The following editorial was provided by the Colorado Press Association as part of its Open Government 2010 series.
Government transparency and accountability begin at the local level.
You can complain, and perhaps feel powerless, about government activities at the state and federal levels. But you have a greater ownership stake in local government discussions and decisions. You also have a greater ability to influence those actions.
Transparency: It’s mandatory for good government. Closed-door discussions deprive the public of the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.
You elect people to public office to provide leadership and make difficult decisions. But without knowing how officials arrive at their decisions, you may question how and why they reach their conclusions.
Public officials — elected and appointed — enjoy your support if you have confidence in how they govern. Skepticism and criticism replace that confidence if you suspect their decisions won’t serve the best interests of your community.
How can officials maintain your support? By conducting the public’s business in public.
Accountability: That one word describes the importance of open government.
Elected and appointed public officials are accountable to the people they serve. And you are the people they serve. You selected them — whether in municipal, school board, county or special district elections — to serve you.
It doesn’t matter whether they are discussing potholes, public education or public safety, these issues affect you and your community.
You have the right to know how your public officials spend your tax dollars. You have the right to know how they make decisions regarding the health and well being of you, your family, your neighborhood, and your business.
During this year’s election campaign, you have the right to ask candidates their views on open government. They want your vote; you want their opinion.
Ignore the rhetoric, bumper stickers, yard signs, mailed fliers, robo- calls and TV commercials. They’re simply slogans and sound bites. They’re designed to contain little information because the intent is only to increase candidates’ name recognition.
When you meet candidates — any candidates — at a town meeting, a campaign rally, a forum debate, at the mall, at a diner or on the street, tell them you want openness in government.
Tell them you want transparency over secrecy.
Tell them you want to know how they conduct your business.
Tell them you will hold them accountability for their actions.
