Clerks shed light on right to know — expect no less than transparency

The cornerstone of our democracy is founded on the right to know what your government is doing. This week is National Sunshine Week, which is dedicated to the education and awareness of that concept. In Florida, our constitution guarantees the right to information necessary to hold our public officials accountable. An open and transparent government is a responsible government. And, you should expect no less.

As your independently elected Clerk & Comptroller of Palm Beach County, I make the preservation, maintenance and availability of public records a priority of my office. We serve as a gateway to all county, court and official records. As the county’s watchdog, I protect the integrity of all public records to ensure transparency and accountability in the process.

This week, I encourage you to take the time to research the activities of your county government, learn more about your right to information, and take advantage of the online tools and resources available.

On our website, you will find monthly summaries on county investments, yearly financial reports, county debt information, agendas, minutes and videos of Board of County Commission meetings and a database storing the official records of Palm Beach County. You can also peruse court case data and documents. All of this information can be found at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com. It is your right to know!

I reaffirm to you my commitment to protect, preserve and maintain the public records and public funds with integrity and accountability. But, it is up to all of us to keep the sun shining on our government all year long.