Reveles: We must use our freedom of speech to examine, express ourselves on public policy issues

Roberto Reveles

Roberto Reveles

The following was read at the Nov. 20 meeting of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors:

Mr. chairman:

Congratulations to Dana Lewis and all employees at Pinal County’s Elections Office for ensuring a smooth election and for affirming that this presidential election as the previous one correctly reflected the will of the voters. It’s time to bury the big lie.

I hope we now will turn our focus on the big truth. The big truth that this election tested our public statements proclaiming devotion to truth, transparency and accountability.

And the truth is that the coming four years will test our devotion to the Constitution, to upholding support for equal justice under the law, to the rule of law. And most importantly upholding the Constitution’s First Amendment – that Congress and this Board of Supervisors, “shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.”

As the new presidency, the Congress, and our legislature get underway we must use our freedom of speech to examine and express ourselves on public policy issues affecting Pinal County. All public policy topics considered in this Board of Supervisors are germane.

We are not a fiefdom separate from our federal system of government.

Mass deportation of immigrants, yes germane. Abolition of the Department of Education, yes germane. Appointment of an alleged child sexual abuser as attorney general, yes germane. Appointment of an anti-vaxxer as head of Health and Human Services, yes germane. Germane to the authority and jurisdiction of those who support our federal system connecting governments at all jurisdiction.

Our economy is dependent on immigrants, our education is dependent on federal funding, our judicial system is dependent on equal justice under the law for Presidents, for illegal fentanyl users and for illegal fentanyl importers.

Mr. chairman, now more than ever the public must not be censored at call to the public. Our right to criticize political candidates and public policy proposals is paramount to any officeholder’s sensitivity to criticism. As President Truman frequently put it, if you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen.

The public’s source of information must not become monopolized by any one extremist source.

Call to the public must remain a safe and responsible marketplace for all competing ideas of governance.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.