Mercedes Mayor in disbelief over vote to gut the Open Meetings Act

Mercedes Mayor in disbelief over vote to gut the Open Meetings Act: "

The executive director of the Texas Municipal League said Monday that the resolution seeking to lessen jail-time penalties for violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act did pass with 'overwhelming' support at the nonprofit organization’s annual conference.

Frank Sturzl disputed the belief of TML board member Mercedes Mayor Joel Quintanilla and Mercedes City Commissioner Ruben Guajardo that the resolution failed.

'The city officials must be very confused,' Sturzl said Monday.

When you think that governments ought to be run in the dark, that would be confusing to people who think that government is for the benefit of its citizens.

The Corpus Christi Caller Times goes after Rockport Mayor, Todd Pearson, who wants to run Rockport away from public view.

The intent of the law is to stop public officials from handling public business away from the public eye. Citizens have a right to witness the arguments for and against legislation, and to try to influence the process. If city council members e-mail each other or talk privately about city business and come to agreement in that way, citizens are cut out.

Rockport Mayor Todd Pearson claims that officials are “unduly burdened” by the “onerous” criminal penalties in this law. But that burden is intentional. When public officials feel comfortable to the point of not watching what they say, the law gets broken. Public officials have nothing to fear if they follow the law.

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