I guess there’s no way to enforce this, but as comedian James Gregory would say, this really should be a law: If any public official, elected or appointed, refuses to respond to reporters’ questions, or utters the words “No Comment,” then out they go.
I have a long history with the “No Comment” crowd. Back in my 1980s-era “Morning Show” days, my co-host Helen Hardin and I covered many controversial issues. We would invite those in the thick of it: city, county, and state officials, school board members, judges, members of Congress, and others from throughout the viewing area. Most accepted the invitation, fielding our questions as well as unpredictable live phone calls. The All-Stars of that period included Harold Coker, Bobby Wood, John Franklin, Jim Eberle, Paul Clark, Dalton Roberts, Gene Roberts, Marilyn Lloyd and Bill Knowles, to name a few. I could always count on them to show up, and explain their votes and actions.
There were others, who will remain nameless, who used every excuse in the book not to show up, or would simply say, “No comment.” Since then, the office-holders have mostly changed, but there are still some bashful folks making big decisions about how your money is spent. I can’t help but ask: if you don’t want to explain your positions, what are you doing there?
Yes, we have the Sunshine Law, and in this social media age, many public figures are more refreshingly accessible. Unfortunately, others will often defer to their handlers to craft a response. Most puzzling are the ones who cast votes and make decisions involving public funds, yet can’t be bothered to talk about it.
Most of my reporting has been in the education field, and I’ve always encouraged superintendents, principals, and school board members to be open and available. Thankfully, most of them are. Years ago, I covered an alleged sexual assault that took place in a high school football press box during school hours. My station, and other local news outlets, sent reporters to the school, where Superintendent Harry Reynolds had rushed to the scene to investigate. He was in a closed-door meeting when we arrived, so we waited outside for a while. When he emerged, we all followed him to his car, asking for any information he could share. We hoped he would tell us steps were being taken to ensure whoever was responsible would be punished, that students were safe, and that classes had resumed. Instead, he briskly walked past us, saying only, “No comment,” as if he was being accused of wrongdoing. That’s what you saw on the news. His relationship with the media only went downhill from there.
I’ve seen some elected officials, who have served on various boards and commissions, who would seemingly go for years without speaking at their public meetings. Rarely a comment, never a question. Once, I asked a talkative official about a tight-lipped colleague, and was told, “I think he only comes to the meetings because we get a free meal afterward.” Sometimes, they have good reason to remain quiet. On one occasion, school board members approved a generous bonus for their superintendent. It was a close vote, and some in the audience were outraged. The next day, I tracked down the board member who had cast the deciding vote, and he told me, on camera, that he didn’t know what he was voting for. He had intended to vote the other way. I don’t think he ever granted an interview again.
Recently, the Erlanger Hospital Authority Board of Trustees came under fire for a hasty decision which rewarded top hospital managers with big-dollar bonuses. (To be fair, trustees are appointed, not elected, nor do they receive any compensation.) But when they approved $4.7 million in bonuses, including $230,000 to the hospital’s CEO, it raised the ire of State Senator Todd Gardenhire, among others. He questioned the timing of the vote, which took place with little advance notice. He also noted that the hospital had recently received $19 million in federal funding, which he and other elected officials helped secure. He felt such a windfall for top executives was sending the wrong message, and demanded an explanation from the trustees.
Local media outlets covered the story extensively. When reporters attempted to contact trustees for comments, they were largely given the silent treatment. Eventually, the board chairman issued a statement, but that isn’t the same as stepping up, answering the questions people wanted answered. True, they’re not elected officials: but one would hope they would be confident enough in their decision to defend it in a public forum. After all, if you can’t stand a little heat, why would you agree to work in the kitchen?
Used with permission of David Carroll’s ChattanoogaRadioTV.com