Politics and governing, while intertwined, are not the same thing. Our democratic system demands that neither functions exclusively. Sometimes good governing and good politics get in the way of each other.

That’s the moral of a two-act drama that played out during the Butler County Commissioners’ meeting on Thursday.

[naviga:h3]Curtains up [/naviga:h3]

Act One opened with dozens of people voicing support for District Attorney Richard Goldiner and Sheriff Mike Slupe’s plan to put 16 deputies on the county drug task force. Attorney Tom King, Calvary Baptist Pastor Joel Gray, Butler Schools Acting Superintendent William Pettigrew, CANDLE Inc. founder Norma Norris and others sang out in a chorus of endorsement for the sheriff’s plan, and they presented letters of endorsement from U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly and a bevy of state-level politicians.

“We support you, and we support the sheriff and district attorney,” King told Commissioners Kevin Boozel, Kim Geyer and Chairman Leslie Osche.

The implication of their message was two-fold:

- The commissioners must do whatever is necessary to drive out illegal drugs and drug dealers; and

- The voting, taxpaying public will support the commissioners as they make tough, costly decisions to fight drug dealers.

But there’s another implication that’s less obvious. The unseen dramatic foil here is any reason to oppose putting deputies on the task force; if no reasons to block the plan existed, then why bother with a full-scale charm offensive in the first place?

[naviga:h3]The plot spelled out[/naviga:h3]

Those who govern must weigh the cost. Beefing up the task force is no exception. Boozel, Geyer and Osche also must consider the additional authority being given to Sheriff Slupe and DA Goldinger, and how it might affect the functions and expenses of their office as well as the function and expenses of the county courts and other offices.

Therein lies the answer to the previous question: Act One, the charm offensive, was to assure the commissioners that the people support a redeployment of deputy sheriffs to the task force, whatever the cost.

[naviga:h3]Interlude/intermission[/naviga:h3]

Acknowledging more than 20 Calvary Baptist Academy pupils in attendance, Superintendent Pettigrew gave a foreshadowing of Act Two when he mentioned the commissioners were about to ask residents to pay a new vehicle registration fee. His point was that it’s a privilege to pay a legitimate tax — the kind that makes good governing a reality.

The drama did not proceed exactly as he called it. And, as it turned out, the kids filed out, having to get back to school before the second act began.

[naviga:h3]Act Two[/naviga:h3]

The second act was a polar opposite of Act One: Commissioners reluctantly abandoned a proposal to raise nearly $1 million a year with a new $5 vehicle registration fee, saying the public spoke out strongly against it.

Revenue from the registration fee would have been matched with $2 million from the state. The cash would have been earmarked for highway and bridge repair.

Boozel said he heard from about 170 residents, the majority of whom did not want the fee.

“It was a ‘no’ for them,” he said.

Osche and Geyer, the Republican majority, both voiced regret at voting down the proposal. Osche called it “an unfortunate day for Butler County.” Geyer intimated “political bullying” fanned opposition behind the scenes.

[naviga:h3]Tragically unresolved[/naviga:h3]

All three commissioners lamented that the defeat leaves a problem unsolved — and there’s the knife’s edge difference between politics and governing, which is the moral of this two-act drama, after all.

Politics is the art of persuading voters that your agenda is the best plan to benefit the voters; governing is the practice of implementing an agenda that creates the greatest good, least harm, or both, for the greatest number of people — whether or not they vote, work, pay taxes or contribute to a political party or campaign.

Politics and governing are separate devices, driven by different masters.

Act One, the charm offensive, showed the appearance of a harmonious blend of politics and governing. Act Two, the reluctant rejection, showed governing and politics in conflict; politics ruling the day; and omens pointing to a sequel sometime soon.

Were Osche and Geyer prudent to abandon their support of the registration fee? Should they have been less mindful of public opinion and voted for it?

It’s simple enough to argue either point of view when you don’t have to answer to the taxpayer, the voter or the political party. To quote the immortal playwright William Shakespeare, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”