Be Careful When You Air Your Dirty Laundry in Public, You Just Might End Up Showing Your Own Drawers

By Wane A. Hailes

As a child, my mother would tell me things that I just didn’t understand. When that happened, she would always say; “just keep living, you’ll find out”. Truer words were never spoken. The older I get the more I understand and appreciate those pearls of wisdom she imparted on my siblings and me.

It was obvious and unfortunate at the last school board meeting that Muscogee County School Board vice chair Laura McRae didn’t grow up with an Auntie or a “Big Mama” who shared with her the “words of wisdom” I grew up with. If she had she wouldn’t have ended up showing her drawers.

Even if she didn’t have a “Big Mama” one would have thought she might have picked up the Bible over the years. If Ms. McRae has and I am going assume she has (which goes against another of my mother’s pearls of wisdom) she must have missed Proverbs 17:28 which states; "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." That’s the New International Version. The King James Versions reads like this; "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."

Here is the situation: McRae shared her concern about the process taken when determining the list of priorities that were presented to the legislative delegation. The issue surrounded the language that was used in determining how to replace a board member in case of their untimely demise. She felt she did not have the opportunity to provide input as part of the process. nor had the opportunity. 

Here is the problem: The board members voted to approve the language that was presented to the legislative delegation in October of 2023. It was noted that there was an email from September 2023 that was sent to Ms. McRae and other members with the information regarding the language. McRae said she received the email but didn’t read the full attachment until one of her constituents brought it to her attention.

Here is where her drawers were shown: There is no way on God’s green earth would I have admitted in public that as a board member, I voted on an important issue without reading or understanding the facts. The residents of District 5 should be incensed by this. How many other times has she voted without fully understanding the issue? As an elected official it is your responsibility to read the emails and attachments that you are sent.

Here's one pearl of wisdom I’m sure McRae will rely on; I bet she won’t make the same mistake twice!