'Urine samples'? We're going there

We have a standard in this business about avoiding the quote lede.

It’s considered amateurish to start (lede) a news story, column, or blog, with a quote. It ranks right up there with the question lede. Both should be avoided.

Because if there ever was the opportunity for a quote lede, Commissioner Diana Finegan provided it Tuesday.

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The remark was so insane that I went back to the video to make sure I heard it right. 

Sure enough, there it is.

“To me it’s disgusting. It’s like dropping off a urine sample.”

The comment came in reference to a Safe Haven Baby Box at county fire stations proposed by Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach and supported whole-heartedly by everyone in the room not named Diana Finegan.

I’m not claiming to be an expert on baby boxes, but I get the concept. New moms, for whatever reason, can't or won’t keep their newborns. These baby boxes allow a safe, anonymous, penalty-free place for parents to leave their little babies where they’ll be taken care of, given proper medical treatment, and prepared for adoption.

While it’s a little difficult to envision exactly how that works, I trust that the Safe Haven people know what they’re doing.

Diana found much fault with this idea. Liability being one. And, despite assurances it’s all privately funded, she noted that some taxpayer money will be used for upkeep and such.

That’s fair. Her comments, though, were basically off-the-wall variety:

“I think putting a baby in a box is completely unethical.”

“Are we really advertising and advocating putting a baby in a box? A baby is always much safer in the hands of a human being.”

“It’s a very small box, I assume meant for a newborn. What else goes in the box? Toddlers? Animals?”

And comparing a mother’s anguish of leaving her baby in a safe place with “dropping off a urine sample” ...  I mean, where do we even go with that?

Once again, I find myself wondering whether Finegan has her head in the game, or if we should just expect this silliness for her entire term.

I’ve been both complementary and critical of Finegan’s performance in office. For most of her freshman year, she seemed sharp, asked great questions, interacted well with colleagues, and settled in as someone who paid attention to details.

This second year has become a little muddled. Outside of the border resolution and a procedural matter involving the Halls River Road multi-use path project, Diana hasn’t brought much to the table. 

And now this.

I wondered Wednesday morning whether Finegan is becoming a “gotcha” commissioner — the one whose questions are not designed to elicit conversation or clarity. Instead, it’s to point fingers, grandstand, confuse, and bring doubt on issues where there is no doubt.

Like Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

I’ve been doing this for a few decades and can usually figure out a commissioner’s passion by their sophomore year. Schlabach, for example, spearheaded the new animal shelter. Chairman Holly Davis is high on strategic planning. Rebecca Bays wants a handle on our transportation network. Jeff Kinnard is still hoping to expand the county footprint at the Ozello boat ramp.

All four commissioners are zeroed in on the needs of their communities.

I’m not sure what is driving Diana. She gets accolades from the public for asking detailed questions, but surely there’s more to this commissioner than that.

Where is Diana in her district? Homosassa, her hometown, in particular backed her candidacy early because she stood up for quiet zones on the Homosassa River. We've heard very little from Diana about her district other than to complain about the 7-11 going up on U.S. 19.

Makes me wonder. Is Diana attending civic association meetings? Does she have her finger on the community’s pulse? If I asked her right now to name the five biggest issues facing Sugarmill Woods and Homosassa that are specific to those communities, could she?

It’s not too late for Finegan to turn this around and become a strong advocate for District 2 and the entire community. Saying no over and over and over is not leadership. Bizarre comments that have no place in a policy-setting discussion is not leadership.

Let's hope we get there soon.

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