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To the Editor:

Sir Winston Churchill, in a 1947 speech to the House of Commons, is often quoted as saying:

“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time; but there is the broad feeling in our country that the people should rule, and that public opinion expressed by all constitutional means, should shape, guide, and control the actions of elected officials who are their servants and not their masters.”

Let that sink in for a moment. The two salient points of Churchill’s remarks are: 1) that democracy is the worst form of government except for all others; and, 2) that the public, the people — you, me and our neighbors, together — are responsible for successfully guiding that democracy and controlling the actions of elected officials.

On Sunday, April 10, a candidates’ forum held in Jackson demonstrated that the spirit of democracy is very much alive in Northampton County. The forum was sponsored by Northampton Citizens United, a political action committee with membership as diverse as our citizenry. At the forum, neighbors, black and white, who came together from communities throughout the county, heard from candidates – Democrat, Republican and Unaffiliated – seeking votes in the upcoming May 17 primary and the November 8 general elections.

The reason those citizens gathered is because they realize that having good government requires that we, the people, participate. Good government requires that we not rely on slogans or buzzwords; empty promises of change, special favors and grand schemes; or someone telling us how to vote based on a candidate’s race or gender. In short, good government, the success of democracy, requires that we, the people, become informed, show up and vote.

Monday evening, following the forum, the members of Northampton Citizens United met and voted to select the candidates we endorse in the upcoming May 17 primary election. All are those we believe will best serve the interests, hopes and future of the people of Northampton County. They are those who we believe will act honorably, without prejudice, and who will act as our public servants, not as our masters.

Northampton Citizens United is all about becoming informed and showing up. We invite you to follow us on Facebook. Come to one of our meetings. Join us, hundreds of your neighbors – and Sir Winston Churchill – in believing that we the people, together, should rule and serve no master.

God bless and keep you.

Thank you for your time. Please vote on or before May 17, 2022.

Wayne Jenkins

Chairman

Northampton Citizens United

Woodland, NC