Small-town America finds its voice

The lyrics to Jason Aldean’s hit song “Try That in a Small Town” have been a sort of battle cry for promoting small-town America. If you are going to sing, you’ll need a strong voice.

Let’s face it: even in small-town America, too many people decide to be quiet, resting in the falsehood that their concerns, if voiced, will fall on deaf ears. Then there are guys like Gabe Merando of Elm City, North Carolina.

At a time when taxes are rising, governments are overstepping and individuals feel helpless, a lone voice pierces the silence of Elm City Town Hall demanding accountability.

Like Paul Revere’s warning of the invasion of British troops, Mr. Merando warned residents and the Board of Commissioners that everything about the meeting they were in was tainted by board misconduct (“ Elm City passes ‘largest tax increase in town’s history ,’” front page, June 28.) He says the budget adopted June 25 with a 10-cent tax increase from the proposed budget presented earlier violates North Carolina general statutes.

As loud as it may have been that night, his voice fell on deaf ears. So Mr. Merando filed a motion for relief seeking an injunction and temporary restraining order in hopes of halting the actions taken that night by the Elm City Board of Commissioners.

Small-town America needs more Gabe Merandos.

Russell Michael

Wilson

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