Let the sun shine in

Sunshine matters and makes life better for all of us.
You’ll get no argument for that concept in the farming heartland of Hamilton County and indeed throughout Nebraska, but this week that reference applies to shining the light of truth and openness on a broader scale.
It’s Sunshine Week in America, a national initiative created by the American Society of News Editors to educate all of us about the importance of open government and how dangerous excessive and unnecessary secrecy from our leaders can be. It serves as a reminder that government agencies should be accessible and accountable to their constituents, inviting public input and participation at every turn.
Here at home in Hamilton County we typically trust our local leaders to conduct their business openly and honestly on our behalf, with complete transparency in mind. For the most part we believe that’s the case, though on occasion they face uncomfortable or controversial issues where, truth be told, some elected officials would prefer their conversations be conducted behind closed doors, where the public can’t listen in.
Complicating the concept of open government is an alarming spread of “news deserts,” areas across the nation where not a single news outlet exists. Even here at home, the Nebraska Press Association reports that changes in how society gets its news and information have left nine counties without a single weekly newspaper of record. Still other news outlets, particularly large, chain-owned organizations, have slashed news staffs drastically, making local coverage of government bodies and courts inconsistent and often shallow. That threatens to dim the light of democracy at a time when trust in both government and media has taken a massive hit.
This is an election year, with several issues dialed up to be on the local ballot which deserve extra attention. The News-Register remains committed to introducing candidates for local office, while also asking detailed questions about issues including sales tax proposals in both Aurora and Giltner, as well a bond issue to be decided by Giltner Public School patrons. That’s the role of the local press, and without your hometown newspaper those questions might never be asked or answered in public.
In the bigger picture, this is when transparency matters the most. Citizens not only want and deserve to know the thinking and dialogue behind decisions made by county commissioners, city council members, school and village board members, it’s required by the letter and spirit of the law.
Sunshine, in all its forms, not only brightens our spirits and nourishes our crops and gardens, it strengthens our democracy and trust in government.
Kurt Johnson