ONLY ON 3: Barfield reneges on interview; Apparently doesn’t want to answer tough questions

THESE ARE THOUGHTS FROM WWAY NEWS DIRECTOR SCOTT PICKEY…

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – New Hanover County Commission Chairman Jonathan Barfield told us Thursday he would be happy to talk to us today about the drama that’s surrounded his commission this week. But then, he disappeared – just like I predicted to the newsroom yesterday.

We tried to talk to him about it Thursday, but he told us he had too many meetings and was too busy. Ten minutes is all we needed. But he told us he needed to iron his shirt instead.

We know he attended a girder signing ceremony Thursday at which he could have talked with us, but he didn’t.

We were also at Thursday night’s agenda briefing meeting, but he had to run out for a dinner appointment instead of spending those ten minutes with us.

After numerous calls today, he sent us straight to voicemail and seems to be in hiding.

Some might say, “Well Scott, what do you expect, after your story yesterday about him ironing his shirt!”

To that I say Chairman Barfield is an elected official. He sure made plenty of time in his schedule for us when he was running for the job. But now when it’s hitting the fan, it seems he can’t take the heat. I also say when he blows us off, he’s blowing off our viewers, which are his constituency.

And it’s not the first time Barfield has done so. He wouldn’t talk to us after we pointed out that he and other commissioners were getting tax payer allowances for their private cell phones. He wouldn’t talk to us on many other occasions since, saying he was too busy with meetings, dinners, trips or Bible studies.

But he sure doesn’t seem to mind taking softball questions on another TV station or on Curtis Wright’s show.

“Now Scott, you sound jealous and petty,” you’re probably saying right about now. And I can see where you might think that. But I think ignoring the only TV station in town that’s holding these elected officials accountable makes it seem like he either has something to hide, or doesn’t have the fortitude to step up and answer our simple yet tough questions. Perception IS reality. Or maybe he’s just mad at us and refuses to talk with us. That’s his choice. Either way, it’s a shame, because it means Barfield’s side of the story isn’t represented as the commission he chairs seems to be mired in dysfunction and childishness. Even my friend Jason Thompson told us today, this is the worst he’s EVER seen.

Scott Pickey
WWAY News Director