Barrows met privately and discussed how Koering's "actions have consequences."
Those consequences became clear when they abruptly ousted him as the chair on Tuesday. To the majority of the board, it's not about what's best for their constituents. It's about what's best for them. Their hunger for power and control was on full display. They showed that anyone who dares to try and get in their way is a target. I hope that the residents of their districts take note.
Bill Brown
Brainerd
