After three public meetings discussing the issue without a peep from the public, commenters showed up in droves on Tuesday to oppose the Heber City Council’s drafting of a communications policy.  The concept was first introduced by Councilor Scott Phillips in November as a way for the city to maintain political neutrality, a focus on facts and a separation of the personal and professional in newsletters, surveys and social media posts. Deliberation about the policy has lasted long enough that the agenda item has carried on past the completion of Phillips’ term.  The policy has bred debate among the council about censorship of public officials and what exactly constitutes political speech. On Tuesday, the Wasatch County GOP threw its hat in the ring.  For GOP Chair David Johnson, that hat was wide-brimmed and matched by leather cowboy boots. He led the charge against the communications policy, arguing that placing elected officials behind a buffer of public relations from unelected city staff eroded trust and accountability.  “Authenticity and trust are built through direct and personal engagement. Constituents deserve to hear from the people they voted for, not filtered or branded interpretations,” Johnson said.  He explained that over-reliance on staff can “create a perception of a shadow government,” pointing to “recent news regarding our government” as an example. Johnson was backed by several public commenters. Tracy Taylor from the Wasatch Taxpayers Association provided the Wasatch County School District as an example of what not to do, criticizing the district for hiring a communications director to act as a “buffer” between the school board and citizens. “That extra person buffering? That’s not a representative form of government,” she said. Mike Hewlett echoed that sentiment. Hewlett ran in last year’s Heber City mayoral election on a platform of stripping power from city employees like City Manager Matt Brower. He was eliminated from the race after receiving about 7% of votes in the early primary election. GOP Vice Chair Patty Sprunt said she wanted increased engagement from public officials on social media. She pointed to Kat Cammack, the U.S. representative for Florida’s 3rd congressional district, as an example. Cammack has made a habit of posting on social media after voting on issues. “If you were completely transparent, getting on the day after City Council in a video saying, ‘Here’s why we voted the way we did’ — that gives us peace, knowing you care enough to tell us,” Sprunt said. In the ensuing discussion from the council, Councilor Yvonne Barney pointed out that not all residents use social media, making the city newsletter an ideal place for elected officials to share their opinions.  Councilor Mike Johnston disagreed. “Once we go to a newsletter or the city’s website, and we start trolling each other or responding to each other, I think that’s the absolute wrong place to do it. This is the place we do it. This is the place for public discussion,” Johnston said, gesturing to the council chambers.  One point of agreement for the council was to add a section to the policy discouraging personal jabs — like at Johnston’s hair, as Barney put it. Mayor Heidi Franco took issue with the fact that the policy’s mission was written as “uphold(ing) a clear, consistent and trustworthy public identity by defining a unified organizational voice.” Because elected officials likely won’t be unified on issues, she asked that the guideline only apply to staff. Following the discussion, public commenters returned to the stand and asked that the communications policy be drafted once again. “You’re trying to split hairs here when you’re trying to differentiate how the mayor speaks, when the mayor speaks. The mayor doesn’t need permission to say anything,” Johnson said. “In certain ways, I think the old adage, ‘Keep it simple and stupid’ is really important.” The council voted unanimously to revisit a new draft of the policy in the next council meeting. The post Wasatch County GOP opposes Heber City communications policy appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less