Politicians often "talk around" controversial issues, rather than provide what most people would regard as a "straight answer." The exercise involves politicians answering reporters' questions without really answering them.

Butler County Commissioner Glenn Anderson provided an example of that tactic on Monday as he suggested keeping a longtime-vacant administrative position at Sunnyview Home in place. No doubt some Butler Eagle readers who read the commissioner's comments in Tuesday's edition were left scratching their heads not only about what he was saying, but regarding the logic he was employing.

Anderson said he did not want to eliminate the home's vacant assistant director position - which has been empty for more than a decade and doesn't even have an up-to-date salary attached to it - in case the executive director were to leave and the assistant "would be needed to fill the director's position on an emergency basis."

Anderson didn't express publicly how the nonexistent assistant would fill in for an executive director who resigned or who could not otherwise carry out his responsibilities.

Anderson didn't say how his comment stacks up against the commissioners' denial of all requests for new hirings under the 2005 county budget.

Thus, what Anderson didn't say probably was more significant than the comment he did express.

County taxpayers deserve straight answers and clear comments from the people whom they vote into office. If Anderson wants to fill the assistant director position sometime in the future, he ought to say so.