The People at the Top

Although this week’s meeting did not take place I want to take a moment to talk to you all. I want to commend the people who put themselves out there and open their lives to the scrutiny that may follow. Whether it is running for office, speaking at meetings, authoring articles, or simply standing up and sharing an opinion.

I believe in hard work, respect, accountability, and having the backbone to stand on your decisions and the humility to change your mind. Folks say they want more people involved in government. I agree. People deserve choices (did you notice we will have lots for Governor this year?!). We could also continue as a community with willingness to accept that not everybody is going to think the same way. I believe expectations of 100% alignment are green in this climate. My experience tells me if you think different than the man to your left or right hope for respectful dialogue but prepare to defend.

Recently I have witnessed a decline in self-accountability. We live in a tech driven era where words come easy not always with complete understanding and reality is easily altered through AI and misinformation. With this I expect to bring receipts, and that suits me simply fine, it does not bother me to show and tell rather than just tell.

The part I think can be a large deterrent to potential candidates is when politics turn into twisting words, false narratives, nasty memes, personal attacks, under reporting, over reporting and tearing people down for thinking differently. If media and influencers push narratives and outcomes rather than just delivering facts it becomes troubling for me. Trust your readers, trust your electorate, get out there and help your neighbors understand both sides and let them choose what they believe in and respect them when you cannot align.

From me to you I will continue voting the way I believe is right for Bourbon County. I will continue being upfront and speaking clearly because the people of this county deserve that. Bourbon County deserves representatives who do not hide behind double meaning phrases. Different opinions are part of freedom and if you cannot stand behind yours, then consider change. Moving forward together is important. We have recently seen that if leadership cannot work together, we will not move at all.

Character matters more to me than titles. Ethics matters more to me than gains. Integrity matters more to me than the cost of doing business. I am pure country, raised to work hard, speak with candor, hold my opinion until I have enough verifiable information to form one, tell the truth, keep my faith, and continue working through the storm. I answer to God, my conscience, and the people who elected me to do the job. Strong communities are built by people willing to work, serve, and lead with grit and honesty. If you want to work with me, work as hard as me. If you want to stop me, outwork me. Bullying, intimidation, and half-truths aren’t going to do the trick.

There is one more thing I want to talk about again. Over the last several months, I have watched conversations in our community about who should be asking questions, and continuing to stay informed. Let me just say, “everyone” this is so important!

My thoughts, I support journalism for all. Communities need people willing to attend meetings, ask questions, review records, and keep the public informed. If there is a idea that asking questions should belong exclusively to one group of professionals, it is my opinion that sentiment no longer exists and possibly for good reason. I think journalism, public announcements and citizen involvement can coexist. All have an important role in keeping communities informed.

We live in a time where information moves quickly. Citizens attend meetings. Citizens request records. Citizens make phone calls. Citizens ask questions and compare what they hear with what they see. Many spend hours digging into issues because they care about their community. That involvement should be encouraged, not discouraged.

The answer to information you disagree with is more information. The answer to questions is answers. The answer to concerns is transparency. I trust people to sort through information and make decisions for themselves. I trust them to look at facts, ask follow-up questions, and come to their own conclusions. Not every citizen will get everything right. Not every journalist or elected official will get everything right. That is why facts and records matter. That is why accountability matters. I believe the people of Bourbon County are best served when they can hear from multiple sources, and learn to review the information for themselves, and decide what they believe.

Nobody should be afraid of an informed public. If someone has questions, ask them. I will answer all I can, you may hear me say “I have to ask the county counselor first,” and I hope you understand.

The future of Bourbon County will not be shaped by one journalist, one Facebook page, one elected official, or one voice. It will be shaped by citizens who care enough to get involved, do their homework, and become informed voters, the future of this county belongs to you the citizens! You the voters have more power than you know, you are The People at the Top. I hope you understand that and stay informed and get out there and vote!

Citizens of Bourbon County, Thank You

Mika Milburn-Kee