All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Column: Former city recorder apologizes for vote on anti-discrimination ordinance

Former City of Buckhannon recorder, Colin Reger, at left. Also pictured is former mayor David McCauley. / My Buckhannon file photo by Katie Kuba

Editor’s note: The following column was submitted by former city recorder, Colin Reger, who served in that capacity for the City of Buckhannon from May 2018 to May 2019.

A few years ago, I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I voted against the non-discrimination ordinance that was proposed by Mayor McCauley for the City of Buckhannon, leading to its failure. That night I drove home, sat in my driveway, and cried – my wife as my witness. The faces of several individuals who had assembled in the council chambers, hopeful for equality, appeared in my mind; several of whom I knew and loved personally.

I had betrayed my own conscience, which told me that kindness and compassion are always the right choice. I had betrayed humanity itself, choosing instead to enable those who would practice unkindness against those who had done nothing to merit retaliatory behavior.

I spent a few weeks trying to justify my actions in my mind. I had found some things in the ordinance that I didn’t agree with, including cart blanche authority for the mayor (whoever that may be at any particular time) to investigate and press charges on behalf of the city for any perceived discriminatory actions. I don’t like the government to have more power than it already does, so that became my explanation when people asked why I voted the way I did. But after much consideration, I’m not sure that’s the entire truth – frankly, I know that’s not the entire truth.

The more I reasoned with myself, searching for an answer to explain my decision to vote against my conscience, the more the answer became clear: fear. Fear made my decision for me. And instead of thinking of the fear that historically marginalized people feel on a day-to-day basis, I allowed my own fear and temporal safety to take precedence over millennia of suffering.

I was afraid of what my family would think (they would have supported me no matter what), and I was afraid of local business owners and power-players who had made their opinions of the ordinance quite clear to me (I don’t even associate with them regularly). I feared judgment: that I myself would become marginalized in this community because of a failure to obey the edicts of a far-right ideology. The truth is, I’ve judged myself since that day for voting the way I did. I’m ashamed of myself for giving into smallness and weakness.

Yes, the ordinance had problems, but they weren’t bigger than the problem of excluding an entire segment of society – human beings – flesh and blood with hopes and dreams and hands and hearts. We were dealing with people, made in the image of God and with inherent value, and we failed them.

This is my public confession of wrongdoing. I’m confessing to those who were in support of the ordinance that they were right. I’m confessing to those who were opposed to the ordinance that we were wrong.

Maybe you’re familiar with the situation I’m speaking of, and maybe you aren’t. But either way, please learn this lesson from my error: Regardless of your beliefs, political, religious or otherwise, it is never right to fail to acknowledge the value of human beings in any capacity.

My sincerest apologies to those I have harmed with my lack of courage,

Colin Reger
Former City Recorder


Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

BUHS Sports

B-UHS Hall of Fame committee to induct five individuals and one team on Saturday

Buckhannon-Upshur High School will induct five alumni — Brian Bergstrom, Terry Brake, Lauren Cvechko, Mackenzie Leigh and J.R. Tenney — and the 1958 Buccaneer baseball team into its Athletic Hall of Fame at a Sept. 13 banquet, with introductions during Friday’s halftime.

Late goal lifts Wesleyan women past Cal (Pa.) in a 1-0 victory

Freshman Sydne Alexander’s 87th-minute goal gave West Virginia Wesleyan a 1-0 win over California (Pa.), earning the Lady Bobcats their first victory of the season and goalkeeper Maite Coutinho a clean sheet.

B-UMS X-C teams have strong runs at South Harrison

Buckhannon-Upshur’s cross-country teams ran well at the South Harrison Invitational, with the boys placing second and girls third, led by Felix Stump and Audrey Johnston and heading next to Lewis and Doddridge counties.

Lewis-Upshur shelter seeks grant for isolation room to protect pet moms, kittens and puppies

The Lewis-Upshur Animal Control Facility has county backing to apply for the Rachael Ray “Save Them All” grant to build an isolation space to protect newborn animals, reduce disease spread and boost the shelter’s save rate for cats.

Upshur County man arrested after crashing during high-speed crash

A 24-year-old man was arrested after police say he led officers on a high-speed chase, crashed and was found with an alcoholic drink in the vehicle.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital awarded Silver Medal by American Heart Association for cardiac care excellence

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital earned the American Heart Association’s Silver Medal in the Get With The Guidelines program for coronary artery disease and heart failure in its first year of application, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to cardiac care.

This week’s Hank Ellis All-Stars: Sidney Hollen and Brady Hommema

Sidney Hollen, a senior, scored four goals including a hat trick in wins over Preston and Philip Barbour, while junior Brady Hommema helped two shutouts and scored twice, earning Hank Ellis All-Stars honors.

Soccer Bucs settle for a 1-1 tie with Huskies

Buckhannon-Upshur and North Marion played to a 1-1 Big 10 draw as B-U’s Coby Smith opened the scoring but Cooper Williams tied early in the second half, and the Bucs squandered late chances.

Perry scores in final minute to lift Lady Bucs to a 4-3 home win over North Marion

Kallie Perry’s last-30-seconds goal gave Buckhannon-Upshur a 4-3 Big 10 win over North Marion Tuesday, as Ella Whitehair scored twice, Hayley Triplett added a goal and two assists, and keeper Nottingham made nine saves.