Democracy Loses

For the past four years Charlotte County has been addressing the issue of a new courthouse.  The battle is over. The new courthouse will be built at a cost to the Charlotte County taxpayers of 14 million dollars.

Although, everyone involved is claiming success.  The fact is, Democracy lost. The taxpayers lost. Charlotte County lost.

The issue started when Judge Joel C. Cunningham issued a demand that a new “safe and secure” courthouse be built. A single unelected judge (who was later joined by other judges) has the authority to demand a new facility.

Upgrades were certainly necessary. Our law enforcement and citizens need to be safe and secure. The problem was with the scope of the project.

The county had little recourse.  In editorials this newspaper encouraged citizens to support their elected board in opposing Judge Cunningham’s abuse of power. Although many called and agreed with us not one citizen addressed the board or supported them.

For years the board attempted to minimize the financial and aesthetical impact of the project.

After several years of negotiation the County presented a plan that incorporated the historic courthouse at a projected cost of 6 million dollars that was approved by Judge Cunningham.

At this point a small group of vocal citizens converged on the board demanding an alternative plan.  The judge agreed and ordered a free-standing facility, at twice the cost.

There was a hearing with Judge Doherty who stated Charlotte County could not afford a new courthouse. He ordered a citizens committee be formed in accordance with state law. The Charlotte Board formed the committee.

Immediately the same small group objected to the members of the committee. They questioned their ability, their character and their credentials.  The committee was never formed.  Instead, the self-appointed, unelected small group acted- allegedly on behalf of the county citizens.

The new courthouse will be built. It will contain three court rooms. Each will be used one day a week. It will contain three judge’s chambers.  There will be 22 restrooms – enough to “support a cholera epidemic” as one board member put it.

As the board was told by the judge’s lawyer early in the proceedings, “If we tell you to go to Fort Knox and get a load of gold bricks to build it YOU WILL go to Fort Knox…”

It takes a lot of gold bricks to make up 14 million dollars.