Elected bodies don’t always vote the way their constituents want them to — you can’t, after all, please all of the people all of the time. But when the gap between what voters want and what a board decides is especially stark, civic engagement doesn’t end at the ballot box.
In recent weeks, Cumberland County residents showed just how effective community pressure can be when directed at elected officials. It underscored in particular the importance of attending public forums — of showing up — so decision‑makers know how you feel about the choices they’re making in your name.
When reporter Rachael Riley messaged me from Wednesday night’s Cumberland County Board of Education meeting to say more than 450 people were in attendance, I was blown away by the number…