An Open Letter to the Hancock County Board of Supervisors

We don’t elect county supervisors simply because they’re good with numbers. If that were the case, we’d elect certified public accountants. That’s not why people vote. We elect people based on what we believe their moral values are — people we know, trust, and believe reflect the basic standards of our community.

That’s why the recent library budget decision matters.

When the library board came before you for their budget request, concerns were raised about the book This Book Is Gay, which is currently available at the Britt Public Library. The response was discussion — and then full funding approval. No action. No consequence. Just talk. But the people who control the money are the ones who set the rules, and the budget process was the moment when leadership should have been shown.

For those who may not be aware, This Book Is Gay was written by Juno Dawson, a biological male who identifies as female. Portions of this book are so explicit they cannot be reprinted in this newspaper. If material is inappropriate for publication in a local paper read by adults, it raises serious questions about whether it belongs on the shelf of a publicly funded library accessible to children.

In my opinion, the book crosses the line from educational into borderline pornographic content, and reads more like grooming material than age-appropriate information. That is my opinion, but it is one shared by many parents and taxpayers who expect common sense standards when public money is involved.

It would not have taken much to make a point. The paperback version of This Book Is Gay sells for roughly $8 to $13. If the library requested $10,000, subtracting even one copy’s worth — approving $9,987 instead — would have sent a clear message of accountability and forced supervisors to take a public position.

When the library board walked out with their full funding intact, they believed they won. You may have viewed the outcome as neutral. It was not. In that moment, the library won the battle.

You were elected to stand up for the values of the citizens you represent — not just talk, but act when it matters.

You control the money. That’s where accountability starts.

John B Johnson

Britt