Nov. 2, 2026 publication
Going “on the record” for the voters…
So, it takes about a minute to film a response, and because of these recent investigative stories - on the closure of the JDC and report on Madison DSS, in particular, which happened without elected and appointed officials informing the public - I thought it’d be good for the voters to have their elected officials “on the record” on their stance for telling you, the public, and us, the media, about both good and problematic issues in press releases to help improve public trust through honesty and transparency.
Particularly since there are fewer and fewer journalists to inform constituents. There has been an 81% decline nationwide since 2002 in the number of local journalists, as seen here on rebuildlocalnews.org.
I had asked a similar question in two recent school board candidate interviews because of these stories.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HCB3FCHtX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DpDVwyGKx/?mibextid=wwXIfr
A Sheriff’s candidate brought it up himself during an interview.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19pLw8pr62/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Being held accountable and honesty and transparency also came up at the “Meet the Candidate” forum with 5 of the 6 county commissioners candidates attending that I moderated back in September and in earlier interviews with Madison County Schools Board Chair candidates.
https://www.facebook.com/share/19qa5JhhbF/?mibextid=wwXIfr
But this is about press releases.
So, I sent out a group text message to both political party chairs and the candidates for school board, county commissioners and the sheriff, asking them the same question:
“Will you do press releases on problematic issues, as well as achievements, if you are elected?
They all had an opportunity to respond with a short video or send me a link to where they’d already answered the question.
Several candidates expressed questions and concerns, but only two others went on the record.
Those who would still like to post their videos for the voters to view, please let me know.
Here are the new ones followed by the three previously recorded interviews we did together.
Thank you for this bipartisan effort to go on the record for voters - Deb Boone, Robin Lyles, AJ Brownstein, John Bratz and Alex Robinson - who sent it in after his wife gave birth to their new baby boy, congratulations!
Original School Board Chair candidates interviews:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LWvgH4fK4/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DzvFGfCGv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
