LEWISBURG — Perhaps more interesting than anything said at Tuesday’s Un ion County commissioners meeting were the contents of several leaked e-mails read aloud by Democratic Commissioner John Showers before the heated, 90-minute debate even began — e-mails that implied Tuesday’s discussion was fueled more by politics and personal agendas than by the merits of the Rail Trail itself.
Within the e-mail was one written by board Chairman Preston Boop to county Republican Committee chairwoman Yvonne Morgan, asking, “Is it possible for me to get much-needed local Republican support in this matter? This could be a way to energize the Union County Republican efforts.”
An e-mail written by Morgan to the county Republican Committee indicated the chairwoman jumped right on the political bandwagon, practically threatening her fellow Republican Committee members if they did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.
“If you cannot attend, please let me know. ... And it better be a darn good excuse,” Morgan wrote. “I will be taking attendance and noting who is on the committee for our REAL Republican principles, not a popularity contest.”
But it was Morgan’s personal attacks against Showers and Republican Commissioner John Mathias that cast a pall over Tuesday’s meeting from the get-go.
“Commissioner Showers is the husband of a trust-fund child. He may not know what financial struggle is,” Morgan wrote as she called into question Showers’ and Mathias’ financial judgment in considering allowing the county to take over the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority’s Rail Trail. “John Mathias has financial means to weather the economic storm. Most of us do not.”
That may not include Morgan, the wife of Evangelical Community Hospital general surgeon James Morgan, who also sits on the hospital’s board of directors.
The e-mail, sent by Morgan to the entire Union County Republican Committee, eventually made its way to Showers and into the public record at Tuesday’s meeting.
“In light of this exchange, I ask for a return to the historic civility, honesty and integrity that has always governed Union County affairs,” Showers read from his statement, his hands trembling. “Preston and Yvonne, this issue is not about a secret plot of Democratic elected officials ... It is not about ‘a way to energize Union County Republican efforts.’ And it’s not about who John Showers married.”
Apologies from Morgan and Boop flew fast and furiously.
“I’m sorry it (got) this far,” Boop said, and defended himself by saying he was excluded from meetings in which Showers and Mathias were present, something that caused trust to be eroded.
For Showers, who sat crossarmed for the majority of Tuesday’s meeting, the damage may already have been done.
“C ommissioner Boop,” Showers said, “don’t lie and then say to me you apologize.”
Boop asked Showers to explain his comment. Showers remained silent.
-- E-mail comments to aorourke@dailyitem.com
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