One Woman s View: Showing courage when it counts
If I wore a hat, I would be tipping it to Dan Holub. Public officials who will make a major financial sacrifice in defense of a principle are rare indeed. Most readers are probably familiar with the recent events prompting this tribute. When some customers threatened to take their business elsewhere because of Holub's stand on county zoning issues, his employers at Deer Trail Implement in Marion gave him an ultimatum: resign from the county commission or be fired from his job. He chose to remain on the commission, so he now is unemployed.
The people who brought that kind of pressure to bear on the management at Deer Trail Implement should be ashamed of themselves. It is my personal opinion that Holub's reasoning in regard to zoning makes a great deal of sense. However, I know some rather well-informed people who disagree. That is not the real issue here. People who think he is wrong should speak out about the issues, campaign against him in the next election, perhaps file for a position on the commission themselves. But getting the man fired from his job with anonymous criticisms and threats is a cowardly form of blackmail.
Holub says he is not angry with his former employers, since they were fellow victims of the threats. He is being very fair and generous, but I could wish they had possessed the courage to stand up for what is right, even if it might be unprofitable. A few years ago a political candidate tried to convince the Hillsboro Star-Journal to quit running this column, because I came out in favor of his opponent. The editor at the time told him this was my column, and the paper would not dictate to me what I could say. I appreciated that support.
I do not believe anybody runs for the county commission in Marion County in the hopes of making money or using the office as a stepping stone for political advancement. The job pays very little, and I do not know of any commissioners who have gone on to become legislators, governors, or congressmen. Ain't gonna happen! People become commissioners because they hope to make life in this county better. Sometimes — perhaps often — they may be wrong, but they should never be penalized for trying.
Since he took his place on the commission, I have noticed Holub puts a good deal of time and effort into the job. For example, he often appears at the city council meetings of small towns in his district to give council members a chance to ask him questions about county business or air their complaints and concerns. How many commissioners have you known who took time to do that? When somebody asked him about the perennial complaint of Marion County residents, the condition of the roads, it becomes obvious he has spent some time driving the various roads to learn where work is needed. Granted, many of the roads still are very bad. The man is only one of three commissioners, and he is a conscientious public servant, not a magician. At least, he should get credit for effort.
Holub has chosen to make a serious financial sacrifice rather than cave in to the wrong kind of pressure from opponents. We should respect him for that, whether or not we agree with his ideas for improving the quality of life in Marion County. Most people I talk with are outraged by what has happened. His former employers just may find they will lose more business by caving in than they would have by taking a courageous stand. Time will tell.
In our form of government citizens not only have the right, but the responsibility, to be active in influencing government decisions. However, let's do it by speaking out publicly on the issues, by supporting candidates of our choice, and by making efforts of our own to improve the quality of life in our communities. Let's not stoop to robbing a man of his livelihood because he refuses to compromise his convictions.
— Jane Vajnar
