For the city fathers
Open, transparent government is best for community
Happy Father’s Day. This one is for the El Dorado city government fathers – and mothers – figuratively and literally. First, thank you for your service. Being an elected official is a tough and often thankless job, but doing the people’s business – much like rearing children – is important work with its own set of rewards.
Since returning temporarily to my old job as managing editor of this newspaper, I have been flooded with visits, phone calls, emails and messages from people concerned about the lack of accountability in city government communications and open meetings. Though I was absent for a time, I’ll own some of that responsibility on behalf of this newspaper which failed to do its job by taking a tougher stance and challenging city leaders regarding Arkansas Freedom of Information Act issues. Those days, by the way, are over. The paper offered editorial comment on June 12 about Mayor Frank Hash conducting city business via email. The practice is legal as long as the media is informed, which requires the mayor or whichever elected official is engaging in email business to include the media in all such correspondence. It also requires every elected official that responds to reply back to all, including the media. The problem with this practice right now is that the media is not being included in all emails. I know because some kind folks have been nice enough to share emails not sent to us.
Other than the blatant disregard for the law – and the apparent thought by some that they are above it – what bothers me the most about all of this is the silence. I recognize the names of many folks on those email threads – the city’s legal counsel, in particular, who should know and advise better – who should have spoken up.
I know it’s hard to call people out, especially when they are your friends and neighbors. Maybe, you have to get along and work together on projects and don’t want to be perceived as being “the one” to rock the boat. Or perhaps, it serves your interests to remain quiet and saddled up with the power structure. It could be ignorance of the law for some; for others, it isn’t.
Whatever the case may be, it isn’t supporting the notion of open and transparent government.
There are a few quotes I’ve kept handy most of my life for inspiration. One is by slain Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Another is by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” The last is from the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:12: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them … .”
The people of El Dorado entrusted elected officials – and those appointed people who’ve also taken oaths – to conduct their business in accordance with the applicable laws. Their vote on election day is a vote of confidence that you will conduct business above board. Please live up to their expectations and serve as an example of what is right and good about government. I know most, if not all, of you feel the calling of public service and are doing these jobs for the right reasons. Please don’t skimp on the details, especially the ones that matter most – like being open and forthright.