A Laurens County elected official plans to livestream public meetings on her personal Facebook page after fellow board members rejected an official broadcast option.
🔍 Why It Matters: Residents will now have a way to watch their elected officials make decisions about tax dollars and county business in real-time, despite the board’s preference to limit public observation to those who attend in person.
📱 The Situation: District 1 Commissioner Brenda Chain announced she’ll independently broadcast county commission meetings after her proposal for official Facebook livestreaming failed to gain support from other commissioners.
“I didn’t need a vote to go live on Facebook,” Chain said. “I intend to use my personal Facebook account to broadcast all meetings and workshops I attend.”
🧐 Between The Lines: Chain suggests some commissioners prefer limited public scrutiny, noting that only “five regular attendees” typically witness how the board conducts business.
“It is crucial for you to be aware of how your representatives vote,” Chain said, “particularly when their decisions may prioritize personal relationships over the best interests of the majority.”
🏛️ The Board’s Position: Other commissioners expressed concerns about Facebook specifically and didn’t want public comments on their decisions. The county currently posts meeting agendas and minutes on its official website after meetings conclude, which the other board members say fulfills their obligations for transparency.
Chain’s move reflects a growing trend where individual officials use personal platforms to increase government transparency when institutional channels remain limited.
In The Know: While much attention is given to national politics and the workings of Congress and the White House, local government meetings are where the decisions that impact your daily life are made. City Council, County Commission, School Board Meetings, and Town Halls are where your elected leaders discuss and decide the issues that most effect your family and your community. These meetings are open to the public.
Each week, The Georgia Sun highlights some of the meetings and local government actions you need to know about in your community to keep you informed and to make sure you know what decisions your elected officials are considering and how your tax dollars are being spent.
Should Laurens County Livestream Public Meetings
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
