Commissioner Thornton urges Black Caucus to require opt-ins, budget transparency and to address MWBE repeal

Commissioner Thornton used the Black Caucus meeting to press for internal accountability and a more active policy role. Thornton asked staff to send a notice to all Black Caucus commissioners asking them to opt in so the caucus can know who is active and accountable to the public. "I would like to just know how many people are opting into being a part of the caucus," Thornton said.

Thornton also asked about whether the caucus holds elections and requested a budget update, asking "What is the budget that we have, if we've expended any monies, what has been expended?" The chair replied she had asked for the Black Caucus budget three times and had not received it from the administrator.

Turning to policy, Thornton criticized the county's repeal of MWBE reporting and the resulting silence on measures to support Black-owned businesses. "MWBE is repealed. We no longer report data on this issue," Thornton said, adding that without reporting the county risks ongoing underspend on contracts to Black businesses. She urged the caucus to "take a stance to be able to address what we know was an issue that has gone underground and is silent."

The chair said she would work on creating a Black Caucus agenda and seek guidance from county attorneys on possible steps related to MWBE. The transcript does not record a formal vote or an outcome on either the budget request or a directive about MWBE; follow-up was described as a staff task and an item for future agendas.