Aug 26, 2011 By Timothy Mahoney 2 min read

I would like to thank the Herald-Standard for the editorial “First Step,” which presented a fair and accurate assessment of my initiative to examine the merits of consolidating county school district administrations.

Thank you, particularly, for noting that I have pledged unprecedented transparency to the public in this endeavor — and for vowing to hold me to my word on that promise.  I would not want it any other way, nor should the public expect anything less.

We will soon be able to analyze the results of a study on this issue. Just as I welcome your scrutiny of the transparency of the process, I also welcome your professional scrutiny of these study results. I trust and expect that your newspaper will independently assess these results, and will judge them accordingly.  That is what I would like the public to do, as well.

As your recent editorial noted, student enrollment is down, costs are up, and school district tax increases are either happening or looming on the horizon. With those unsavory circumstances not likely to go away in years to come, I stand with you in saying that no one should prejudge the forthcoming study.

What is important for everyone — and all that I have asked for thus far — is to keep an open mind until we get all the facts. However, this hasn’t stopped a few knee-jerk opponents and naysayers from attempting to twist and contort my words and my intent.

So I will reiterate:  This effort is about letting you, the public, weigh the pros and cons of this idea. It is then about letting you, the public, decide whether you want the change. And finally, it is about letting you, the public, decide whether to put that desire in motion at the ballot box.

I cannot dictate whether a majority of the electorate supports or opposes the idea. Nor would I ever want to.

Timothy Mahoney is the state legislator for the 51st district, which includes parts of Fayette County.