I favor the concept of home rule.

Home rule is nothing more than allowing localities the right to govern themselves. The best government is that which is closest to the people. The decisions that can be made at that basic level are those which the citizens can influence the most. That is why it is so perplexing when the “Lords of Tallahassee” continuously try to circumvent the Florida constitution to the detriment of their constituents.

But with home rule comes home rule responsibilities. Too often we encounter local commissions and councils that are not following all the rules. This is especially true when it comes to sunshine and public records. The debacle with the arrest of three Martin County Commissioners is an example.

From websites to Facebook pages, there are rules that must be followed. On every website the budget and audited financial statements must be posted. There should be a way to contact the elected office holders listed. It should not be like solving a puzzle to make a public records request or find out information. And those public records or information requests should be handled expeditiously.

When a constituent writes or telephones, his/her query should be returned in as little time as possible. One of the reasons that local government is so important is to make sure that citizens can be heard. Take away the ability to have their grievances and concerns addressed and you take away one of the most important reasons for local government to exist.

The larger the population of a municipality, the more it needs to strive to communicate and do so effectively. Televising and streaming meetings over the internet should be done as a matter of course. Websites should be intuitive to navigate and information easily obtainable. Interactivity and the ability to submit forms and requests online should be simple for citizens to accomplish.

Elected officials need to consult with their constituents on an ongoing basis to solicit their opinions and determine where those citizens think government should be going. Home rule isn’t a one-way street. Good local government means that local officials and their staffs are committed to more than just the slogan of home rule.