Richland County, SC — Warren Bolton’s Dec. 7 column on Home Rule had some valid points, but I strongly disagree with his assertion that purely ministerial offices should be appointed rather than elected.

Can we say “cronyism”? We see how well that works with the appointed elections director in Richland County.

I think he underestimates the importance of these jobs to have 15-20 people choose them instead of the total electorate.

We know how these choices would be made: through the good-ol’-boy system, with little regard to qualifications and strong regard to “I’ll vote for your guy if you vote for my cousin’s wife.”

Leave it alone; let the people decide.

Ron Cunningham

Cayce