No comment? No way!

what are you doing there?

Yes, we have the Sunshine Law, and in this social media age, many public figures, from the president on down are active on Twitter. Unfortunately, others will often defer to their handlers to craft a response. Most puzzling are the ones who cast votes and make decisions involving public funds, yet can’t be bothered to talk about it.

Most of my reporting has been in the education field, and I’ve always encouraged superintendents, principals, and school board members to be open and available. Thankfully, most of them are. Years ago, I covered a sexual assault that took place in a high school football press box during school hours. My station, and other local news outlets, sent reporters to the school, where Chattanooga Superintendent Harry Reynolds had rushed to the scene to investigate. He was in a closeddoor meeting when we arrived, so we waited outside for a while. When he emerged, we all followed him to his car, asking for any information he could share. We hoped he would tell us steps were being taken to ensure whoever was responsible would be punished, that students were safe, and that classes had resumed. Instead, he briskly walked past us, saying only, “No comment,” as if he was being accused of wrongdoing. That’s what we showed on the news, because it was all we had. His relationship with the media only went downhill from there.

I’ve seen some elected officials, who have served on various boards and commissions, go for years without speaking at their public meetings. They never even asked questions, much less make any comments. Once, I asked a talkative official about a tight-lipped colleague, and was told, “I think he only comes to the meetings because we get a free meal.”

Sometimes, they have good reason to remain quiet. On one occasion, school board members approved a generous bonus for an unpopular superintendent. It passed by one vote, and some audience members were outraged. The next day, I tracked down the board member who had cast the deciding vote, and he told me, on camera, that he was confused when he cast his vote. He had meant to vote the opposite way. Perhaps it does help to ask questions, especially if you are unsure of what you are voting on.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen instances in which elected members of Congress have avoided town hall meetings during recess periods. Not that long ago, this was something we all could count on. Two or three times a year, such town hall meetings were widely publicized and well attended. Now, we get a “no comment.”

Privacy laws often limit what we can be told about personnel issues involving government employees, like police chiefs, school principals, and others who are paid by our tax dollars. The response from higherups is usually, “No comment, it’s a personnel issue.”

Media outlets usually cover such stories anyway, filing freedom of information requests that reveal the answers we wanted in the first place. As voters, your only recourse is to vote out those who use their power irresponsibly. In the long run, they do answer to us, and if they fail to abide by our wishes, we can make our voices heard at the polls.

My wish is for all elected officials to be open, honest, and transparent. After all, if you can’t stand a little heat, why would you agree to work in the kitchen?

David Carroll, a Chattanooga news anchor, is the author of the new book “Volunteer Bama Dawg,” a collection of his best stories, available at ChattanoogaRadioTV.com, or by sending $23 to David Carroll Book, PO Box 15185, Chattanooga, TN 37415. You may contact David at 3dc@epbfi.com