Transparency is always best
It was very interesting to read an article last week about an open government symposium held in Douglasville where Douglas County officials met with Jim Zachary, director of the Transparency Project of Georgia and editor of the Valdosta Daily Times, to learn about open records, open meetings, and why government transparency is important for democracy. The Douglas County Sentinel reported that the symposium was a smashing success with approximately 60 people in attendance and even some of the elected officials stated that the training was better than that received by their respective government associations.
I have always questioned what elected officials are taught during training sessions sponsored by their associations. Throughout my many years of reporting on government meetings and getting to know officials I have learned that sometimes these training sessions try to sway elected officials to keep the public in the dark when it comes to matters of “open government”. I have learned that during these training sessions fear is sometimes used to coerce elected officials into keeping a tight lip on the people’s business by saying that they could be micromanaging, or possibly violating some obscure law that really has no impact on open government or their positions. Quite frankly, I hope every local government official realizes that this type of training is inappropriate and remember that it is the people that elected them to office that they work for; not some government association. A good resource for any Georgia elected official is the Official Code of Georgia, especially O.C.G.A. 50-14-(1-6) and 50-18-(70-74).
Fortunately, our local elected officials are doing a good job allowing the public access to public information and public meetings. However, The News-Banner urges all government officials to go out of their way to be transparent any time they’re conducting the people’s business. Transparency is always best.
-Jamie Gardner
Fortunately, our local elected officials are doing a good job allowing the public access to public information and public meetings. However, The News-Banner urges all government officials to go out of their way to be transparent any time they’re conducting the people’s business. Transparency is always best.
-Jamie Gardner
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