Disappointing Comments by Commissioner at Aug 12th Board Meeting

I was disappointed (but unfortunately not shocked) by the comments made by Commissioner Mike Forsman at the August 12th County Board meeting in Mt. Iron. To see for yourself, look here at the video.

The Board was discussing a bid by a company for "budcapping" to protect trees from damage caused by deer on county land. Apparently only one company was interested in the $98,000 contract and this lead Commissioner Forsman to share "only is opinion" with respect to "illegal aliens" who he believes are employed by Superior Forest Products (an Arkansas company). While he admits that this information was provided to him "3rd hand" he does not hesitate to tell the public that these people "avail themselves of of social services" and are generally problematic.

Never mind that County Attorney Ford pointed out that the contract could easily include a provision (or maybe it already does) prohibiting the hiring of undocumented workers.

Here we are, almost a year after the "We are Watching" campaign was started in response to inappropriate conduct by two of the commissioners regarding sexual harassment and then the lack of action by four of the Board members to do anything about it and we still have some commissioners boldly making comments that degrade people of color, specifically immigrants.
Let us not forget Commissioner Nelson's "slavery speech" that proceeded the sexual harassment complaints......

Perhaps when these commissioners are up for re-election in 2010 the voters will give serious consideration as to if they are the best folks to continue representing them after all.