Aug 19, 2005 2 min read

Since I will be running for state Legislature for the 51st District in May 2006, I’ll be happy to lead the charge for change and leadership. I’d first like to comment upon open records, the recent pay increase, and fiscal accountability. The salary increase has incensed everyone and all legislators need to be held accountable. More importantly, however, we need to be looking closely at the legislative leadership. Clearly this leadership must believe we are all na?ve. They are not leading, but passing out retribution for those who do not follow orders.

When the Legislature puts the budget together, how can we count on them to be wise with our monies, when they are not willing to be fiscally responsible themselves? Instead they have punished those who have tried to be responsible.

What kind of leadership cuts costs by cutting programs and then increases the overall budget to help cover the cost of their salary increases and unvouchered expenses?

There is indeed a contradiction when leadership wants to cap school boards but not themselves. Leadership is saying, “Do as I say – not as I do.” Why does the leadership get to play by a different set of rules and standards than their constituents? When putting a budget together, it is not what you have that counts, but what you do with it. Clearly you do not give underachievers a raise.

We have a right to know, and a need to know, what government does with our money, line by line, account by account. We must have the information they do not want us to have in order to hold leadership accountable. As the saying goes, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Open records and transparency in government is a must, an absolutely necessary part of any effective, open, and free democratic process. Transparency in government is key to the process itself, and any elected official who believes transparency, accountability, and responsibility to its constituents and our money unnecessary, for any reason, does not belong in office.

Good leadership stems from leadership by example. Those elected to office must serve the people who elected them. Government should be the will of the people, by the people, for the people, not the will of the leadership, for the leadership, by the leadership.

Gary Gearing, candidate for 51st District state representative

Uniontown