Secrecy in Mississippi – Day 6
Many towns have a Bob Bryant, and those that don’t would do well to get one. For the past several years, Bryant has been the open-government advocate for Crenshaw, a Delta city of about 900.”He’s a relentless sort of guy,” said John Howell, publisher of The Panolian, the local newspaper that covers Crenshaw politics. “He’s a real thorn in their side.”
The public at-large could learn a thing or two from Bryant, and about what is and isn’t supposed to be secret in the Magnolia State. The Mississippi Supreme Court has made it clear that all deliberations of government boards are meant to be aired in public unless specifically exempted.
Want to know if someone’s been arrested? If they’re getting married or have filed for divorce? How about how much money your town plans to spend this year on those pesky potholes? Under state law, it shouldn’t be that hard to find out.
MORE:
- A Hattiesburg legislator wants the Legislature to do more to open government to its citizens. He wants to start by giving the public access to state contracts, subcontracts and grants.
- The Clarion-Ledger: The state Public Records law begins with the statement that allowing access to records is Mississippi state policy and that providing access is the duty of public officials, but you wouldn’t know that in many communities around the state.
- College Board operated quietly on USM coast land search.
- RELATED: The Mississippi Senate, without a dissenting vote, passed comprehensive ethics legislation Thursday that would make it easier for a citizen to challenge closed governmental meetings and would put in place regulations governing blind trusts.
- David Hampton: “I admit that I was suspcious when senators started talking about beefing up the Ethics Commission, but this is really a good bill.” AUDIO-ON-DEMAND: David Hampton is interviewed on MPB’s Mississippi Edition.