Transparency: Not Just a Buzz Word

Last Saturday, I met with Tampa city councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena at her home on Davis Island. A lifelong resident of Tampa, she lives in the house her grandparents built back in the 1930s. She showed me black and white photos of the red-brick home before there were any neighboring properties that was quite humbling.

Having been born and raised in there, her love for the Tampa Bay area was evident. She is passionate about preserving our environment and focusing on issues that are most pressing to Tampa Bay and Florida including green jobs, reclaimed water, education and others.

Inspired by those she sees around town that pull her to the side to ask about what's going on in the city council and to share issues that are important to them, Linda has engaged us to develop an informational site for her constituency. Key elements will be outward bound communications as well as inward bound. People will be able to directly submit their own thoughts on important issues and have them viewed by other users.

This is a politician that gets it. Transparency is not only expected and appreciated by constituents, but can also help accomplish goals and get the power of the people to help push through those incredibly important issues our area faces.