Fayette Citizens for Open Government (FAYcog) members at their first press conference Dec. 11 said they are determined to make a difference in pushing for local government that is open and transparent.

Fayette County’s newest political action committee (PAC) used the occasion to announce its intention to serve as a watchdog on behalf of citizens, to monitor local government and inform county residents about ongoing issues of importance.

Though FAYcog members said they will monitor the actions of elected bodies throughout the county and advocate for greater transparency and accountability through means such as televising meetings and including them on websites, the group’s initial focus is on the Fayette County Commission.

FAYcog Co-chairman James Wingo said that while not opposed to employees having a benefits plan, the current conversation over a defined benefits program is an example of the county commission’s poor communication with the people of Fayette County.

“They just put the information on the website last week. But they have had the information since October 2007,” Wingo said. “In light of the financial crisis gripping the country, we believe that it is important for all citizens of the county to understand the reasoning behind the proposed defined benefit plan. However, our county government has not effectively communicated their reasoning.”

Co-chairman Harold Bost said FAYcog in the past several weeks had asked county residents about the defined benefits program proposal.

“Only one person out of 100 said they had heard something about it. It looks like the commission is trying to fly under the radar. Others are getting away from defined benefits and its problems, but the county is moving toward it. These guys are smart but I don’t think they’re smarter than the others (with failing defined benefits programs)” Bost said. “It is a ridiculous approach to employee benefits. If they follow through, they’ll be looking to us, the taxpayers, to bail it out.”

Expanding on the purpose for forming FAYcog, Wingo cited a single event that provided the impetus to make the move to incorporate into a watchdog organization.

“The catalyst for the formation of FAYcog was the change in the way the current commission chose to document its activities in public meetings,” Wingo said. “This change, implemented without discussion or vote, had the effect of minimizing the amount of information flowing to the public. It was a wake-up call for many of us that the openness of our government had changed.”

FAYcog’s three overriding goals are to ensure timely, accurate, detailed and complete meeting minutes by every publicly elected or appointed board in Fayette County; to act as a “watchdog” on behalf citizens and to monitor and inform them of issues of importance and to energize and educate Fayette citizens to be involved in all political processes.

Bost said the group has approximately 40 active members along with approximately 40 others that maintain some level of active participation.

Asked what future political role, if any, FAYcog might engage, Wingo said the organization’s participation in local politics could include incumbents and challengers.

“We’re a PAC formed to promote open government, so it’s natural to support candidates that supported open government and committed to open government,” Wingo said. “And we can support candidates already in office.”

Bost also spoke to that issue, noting his individual perspective as a former county commissioner.

“I will not back off even if some people think I’m being political or have political motivations. So be it,” he said resolutely.

And asked what might distinguish their new organization from so many others and form and flower for a few weeks or months then fade away, Bost said he believed FAYcog would demonstrate longevity because, “We have a great nucleus of energized people.”

“We’re establishing a base of commonality with a common goal of open government,” said FAYcog member Peter Lewin, smiling. “We’re very broad-based. We’ll stick around.”

For more information visit www.faycog-pac.org.