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Gadflies walk fine line between being pests to officials and civic assets
Gadflies across North Jersey walk fine line between being pests to officials and civic assets
SUNDAY JANUARY 12, 2014, 9:09 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS/STAFF WRITER/THE RECORD
Nearly every town in North Jersey has a handful of residents like him, people who dutifully show up at meetings of local boards. They ask tough questions, they challenge officials’ assumptions and often they are completely unafraid to speak their minds, sometimes even at considerable length. They are more likely to offer criticism than praise.
They think of themselves as informed, civic-minded citizens, self-appointed government watchdogs who keep municipal bodies and school boards in check. Many elected officials have a different view, of course, dismissing them as gadflies, whiners and chronic complainers.
While gadflies are often perceived by elected officials as pests, they serve a real public service, said John Weingart, associate director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. "They’re a constant reminder to any public official that they’re serving the public," Weingart said. "These people are very well-informed about the issues, and substantively useful with shaping decisions. They’re often bringing to the public’s attention some decision that was flawed in some way."
SUNDAY JANUARY 12, 2014, 9:09 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS/STAFF WRITER/THE RECORD
Nearly every town in North Jersey has a handful of residents like him, people who dutifully show up at meetings of local boards. They ask tough questions, they challenge officials’ assumptions and often they are completely unafraid to speak their minds, sometimes even at considerable length. They are more likely to offer criticism than praise.
They think of themselves as informed, civic-minded citizens, self-appointed government watchdogs who keep municipal bodies and school boards in check. Many elected officials have a different view, of course, dismissing them as gadflies, whiners and chronic complainers.
While gadflies are often perceived by elected officials as pests, they serve a real public service, said John Weingart, associate director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. "They’re a constant reminder to any public official that they’re serving the public," Weingart said. "These people are very well-informed about the issues, and substantively useful with shaping decisions. They’re often bringing to the public’s attention some decision that was flawed in some way."
- See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/239795241_Gadflies_across_North_Jersey_walk_fine_line_between_being_pests_to_officials_and_civic_assets.html?page=all#sthash.e4IZ3tZj.dpuf
