Across the nation high-ranking corruption and well-publicized scandals have made us increasingly cynical and wary of our public institutions. The City of Columbia has not been exempt from this trend and, as a result, the growing movement for additional government transparency has reached a fever pitch.

For some politicians, talk of transparency has been a way to score quick political points through hollow promises and empty gestures. For Steve, government transparency is about living up to that most fundamental commitment: any institution engaged on the public’s behalf must be open to public participation and scrutiny, and people deserve the truth.

As mayor, Steve will enact a series of institutional reforms aimed at accomplishing the following:

•    Encouraging citizen participation
•    Raising public awareness
•    Restoring the people’s trust


Encouraging Citizen Participation

Public engagement enhances government’s effectiveness and improves the quality of its decision-making.
Unfortunately, between the scheduling of city meetings and city elections, the average citizen is being systematically shut out of that decision making process. One example that illustrates this point well is the fact that in recent years, over 40% voters in Columbia don't miss a June primary or November general election, but they fail to cast a city ballot in April.

As mayor, Steve will change that.  He will move city elections to November, which will not only encourage voter participation by bring city elections in line with national and statewide elections, but it will also save taxpayer dollars by removing the expense of running an additional election.

Steve will move city council meetings from Wednesday mornings -- when most citizens cannot attend due to obligations at work or school -- to the evening so the average, hardworking Columbian can engage in his or her government personally.

Finally, as mayor, Steve will use new technologies like email notifications and live streaming video so that anyone can know exactly when City Council is meeting, what is going to be discussed, and can watch in real time.

These reforms, while simple, will make a dramatic difference because as the public becomes more engaged, the city will be forced to become more responsive to their needs. As the city becomes more responsive, more people become engaged.


Raising Public Awareness

As the public becomes more engaged, they become more aware of how every issue discussed in a city council meeting affects their lives. Still, there are some natural stumbling blocks to the full, comprehensive understanding necessary for true transparency. Chief among these is the budget.

The City has made progress this year by posting the budget online. But, unless you happen to be a certified public accountant, you’ll give yourself a migraine trying to decipher it on your own. Even city council doesn’t understand every line.

Some people may not have a problem with that, but Steve does.

As Mayor, Steve will make sure you know how every one of your tax dollars is being spent by producing a “Citizen’s Budget” written in plain English and available to everyone so the public can finally see where all of their money goes.

Let’s get past all the government-speak and make these essential documents not just available but understandable to everyone.


Restoring the People’s Trust

Too often the citizens of Columbia are left with the impression that when it comes to the critical decisions before city council, the deal has been cut behind closed doors, and we as taxpayers are lucky if we ever find out the real story.

Too often decisions like what projects are undertaken, where they are built, and who is hired to administer them, are made out of the public view.

The public’s business must be done in public, and all the interested parties, including the average citizen, should be invited to participate.

As mayor, Steve will end this culture of secrecy.

First, he will bring council out of the back room and into the daylight, abolishing executive session unless required by law. All decisions on all public issues will be arrived at openly and in full public view.

Second, he will commission an independent and public audit of all city transactions to uncover any conflict of interest within our city’s leadership.

The people must be able to trust that their elected officials serve them and are not simply serving themselves. As mayor, Steve will disclose his own finances so the people can scrutinize every business deal involving the City of Columbia to which he has ever been party.

Under Steve's leadership, Columbia City Council will open its doors, drive out the secrets, and engage in open, honest, and accessible government.

Do you have ideas for increasing transparency in Columbia's city government?  Share your suggestions with Steve here.