As a four-time State Representative and former Governor candidate, one thing has struck me about our current Congress: the wall of silence. Governor Key promised regular updates through his Communication Is Key updates, but I haven’t spotted one recently. In fact, Key has failed to even nominate a new Lt. Governor after his running mate Gracie McCoy stepped down in February. Key did nominate Audrey Storm for the position, who was vetoed in February. That failure was seemingly enough for him to abandon the position. The Legislature has been similarly defined by inactivity and quietness, with only a few bills being posted. There’s one exception to the rule: Joanna Poole, who has been doing her best to carry the government’s duties on her back.
On April 27, Shout News attended a legislative meeting, which is open to the public. This is not a mandatory policy, but Poole has maintained it throughout her term as Speaker of the Legislature. Poole has, in fact, been the only member of the government to consistently show face and attempt to communicate. It is the dysfunction of the rest of the government that unfairly reflects upon her. While I don’t agree with all of Poole’s decisions — we have been colleagues before, and we’ve had ideological clashes in the past — I can’t help but respect the sheer tenacity it takes to consistently show up when so few of her colleagues are. Furthermore, Poole has even clashed with the President of the United States on the instatement of Chris Stevens. It’s worth recognizing that not only is she handling the bulk of all government work being done, but she’s doing it under unprecedented levels of federal interference.
It’s important to remember that each government official is benefitting from their time in office. Specifically, State Representatives earn approximately $2500 a day, every day, regardless of whether they clock in, submit any work, or attend meetings. Poole has been continuing the legislative overhaul, doing her best to bring information to the public, and picking up the slack of her absent coworkers — one of whom resigned twice in a stunning show of disinterest, first from her position as Secretary of the Legislature before quitting the position in its entirety.
I may not agree with everything Poole does or pushes, but I can recognize that she has carried the ninth congress single-handedly upon her back. If only the rest of the politicians in the state shared her interest and commitment; we’d likely see a quite different state. I don’t like Joanna Poole, and it doesn’t matter, because she’s earned my respect for doing her job when no one else is.
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