The following questions were asked by the Denton Record Cronicle of all candicates. These are my responses.
What is your philosophy of government openness? How important is it to democracy in local government?
We are supposed to have a government of the people for the people and by the people.
The only way we the people can effectively oversee our elected officials is if we have access to information about what our officials are doing. “The public deserves to know more about how their elected officials are working on their behalf and how their tax dollars are being spent.” (Senator John Cornyn -- read more)The only way the people can effectively oversee the activities necessary for their government to operate efficiently is if they have access to the details and information about the activities.
I believe in open records and feel that the city employees should respond quickly, openly, and compliantly. The government belongs to the residents. If I am elected I am elected as the representative of the people, as a servant to facilitate their access and ability to be informed.
The spirit and the letter of the open records act should be followed and we should gladly open records to the public so that they can understand what is being done in their name and be able to give meaningful input.
Do you think the attorney-client privilege which permits executive session, or “closed-door meetings,” is interpreted too broadly among governmental bodies in Denton County? Why or why not?
The perception by the people in Corinth that I have spoken to is that executive session is used too broadly. The law specifically states what can be taken into executive session. There needs to be a way to let everyone know what is being discussed in executive session, and a way for the people to verify that is what is taking place.
If our elected officials have created the appearance that they are using executive session to stall the people, to delay dealing with an issue, or just to take up time and hope that people leave so that no one is there to protest their actions or votes on other issues, then they are abusing the authority that was given to them when they were elected.
The test of an open and transparent government is, do the people trust that the decision to go into executive session and what is being discussed in them is appropriately following the spirit and letter of the law.
How open is a government that continuously goes into executive session without even telling the community what they are going in there to discuss? Corinth does this consistently.
Do people feel that this is a government that is accessible to them? If they do not, then I feel that executive session is being used too broadly.
Open records require staff time and resources in order to be of public value. How much is too much to spend on open government?
“An open government is the cornerstone of a free society.” (Attorney General Greg Abbott -- Read More)
We are putting the cart before the horse. People who are against open government always quote the cost and yet never show any evidence that the cost is substantial. This is a hypothetical, straw man argument at this point.
People put their lives on the line every day and many have given their lives to keep our government free and open. Cities and municipalities that do not honor the spirit and letter of our open government laws are disrespecting and dishonoring those who have made this sacrifice.
Therefore, if “Open records require staff time and resources in order to be of public value” then the only time it would be spending too much is if we were not being efficient with our processes to provide the information being requested.
If you conduct city business with personal resources, do you agree that the following would be considered a public record? Answer Yes or No to the following:
Personal cell phone call records – Yes, those calls that can be determined by an independent party as being city business are subject to open records – all else remains private.
Personal text messages – Yes, those texts that can be determined by an independent party as being city business are subject to open records – all else remains private.
Personal e-mail – Yes, those e-mails that can be determined by an independent party as being city business are subject to open records – all else remains private.
Notes exchanged during meetings – Yes, those meetings and notes that can be determined by an independent party as being city business are subject to open records – all else remains private.