06/16/2026
Michael Alvarez,
When nonprofits came before the county requesting funding, there never seemed to be a concern about taxpayer dollars. Grants were approved, budgets increased, and funding requests moved forward with little hesitation.
Now, when citizens show up to voice concerns during public comment, we’re told that a few minutes of taxpayer-funded time is suddenly too expensive or too burdensome.
The people of Benton County deserve leaders who welcome public scrutiny, not leaders who treat community concerns as an inconvenience. Public comment is not a threat to government it is one of the most important functions of government.
Leadership means listening, even when the message is uncomfortable. Leadership means being accountable to the taxpayers who fund these institutions. Leadership means transparency, not dismissing the concerns of the very people you were elected to serve.
The voters of Benton County should pay close attention to how their elected officials respond when citizens ask questions and demand accountability.
This isn’t leadership. This is avoidance.