OPINION: The Sound of Silence, From An Elected Official

A couple weeks ago, you – our readers, voted overwhelmingly (79%) in our newsletter poll that it is either ‘very important’ or ‘important’ that elected officials give regular interviews to the press.

Right before we put out that poll, Sherri Cox won a razor-thin five-way contest for County Commissioner District three. Data shows her disproportionate support from the south end of the county was just enough to put her over the top in the election.

In that time, and since we first asked her for an interview on April 3, Sherri has yet to give an interview with Mid Bay News – or any other news organization.

That’s why we were delighted when she confirmed an interview with Mid Bay News on August 30.

But, on the evening of August 29, she backed out. She claimed via a text message she had an issue that would prevent her from participating in an over-the-internet recorded interview. That issue didn’t stop her from posting for the better part of the day of the interview in Mid Bay News’ comments section.

When asked repeatedly for a rescheduled interview, she balked and demanded that she learn the times and dates of interviews with other candidates. Candidates who gave Mid Bay News interviews months before election day.

She’s since cut off contact with Mid Bay News and stopped answering her phone.

There are several legitimate questions that this news outlet believes the public has the right to have answered – and have begun to ask. Questions like:

• What do you plan to do now that you are elected?
• What are your goals for the county’s future?
• How will you balance growth and preservation of the north end?
• How will we compete for employers for our area?
• You have photos of yourself and Republican Chairperson Sandra Atkinson at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 – before rioters ransacked the building. Do you condone or condemn what happened?
• Why did companies you used to own, which have since failed to register with the state, donate money to your campaign. If they donated money, and therefore had money, why weren’t they registered on your Form 6 (a state-required disclosure of financial assets all candidates must submit. The form must be filled out honestly, under penalty of perjury.)

As of November, Cox will be the duly elected and serving commissioner for all of us – I believe we deserve answers to these questions. Whether she gives an interview to MBN or someone else is immaterial. That fact that she does do it shows that she believes in the rule of law and time-honored traditions of our republic meant to check power.

I hope that Sherri will choose to lead from the front in matters that affect all Okaloosa County residents, not from the comments section.

Ultimately, though, she doesn’t have to interview with anyone. My hope, though, is that she will soon grant an interview to explain to residents of Okaloosa County what she plans to do with the next four years to serve us.