Hold officials accountable

The Union-Recorder

Fri, May 16 2008

— Every taxpayer and citizen has a right — no, an obligation — to supervise the way our elected officials spend our tax dollars and to hold elected officials accountable for their actions.
Elected officials and the bureaucrats who serve the community have a responsibility to maintain accurate records and make them available to their constituents.
We at The Union-Recorder take our journalistic responsibilities seriously — especially concerning the public’s access to government meetings and records.
Our priority is to act as the community’s gatekeeper to open government. Journalists have no more rights to public meetings or public records than Joe Citizen. But we feel a responsibility to educate both the public and public officials on Georgia and federal laws that help keep governments open and honest.

For the complete story, see the weekend, Aug. 11 edition.