Witt: You want transparency? OK

Sherry “I'm more transparent than you are” Witt just fired a shot across the bow.

Heh.

You'll know what I'm talking about if you've been following the whole fee office mess.

In a press release, the county register of deeds (pictured to the left during her September swearing-in ceremony) said she will now post all her office's monthly financial reports, operating budget and salary suits online right smack here.

I'm not going to sum up what's going on. You can click here for that. But Witt is adamant that she's not turning over her budget – the one that sets staffing levels and wages – to the commission or even county Mayor Tim Burchett.

She even hints that the whole “transparency” issue – a word that politicians just looooove to throw around – is a front for something else.

“If the recent debate about the fee offices really is about transparency, I certainly hope this will help answer some question the public might have,” she said. “If the debate is really about something else, then I'm sure there will be more to come.”

That's nice that she did this. How long has she been in office?

Anyhoo, let's see whether the other five do it. Or at least the other two – Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey and Clerk and Master Howard Hogan – who are not on board with the mayor/commission plan.

Cause, you know, it's all about transparency.