Here in Polk County, people do tend to get incredibly stupid on occasion, some more than others. When they are in the political arena, especially in public office, it's an embarrassment to all of us who live and work here.

Randy Wilkinson has almost been a constant embarrassment to himself and his constitutents since the time he was first elected to the Polk County School Board, and has just continued it since becoming a County Commissioner. Often, it's just his mouth that gets him into trouble. Now the Lakeland Ledger is reporting the Wilkinson has been showing up at the county's Recovery Operations Center for free meals which are meant for the staff and volunteers who have often put in up to 14 hour days helping Polk County get through the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. He doesn't show up and help, just grabs a free meal and chat with a couple of folks.

HUGE kudos to EMS medical supervisor John Wheeler, who is overseeing the kitchen at the ROC and had the gonads to ask Wilkinson to leave when he popped up in front of everyone in line looking for some eats. If he ain't gonna help, he should STAY THE HELL OUT! The meals are in consideration for the hard efforts these volunteers and county staff have made on behalf of their fellow citizens, putting in long hours away from their own families.

The real sad thing is that...of the five Polk County Commissioners, four seats are up for grabs in this election (one is to fill the unexpired term of a commissioner who died in office earlier this year). Guess whose is not? We have to deal with Randy for two more years. Who knows what adventures we will be dealing with in the meantime from Mr. Wilkinson.