Stuart Commissioners: Do You Really Think It Should Be Secret?
On occasion I will go on the BOCC website and look through the commissioners’ emails.
It is fascinating stuff to see what their constituents and others are interested in writing about to the commissioners. Some are obviously cut and paste campaigns. Others are people asking for help from their elected representatives. A few are by a commissioner asking a county employee for information. Taken together, they paint a picture of what is on the mind of Martin County.
At the City of Stuart, they do not place commissioner emails online. Anyone who is interested in seeing what people are writing to the commission about must make a public records request. Why such secrecy? The clerk’s office will send the information to the requestor, but in the name of transparency, why aren’t they just available for all to see?
The same is true for Don Donaldson, the county administrator, and his emails. It would also be great to see what people are writing to the Stuart city manager to inquire about or inform. With today’s technology, it isn’t much of a burden to have emails placed online for the public’s viewing. So why the hesitation?
Stuart, like Martin County, is a big enough government that it should be mandatory for these public records to be always available. In general, the more sunshine the better. It would go a long way from dispelling conspiracy theories that can rapidly take hold in today’s world.
Commissioners sometimes need to be dragged into the sunshine. Staff may need a push to get that accomplished. At some point, I believe the Florida Legislature will require it, along with video recorded meetings on websites. The public should demand it.
I remember when Stuart had to be dragged into having their meetings recorded and online. Troy McDonald and I were two of the commissioners that pushed it to happen. It may be time for Troy to insist that this next step occur now. Stuart citizens need to know that there is nothing to hide.
The only difference between the county and city is the commitment to openness. Stuart currently lacks that, and all municipalities should embrace it. After reading the BOCC emails I sometimes feel sorry for what those commissioners must endure. Maybe if Stuart put theirs online, I would feel the same measure of sympathy.
