Contrast their results with

those of the Fayette County school board which, well

before last September's special election, invited

informal offers from only four bond firms, got no

commitment on interest rates, did not take the lowest

quote on the fee, signed no contract (which could have

contained clauses protective of the taxpayers'

interests), and yet publicly bound itself to using the

bond firm that promised to campaign for a vote to

increase the sales tax. (The legal ad for the short-term

bonds stated the interest rate would not exceed 6.75

percent.)

This illustrates the

difference between competence and incompetence, and

between integrity and sleaziness.

If we truly need new

schools in Fayette County, we could have school bond

votes the day of the general primary, July 18, or the day

of the general election, Nov. 7, without incurring

thousands of dollars of expense for a special election at

a later date.

Two years ago, the school

board lawyer fired the school board as her client. Lawyer

confidentiality rules prevent lawyers from saying why

they fire clients - and it doesn't happen often

- but smart people know that it's generally because

the client proposes to do something illegal, devious, or

dumb, with which the lawyer does not want to be

associated. (Nonpayment or dispute about fees are very

seldom the cause when, as here, the taxpaying public pays

the tab.) Neither the press nor the public seem to have

caught on that there was something to look into there.

With elections coming up,

it is fair to remind ourselves that we, the voters,

always get what we vote for. Now is the time to open our

eyes, and (especially with a school board incumbent in

the running) ask questions.

Claude Y. Paquin

Fayetteville

[email protected]