https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2026/06/04/two-tulare-county-supes-walk-out-as-lgbtq-support-organizations-honored/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:20:49 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2026/06/04/two-tulare-county-supes-walk-out-as-lgbtq-support-organizations-honored/#comment-169402 Jim Reeves Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:20:49 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=55303#comment-169402 It was insulting and disappointing to have Townsend and Vander Poel decline to sign the proclamation, then sneak out of the chambers during the presentation. I don't for a minute buy the notion that it was in any way "respectful", and Vander Poel's comments that "Activism and protesting are not strategies I believe in..." are strange, to say the least. He does know what country he's a political leader in, doesn't he? I commend Supervisors Micari, Valero, and Shuklian for doing the right thing. They display leadership and the understanding of the value in recognizing organizations that help thousands of people each year in Tulare County. Three out of five. I suppose it could have been worse. I mean, after all, look at Porterville's City Council. They're only managing one out of five. It was insulting and disappointing to have Townsend and Vander Poel decline to sign the proclamation, then sneak out of the chambers during the presentation. I don’t for a minute buy the notion that it was in any way “respectful”, and Vander Poel’s comments that “Activism and protesting are not strategies I believe in…” are strange, to say the least. He does know what country he’s a political leader in, doesn’t he?
I commend Supervisors Micari, Valero, and Shuklian for doing the right thing. They display leadership and the understanding of the value in recognizing organizations that help thousands of people each year in Tulare County.
Three out of five.
I suppose it could have been worse. I mean, after all, look at Porterville’s City Council. They’re only managing one out of five.

]]> https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2026/06/04/two-tulare-county-supes-walk-out-as-lgbtq-support-organizations-honored/#comment-169399 Sabrina Norton Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:04:50 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=55303#comment-169399 Walking out of a board meeting while in an official capacity is pretty much the definition of a political protest. Especially as they came back after that section was over. Maybe our elected officials need a little help. "A walkout is an abrupt departure from a workplace, meeting, or event, typically staged as a protest or expression of disapproval. It usually refers to employees going on strike or a group of attendees walking out of a conference." - Merriam-Webster Seems a bit hypocritical that Mr. Vander Poel doesn't believe in protesting when he is clearly quite good at it. Walking out of a board meeting while in an official capacity is pretty much the definition of a political protest. Especially as they came back after that section was over.
Maybe our elected officials need a little help.
“A walkout is an abrupt departure from a workplace, meeting, or event, typically staged as a protest or expression of disapproval. It usually refers to employees going on strike or a group of attendees walking out of a conference.” – Merriam-Webster
Seems a bit hypocritical that Mr. Vander Poel doesn’t believe in protesting when he is clearly quite good at it.

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