Opinion 3
“Too often, people who deal with the public’s money and do the public’s business view the state’s excellent Sunshine Law as, at best, a hindrance. It’s not. In fact, it is a good thing for those very folks, because it builds credibility. When everything is done “in the Sunshine,” there is far less suspicion, far less cynicism and far more buy-in from the voters.â€
Wiser words could not have been uttered about the foundation for open government in Florida than these words by Dick Schneider, Editor of the Pensacola News Journal. One hopes that they will be repeated in print when the Pensacola News Journal takes a position on the looming referendum question whether Pensacola voters should adopt a strong mayor charter.
What better way to concentrate power in a strong mayor than to purposely evade public oversight by making the Mayor exempt from the Sunshine Law. Perhaps power is more important to strong mayor proponents than is credibility. They say they are for accountability. Accountability behind closed doors?
What better way for a newspaper to champion openness in government than to shed light on and denounce those who push for a strong mayor government.
John Fleming
Deconstruction:
I agree with Fleming on the importance of the Sunshine Law. I have been a big champion of openness in governance. However, what Fleming fails to add is that the city manager, city attorney and the entire city staff meet behind closed doors every day. Last week, Mayor Wiggins met with City Manager Al Coby to discuss the CMP bonds. The meeting was behind closed doors. You and I don’t know what they discussed. The meeting let them work out details for the upcoming meeting.
Al Coby and Mayor Wiggins didn’t violate the Sunshine Law at that meeting because Al Coby isn’t a member of the City Council. Under the new charter, the Mayor will not be a member of the City Council. He can meet with staff and council without violating the Sunshine Law.
The fact that Mr. Fleming operated in city government behind closed doors for nearly 30 years, yet doesn’t want an independent mayor to have the same freedom is more than a little disingenuous. If open government is truly his goal, then why didn’t he, while he was the city attorney and assistant city attorney, insist all staff meetings be open to the public and the press?