A personal story: Taking a stand for a cause he believes in

For Paul Williams, the ballot issue to finance the jail remodeling as well as numerous mental health initiatives, including a crisis center, has taken him out of his comfort zone.

Admittedly, Williams has an aversion to conflict. He’s also not been one to engage in political debate. Until now. “I’ve never been a political kind of guy,” Williams said. “I try to avoid it like the plague. But this issue forced me in.” This issue hits close to home for Williams. For multiple reasons.

Williams is the IT manager at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, where he has worked for the past 19 years. He was the recipient of the Sandra Shaw Spirit Award in 2017, the highest honor given to a Bert Nash staff member. The Bert Nash Center is one of the health leadership agencies that has collaborated to educate the public about the ballot issue.

Williams first heard about the idea of a crisis center several years ago when the Bert Nash Center purchased the old VFW property. The property, which is adjacent to the Center, is the location for the proposed crisis center.

The first time Williams heard about a plan to expand the jail was when he was in church and a representative of Justice Matters spoke to the congregation about the issue. The organization is one of the groups opposed to the ballot issue.

Williams was caught off guard by the level of opposition.

“It has surprised me how much energy has gone into opposing the jail expansion,” Williams said.

Williams followed the issue from a distance before deciding to voice his support of the ballot issue on Facebook. He was determined to counter what he saw as inaccurate information that was being shared through social media. He was particularly disturbed by the angry tone behind some of messages that were in opposition of the ballot issue.

“It seemed like there was a lot of anger behind their posts,” Williams said. “My concern was the way they were treating people online. That doesn’t agree with my belief system. I’m a preacher’s kid, and for me, that’s not what Christianity is supposed to look like. When you reach out in anger, you’re not going to get the results you want. I don’t want to be part of that anger.”

Williams is willing to speak out on this issue and engage people who hold different viewpoints, even though it is out of his comfort zone, because this is an issue he feels strongly about.

“I’m sure I’ve lost friends over this issue, but I’ve tried to take the high road,” Williams said. “Others are willing to gamble with the safety of staff at the jail, with the safety of people at the jail, and that’s upsetting. They’re not denying the need for a crisis center, but they’re willing to gamble with it. They’re not denying the conditions at the jail, but they’re willing to gamble with it. I care about the people at Bert Nash, I care for the people at my church, I care about the people who are in jail. This issue isn’t going to go away, and I’m not willing to gamble the crisis center, or with the safety of staff at the jail, or the safety of people in jail, to prove a point."