One of the best pieces of advice I can give to people in an elected position is this: make decisions as if every single decision will end up on the front page of a newspaper.
It is good practice. And yes, optics do matter.
In my first Out Loud, I was very, very clear as to how I would manage the editor’s desk. I stated that my loyalty is to the citizen and taxpayer. My loyalty has never been, nor will it ever be, to those in an elected position.
See, I take the role of free press seriously. I believe that the press is the fourth and unofficial check and balance of the government.
It is simply not good practice to trust what people in positions of power do on a day-to-day basis. After all, they control public funds. Would you blindly trust someone with all the money in your bank account and not question them or require that they provide adequate documentation?
This is taxpayer money — your money.
Documentation is key and I plan to make sure that documentation is provided and follow up on it until it is provided.
Instead of settling for the mediocre work of elected officials, we should be demanding excellence. It is time we stop settling and demand what we deserve — what we are worth — excellence.
I know school principals, directors of community organizations and some elected officials who think about every decision that is made like it would end up as front-page news. Just because “this is the way it has always been” mindset has prevailed, doesn’t mean it is OK.
We, at the Town Crier, are a tiny but mighty staff. It is our job to be here for you and we intend to provide everything we can with the resources we have. We love what we do. It is not an easy gig — let’s be honest — but it is an important one because we think citizens and taxpayers deserve excellence.
