The Daviess County Public Library belongs to all of us. It is meant to be a place of inclusion, learning, and open access — not a platform for politics. That’s why I am deeply concerned about Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen’s recent decision to reject two well-qualified candidates, Aloma Dew and Sagan Storm, for the library board in favor of local attorney Tim Kline.
The Judge-Executive has defended this choice by saying that a lawyer is needed on the board. But the library board is not meant to be a legal body — it is supposed to represent the people of Daviess County. A lawyer is no more representative of the everyday residents who use the library than any other single profession. What truly matters is appointing members who are dedicated to the library’s mission of serving the whole community.
Both Ms. Dew and Ms. Storm are highly qualified individuals whose experience and commitment would have been assets to the board. Passing them over in favor of someone aligned with extreme political and religious views sends a troubling message: that politics is being placed above the community’s best interests.
Our library board should reflect the diversity and values of the people it serves — not the political preferences of a few. I urge the Fiscal Court to reject this appointment and to ensure the library remains what it has always been: a trusted, nonpartisan resource for everyone in Daviess County.
Written by,
Jennifer Cox
