Last week, in D
ata practice: Mayor so not disclosing names of members on secret committee for town's future, Bluestem examined Willmar mayor Frank Yanish's questionable (and possibly illegal) stoicism on giving up the names of his "Secret 8" panel.
The post was based on superlative reporting by the West Central Tribune. On Saturday, the editorial board of the Forum Communications chain paper took him to task in Mayor Yanish is not being open with Willmar about his Secret 8 meetings:
Willmar Mayor Frank Yanish, the business man who campaigned in 2010 on the need for more city government transparency, apparently does not believe that transparency applies to his actions.
Shame on Mayor Yanish.
Yanish last week released a major position paper on city reorganization. In his proposal’s opening paragraph, he specifically credited an eight-person “ad hoc advisory group” for helping him craft his proposal.
The mayor proposed an old idea of a joint human resources department between the city and Willmar Municipal Utilities. He also proposed including Kandiyohi County in the joint HR department, but he had never spoken to anyone at the county before making the proposal.
We commend the mayor for seeking out “effective government,” including government reorganization and/or collaboration.
However, “effective government” also includes open and transparent governance by all public officials, including the mayor. The mayor’s refusal to tell the public who the eight volunteers are on his “ad hoc advisory group” is not being open or transparent. Is the mayor ashamed to have the volunteers’ names revealed to the public? Are the eight volunteers ashamed that they volunteered for the city? Or is this secret group controlling the mayor and his actions? It makes no sense and it simply is not good governance. Frankly, Yanish is just not being forthright with the citizens of Willmar. This is not surprising with this mayor, who appears to be more interested in driving his own political agenda rather than practicing open and transparent governance. . . .
The West Central Tribune has filed a Minnesota Freedom of Information request with Yanish requesting access to all public data concerning his “ad hoc advisory group.” He has not yet responded to this request.
Citizens certainly have cause to wonder just what the mayor and/or his committee members are afraid of or are trying to hide. . . .
Read the entire editorial at the Tribune. As we noted earlier, transparency is neither liberal nor conservative, just an essential part of good government--and civic engagement for citizens.
Photo: Willmar Mayor Frank Yanish.
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