Residents of Buffalo Township have a right to know who has applied to fill board of supervisor vacancies. And, the news media, whose task it is to inform the public, have a right to such public information at a public meeting.

Therefore, Dan Przybylek, supervisors chairman, ought to rethink his refusal to disclose the names of all who applied to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Supervisor Herb Henry on Jan. 3.

Meanwhile, it's hard to accept Przybylek's explanation that there wasn't enough time to interview candidates for Henry's seat in a meeting open to the public. The supervisors should have made time for that public session as a service to those whom they serve.

There is a 30-day window in which to fill a vacancy before naming a replacement reverts to the county court — adequate time for the scheduling of public interviews.

It's understandable that the supervisors might have been reluctant to conduct interviews in public this time because of unhappiness last year by some of the people who sought appointment to former Supervisor Linda Stover's seat. Those applicants said they felt the interviews should have been conducted privately.

However, a person vying for public office should be comfortable with expressing his or her views publicly before being appointed. And, everyone who vies for public office should be comfortable with having his or her identity known by the constituency he or she is seeking to serve.

The issue of public versus secret in no way reflects upon the qualifications of John Haven, who was selected unanimously by the supervisors to fill the Henry seat. His military and employment experience indicates an ability to handle important functions, and running a township and managing taxpayers' money carries with it much responsibility.

According to Przybylek, Haven was the only candidate on which all of the supervisors could reach a consensus. Still, the public retains the right to know the names of the other five applicants.

It's not too late for that information to be revealed.

If resistance to that disclosure persists, it will be right for township residents to reflect on what other public business might be going on behind closed doors and how that secrecy might ultimately affect them.

Secrecy oftentimes sparks public outrage. In this instance, Buffalo Township residents should be at least very unhappy.

— J.R.K.