EDITORIAL: Henderson unanimity

Dissent is vital to democracy. It highlights problems that otherwise might go unnoticed and unresolved. It forces the majority to reconsider entrenched positions. Dissent changes minds. When there is no dissent, the masses lose their voice and the government loses touch.

The Henderson City Council is awash in unanimity. As reported Sunday by the Review-Journal’s Eric Hartley, over the past three years, all but 18 of more than 3,000 council votes were unanimous, meaning the body is in complete agreement more than 99 percent of the time.

Council members acknowledged to Mr. Hartley that they work through concerns well before public meetings, talking with staff and each other to build a consensus. That’s another way of saying issues are settled before the council votes.

Nevada’s open meeting law prohibits such “walking quorums” because they keep public business behind closed doors. Henderson residents who show up at council meetings expecting vigorous deliberation are sorely disappointed. Council members’ minds are already made up.

The lack of dissent does more than deprive taxpayers of open government. It discourages council members from challenging the city government culture or each other. It helps explain why council members don’t see a problem with the city’s unsustainable personnel costs, why they were fooled by a shady stadium developer, why they advanced a discussion on an unpopular property tax increase, why they didn’t even read a city policy to discipline employees who talk to the press without management approval, and why Mayor Andy Hafen has six family members on the city’s payroll.

The Henderson council goes along to get along. The council and the public would be better served by a little disagreement.