The law trumps individual in issues of public access

We’d hoped for nothing more than a straightforward, factual story about Mayor Spec Bonner’s Thursday morning plea bargain, no commentary needed. The mayor made sure that would not happen by actions he took at city hall Thursday afternoon when he gathered a crowd to announce he would be resigning.

As people entered city hall for the 3 p.m. announcement, a police officer stationed outside the entrance told The Randolph Leader’s reporter that she was not allowed inside. After police officers ascertained that other media representatives who showed up were not representing The Randolph Leader, those reporters were allowed inside to hear the mayor speak and be given a copy of his written statement.

There’s no need to speculate on the motivation; the action speaks for itself. On the outside chance that another elected official may view this as acceptable behavior in the future, though, it needs to be pointed out that it is not legal behavior.

While members of government are under no obligation to grant an interview, once they conduct a press conference a governmental entity cannot exclude a particular member of the media because someone does not like things that reporter has written or reported. To do so violates the First Amendment and leaves the government entity open to civil action filed under the 14th Amendment. This has been upheld in court cases throughout the country.

With so many local races on the ballot this year and some new faces sure to be serving in elective offices, the winners can take a lesson from the past mistakes of others. By learning what the law requires and what it allows regarding the office they hold, and then following it, they can ensure that representative government works the way it should and that legal problems are avoided.