Tribune editorial staff

Elected officials essentially work for us - the public. It's a lesson that, unfortunately, many office-holders seem to forget sometimes.

Last month, we urged members of the Ironton City Council to offer the public time to digest and, ultimately, offer their opinion on persons who were being considered to fill a vacant council seat.

Council members, after much debate, opted to do just the opposite and go behind closed doors to discuss the appointment. Doing so, while certainly within the bounds of the law, did a disservice to the citizens and their right to express their opinion about their government representatives.

The City's Charter simply requires council members to appoint vacant seats. The Ohio Revised Code provides that such discussions can be held behind closed doors, but does not require it.

And, thankfully, at least two of the seven council members seem to have the public's best interest in mind in regard to this matter.

Council Chairman Jim Tordiff and newly elected Councilman Chuck O'Leary have proposed an ordinance requiring the discussion of council appointees to be held in public, rather than a closed, executive session.

As Tordiff said, "If you are not willing or interested in putting your name out there for public debate, then you are probably not the right person in the first place."

We couldn't agree more.

The critical key to a successful government is having it open and accessible to the public. Such public debate is a vital part of our American way of life.

We applaud Tordiff and O'Leary for standing up for the rights of Ironton's citizenry and we urge others on the council to seriously consider the ordinance. Without allowing public debate on such matters, the voice of the people is silenced. And, unfortunately, that voice is silenced during one of the most critical decision-making times for council members - deciding who will help them lead the city.