Your Voice Should Always Be Heard

One of the promises I made when I ran for Mayor was to make city government more open, accessible and transparent.

I believe the people we serve should know what their government is doing, why decisions are being made and, just as importantly, have an opportunity to tell their elected officials what they think.

That is why, in January 2023, I supported changing the City of Paducah’s public comment policy.

Before that change, public comments at City Commission meetings were limited to matters already on the meeting agenda. We changed that policy so citizens could speak about a broader range of issues that fall within the responsibility of the City Commission.

There have certainly been times when those comments have made me and my fellow commissioners uncomfortable. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS A REASON TO STOP LISTENING!

Freedom of speech is one of the principles that defines our democracy. The people who elect us have every right to question us, disagree with us, challenge our decisions and make sure we hear their concerns.

Public comment isn’t always convenient, and it certainly isn’t always comfortable. And elected officials aren’t always going to agree with what is said.

But as an elected official we must remember government belongs to the people—not the people sitting behind the desk.

Recently, the issue of public comment came up at a McCracken County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Judge Executive Craig Clymer explained why public comment had been removed from county meetings. His position is that it is more effective for citizens to contact county leaders first so an issue can be reviewed and, when appropriate, placed on a future agenda.

I understand the desire to keep meetings orderly and productive. I also believe elected officials should meet individually with citizens and work to resolve their concerns. However, I don’t believe one should replace the other.

A citizen shouldn’t have to get approval for a concern before being allowed to express it publicly to the people they elected.

Kentucky’s Open Meetings Act protects the public’s right to attend and observe meetings of public agencies. While Kentucky law generally does not require local governments to provide a public-comment period, local governments can choose to provide that opportunity and establish reasonable procedures to keep meetings orderly.

I believe McCracken County should make that choice.

If elected County Judge/Executive, I will work with the County Commissioners to restore a public-comment period at regular Fiscal Court meetings and allow citizens to speak about issues that are important to them and within the scope of county government.

There should, of course, be reasonable rules. The presiding officer or moderator must be able to maintain order by establishing reasonable time limits for individual speakers and manage the total amount of time devoted to public comment so the Court can conduct the business on the agenda.

But within those reasonable boundaries, I want to hear from you—even when we disagree.

That’s the approach we took in Paducah, and it’s the approach I would bring to McCracken County.

Transparency isn’t just posting an agenda or publishing minutes after a meeting. Transparency also means being willing to sit in the room, listen to the people you represent and hear what they have to say.

I strongly believe that is part of public service and it’s an important part of earning as well as keeping the public’s trust.

— George Bray