To the editor: Recently at a Board of Commissioners meeting, something happened that should not have happened. District 4 Commissioner J.C. Henderson was speaking and BOE member Shakila Henderson-Baker called him a liar. Commissioner Henderson stated that he did not have a chance to provide his input on the proposed District 4 redistricting map. Mrs. Henderson-Baker interrupted him in mid-sentence and said, “I cannot allow you to continue to lie like that!” 

It was irresponsible and irrational. In a public place, this is the most disparaging and hostile manner to treat someone. The person chairing the meeting should have intervened as soon as she muttered you lie because “you are lying” are really called fighting words, and if the commissioner had responded in a like fashion, he could have said something as equally unprofessional to her, as she was obviously out of order and very unprofessional on all levels.

Calling someone a liar during a public meeting should never be done. I have received numerous phone calls from community members and leaders who were upset with the blatant disrespect directed towards the commissioner. If the public wanted to come out and see elected officials gathered around making disparaging remarks such as these perpetrated on Commissioner Henderson, they would have gone to the circus. Elected officials must lead by example, and this was not an example of what the community wants to see or hear in the future. 

I am asking that elected officials conduct themselves in a proper manner. If she did not agree with the commissioner, she could have waited until he finished, and then she could have said that he was wrong or that she did not agree. Whatever faction she is trying to appeal to cannot be pleased by such an unintelligent approach.

Archie Shepherd

Covington