We were happy to see all three of Brookhaven’s mayoralcandidates state their intentions last week to sign a pledge tofollow the state’s open meetings and records laws.

The Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information asked mayoralcandidates in 12 cities, including Brookhaven, to sign the pledge.Incumbent Bill Godbold, Republican John Roberts and IndependentPercy Rauls all indicated they would.

This newspaper has been — and will continue to be — a strongadvocate for open meetings. The people’s business should beconducted in public, and we make every effort to see that itis.

We agree that some issues should be discussed in executivesession, such as personnel and litigation matters, and state lawallows boards to do this. Problems arise when officials don’tfollow the law. Some try to circumvent the open meetings rules bytagging a “personnel” label on any issue they would rather notdiscuss in public.

We hope the taxpayers realize that when this newspaper — or anyother news organization — raises a ruckus over a closed publicmeeting, it is done on your behalf. When reporters are kept out ofa board meeting, you are kept out of a board meeting.

The only glitch we see with the Brookhaven candidates’ responsesto the MCFOI request came from Mayor Godbold, who said he wouldsign the pledge only after it was reviewed by the city attorney atthe next board meeting.

Unfortunately, the board does not meet again until Tuesday, June5, which happens to be election today. If the mayor truly intendsto sign the pledge, we encourage him to do so before theelection.

We also hope the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Informationwill extend the chance to make the same pledge to boards ofaldermen, and that more officials will promise to keep meetingsopen.