Commissioner Bob Main let his personal views stand in the way of contractual agreements with state and federal grant programs and public health. Putting federal grant funds for WIC, the Womens, Infants and Children program so many young and disadvantaged families benefit from at risk, Main objected to a requirement to provide a Spanish speaking public health aide. “This is the US of A”, said Main.

The public health director pointed out that many tuberculosis patients are Spanish speaking and it is critical to the health of the entire community to be able to communicate with these people. Main should be ashamed to let his personal prejudices put the entire county at risk and to jeopardize funding for this valuable program.

Thankfully, Parry and Messerle voiced no such objections and outvoted Main to fund the position.