Our editorial today is about the state legislative audit’s discussion on Jefferson County.
If the Legislative Audit Committee was looking for a one-sided meeting in which the absent county judge was mercilessly hammered by his foe, they succeeded admirably.
Last week, the committee took up the annual audit for Jefferson County and others. The audit shows several problem areas, many of which have been explained, both to the public and to the committee, by County Judge Gerald Robinson. When the committee was reminded that Robinson was not going to be there, a vote was taken and the decision was made to take up the Jefferson County audit at a meeting in May. At that point, the committee moved on to a city’s audit.
But then the whispers started. And you always want whispers at a public meeting, right? Suddenly, the committee was back on the Jefferson County audit, apparently just so Lloyd Franklin Jr., a justice of the peace on the Jefferson County Quorum Court, could have his say.
And did he ever. That, of course, is not surprising. Franklin’s whole purpose on the Quorum Court, from all appearances, has been to gum up the works of county government by way of keeping the other JPs stirred up and having them blunt anything Robinson has tried to do to keep the county running.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
As the committee members politely listened, Franklin was allowed to swing away, making comments, not necessarily on the operation of county government but accusations against the person elected to run county government. It would be like having a trial and only hearing from the prosecutor, at the end of which the only verdict would, of course, be guilty.
Certainly, the committee members have some inclination about what’s been going on in Jefferson County. For the members then to allow Robinson’s most outspoken critic to rant unchecked about Robinson was beyond the pale — unnecessary and unprofessional.
Some of the accusations against the county that have been laid at Robinson’s feet have to do with late fees from one vendor and money being taken out of certain line items to pay for other invoices. The fact that Franklin was there to hear the accusations was almost humorous, given that Franklin has been the ringleader in keeping the Quorum Court members from paying the county’s bills, leaving Robinson with few options in keeping the county’s wheels turning.
This is not a defense of Robinson. There’s a lawsuit around the corner for that. And there’s next May — a half-year away — when Robinson can, we suppose, unload on Franklin and defend what has gone on and why. But it is a defense of Robinson’s right to be in the same room when someone is going at him with sharp objects. For the time being, we are left with a bad taste in the mouth for the operation of the legislative audit committee by what we apparently mistakenly thought was an august body.