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If you’ve been reading about the Camden County Courthouse in the Lake Sun over the past few months, you know that Presiding Commissioner Kris Franken has been at the forefront of a number of unfavorable stories about the county.
To begin, in June, Franken dismissed a county employee who allegedly was involved in improper activities at work.
The story goes that when the employee confessed his actions to Franken in April, Franken told the employee that it was okay, but not to do it again.
However, after the press got a hold of the information in June, Franken changed his mind and decided that the employee’s actions were worthy of termination.
The employee was fired and now is in the process of suing the county.
In July, after urging the other commissioners to vote to save money by listing property tax delinquency notices in a much less viewed newspaper, Franken was able to get a great deal at the tax delinquency auction – garnering a piece of lakeside property for a cool $5,000.
That lack of publicity and having 20 percent fewer people show up at the auction certainly didn’t do anything to hurt his chances at getting a great deal, but it also made him look like an elected official taking advantage and profiting from his position.
To be sure – Franken is gaining a track record for wanting to keep the public in the dark. I suppose it’s easier to operate without interference that way.
But, he seems to forget that it is the taxpayers’ money that he is spending, and it is also our hard-earned money that pays his salary.
In September, Franken refused to allow our reporter to tape a public meeting – telling her he’d sue her and this paper if she did. Besides being demeaning towards her, Franken does not know or want to acknowledge that he had no legal right to stop her from recording a public meeting.
Last week, the attorney general sent a letter to the county commissioners asking for information about alleged, illegal meetings that were held (they met without notifying the public) – another instance that points to a lack of understanding or disregard for laws and regulations in the Franken regime.
And now the latest – in which Franken and County Clerk Rowland Todd decided between themselves that a new payroll/invoice system was needed for the county – despite being unbudgeted and unplanned.
It even appears the two other commissioners and affected department heads in the county were not consulted.
Essentially relying on a political friend for knowledge about what constituted a good payroll/invoice system, Franken hand-delivered two invitations to bid on the system (there was no public notice that the county was taking bids for the software)..
One of the invitations to bid went to the political friend who advised Franken and Todd.
No surprise - the political friend of Franken and Todd won the bid.
This is a very dangerous precedence Franken is setting: one in which a commissioner cannot only purchase without a plan, but can also determine who gets to bid. You can easily see how this power could be abused (if it hasn’t already).
Franken is exhibiting the tendencies of the worst type of politician.
The one who believes that he is so right that laws and rules don’t apply. Drunk with power and an oversized ego, this type of politician will rationalize they don’t need to answer to anyone or any law because they already know best.
Such seems to be the case with Franken, who doesn’t need to consult with attorneys or coworkers or reporters or laws – because he seems to believe he has all the answers.
His response to the allegation that he did not follow the law by publicly announcing that the county was looking for bidders for a new payroll system is a prime example of Franken's view of how to run a county he feels his actions are acceptable because he knows he made the right choice conferring or consulting with others be damned.
Clearly he does not understand the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship. I’m all for less government – just not government by one person.
At best, one must look at Franken’s actions and question his judgment and knowledge of how to run a county.
At worst, one must question his ethics and morals.
Camden County simply does not need this type of leadership.
Contact Lake Media publisher John Tucker at john.tucker@lakesunonline.com
If you’ve been reading about the Camden County Courthouse in the Lake Sun over the past few months, you know that Presiding Commissioner Kris Franken has been at the forefront of a number of unfavorable stories about the county.
To begin, in June, Franken dismissed a county employee who allegedly was involved in improper activities at work.
The story goes that when the employee confessed his actions to Franken in April, Franken told the employee that it was okay, but not to do it again.
However, after the press got a hold of the information in June, Franken changed his mind and decided that the employee’s actions were worthy of termination.
The employee was fired and now is in the process of suing the county.
In July, after urging the other commissioners to vote to save money by listing property tax delinquency notices in a much less viewed newspaper, Franken was able to get a great deal at the tax delinquency auction – garnering a piece of lakeside property for a cool $5,000.
That lack of publicity and having 20 percent fewer people show up at the auction certainly didn’t do anything to hurt his chances at getting a great deal, but it also made him look like an elected official taking advantage and profiting from his position.
To be sure – Franken is gaining a track record for wanting to keep the public in the dark. I suppose it’s easier to operate without interference that way.
But, he seems to forget that it is the taxpayers’ money that he is spending, and it is also our hard-earned money that pays his salary.
In September, Franken refused to allow our reporter to tape a public meeting – telling her he’d sue her and this paper if she did. Besides being demeaning towards her, Franken does not know or want to acknowledge that he had no legal right to stop her from recording a public meeting.
Last week, the attorney general sent a letter to the county commissioners asking for information about alleged, illegal meetings that were held (they met without notifying the public) – another instance that points to a lack of understanding or disregard for laws and regulations in the Franken regime.
And now the latest – in which Franken and County Clerk Rowland Todd decided between themselves that a new payroll/invoice system was needed for the county – despite being unbudgeted and unplanned.
It even appears the two other commissioners and affected department heads in the county were not consulted.
Essentially relying on a political friend for knowledge about what constituted a good payroll/invoice system, Franken hand-delivered two invitations to bid on the system (there was no public notice that the county was taking bids for the software)..
One of the invitations to bid went to the political friend who advised Franken and Todd.
No surprise - the political friend of Franken and Todd won the bid.
This is a very dangerous precedence Franken is setting: one in which a commissioner cannot only purchase without a plan, but can also determine who gets to bid. You can easily see how this power could be abused (if it hasn’t already).
Franken is exhibiting the tendencies of the worst type of politician.
The one who believes that he is so right that laws and rules don’t apply. Drunk with power and an oversized ego, this type of politician will rationalize they don’t need to answer to anyone or any law because they already know best.
Such seems to be the case with Franken, who doesn’t need to consult with attorneys or coworkers or reporters or laws – because he seems to believe he has all the answers.
His response to the allegation that he did not follow the law by publicly announcing that the county was looking for bidders for a new payroll system is a prime example of Franken's view of how to run a county he feels his actions are acceptable because he knows he made the right choice conferring or consulting with others be damned.
Clearly he does not understand the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship. I’m all for less government – just not government by one person.
At best, one must look at Franken’s actions and question his judgment and knowledge of how to run a county.
At worst, one must question his ethics and morals.
Camden County simply does not need this type of leadership.
Contact Lake Media publisher John Tucker at john.tucker@lakesunonline.com
