Executive Board (Public Comment – H. Steffens, 5/14/2024)

**Executive Summary**

**The Issue:** This letter to the editor raises concerns about the value and transparency of “The Cultural Survey” conducted in December 2023. The author, Harry Steffens, questions the survey’s findings and the reporting of those findings by Mr. John Scholten, the survey’s conductor.

**Specific Concerns:** Steffens highlights the non-release of the “raw data” despite requests and the alleged unprofessional reporting style. He criticizes the use of harsh language (“Vicious,” “Vindictive,” “Meanspirited”) in describing allegations against Commissioner Melinda Lautner and County Clerk Michelle Crocker, while other officials were not similarly targeted. The author questions the $6500 expenditure for the survey, suggesting the reporting unfairly targeted long-serving elected officials.

**Call to Action:** The author calls upon “The Enterprise” (presumably a local newspaper) to examine the survey and those responsible for it more closely. The letter implies a lack of faith in the survey’s objectivity and a suspicion of biased reporting. The underlying theme is a perceived lack of transparency and fairness in how the survey’s results were presented and the impact this presentation has had on named officials.

**Conclusion:** The letter expresses public dissatisfaction with the survey, raising concerns about its value, reporting methodology, and potential bias. The author suggests the survey and its implementation warrants a deeper, more objective analysis.