Local Groups Announce ‘Demystify Keys Government’

LORIDA KEYS – Several noted Keys organizations today kicked off the “Demystify Keys Government” (DKG) project. It aims to inform Keys residents, taxpayers, and voters about how and why Monroe County Commissioners spend roughly $700 million annually to operate county government.

Specifically, one hour interviews of each Monroe County Commissioner, questioned by five Monroe County residents, will be videotaped and then released to the public. The interviewers will include representatives from sponsoring organizations. Sponsoring organizations (to date) include Keys Last Stand, Keys Accountability Project, Florida Keys Fishing Guide Association, League of Women Voters, Islamorada Community Alliance.

“We see this project as a necessary step toward greater transparency in county government,” said Chris Massicote, chairman of Keys Last Stand. “Residents and voters are hungry for more information on how our elected leaders run Monroe County and what factors inform their decisions. I expect our County Commissioners will welcome this opportunity to talk openly and frankly with Keys residents.”

The organizers plan a second phase of DKG -- interviews of key county employees including the County Administrator, County Attorney, the director of the Tourist Development Council, and several department heads.

“Voters rarely have the chance to ask in depth or follow up questions of their County Commissioners,” said Sue Jones, president of the League of Women Voters. “Keys residents face several important concerns -- development, traffic, water quality, spending and taxation levels, excess regulation, public safety, tourism – just to name a few. Informed voters make local government better.”

The format of DKG is straightforward: There will be five interviewers, three from among the Keys sponsoring organizations, and two residents from that Commissioner’s district. The session will be videotaped and then distributed, unedited, to a variety of news and social media outlets. Each County Commissioners will be able to schedule their interview at a time and date that fits their busy schedules. Commissioners will have five minutes for an opening statemen and five minutes for a closing statement. Interviewers will have approximately 10 minutes each for their questions.

“The focus at all levels of government today is accountability and accessibility,” said Tom Smith, president of the Keys Fishing Guides Association. “Our effort to demystify county government will allow Commissioners renew their commitment to an open government, and a demonstrate that they are responsive to their constituents. Letters of invitation have been sent to all five Monroe County Commissioners. Members of the DKG will post Commissioner responses on the group’s new website (demysitifykeysgov.com) and on the websites and social media of participating organizations.

Additional Keys organization have expressed an interest in signing on to this effort, and will be announced publicly as they formally join. To suggest questions for the County Commissioners, to view the invitation letter, to join DMCG, or for more information, go to: demystifykeysgov.com