VOICE aids sheriff in setting up citizens advisory board
[Excerpts]
Since August, nine Oklahoma County residents have served on the sheriff’s first Community Advisory Board to build accountability, transparency and local relationships. The board formed out of collaboration between Sheriff P.D. Taylor, County Commissioner Carrie Blumert and VOICE, a local civic engagement group. Taylor announced his intention to create the board in February [following over a year of negotiations with VOICE and Blumert]. “It’s been nothing but a positive,” Taylor said. “I think it is a great bunch of people. They are in tune with everything. I believe their opinions are valuable.” . . .
Overall, board members believe their contributions are poised to have impact because of their differing perspectives, commitment to open discussions and ability to translate information to their respective communities.
And while the board's responsibilities may be somewhat unclear as the jail management transition progresses, the original intent of the board can still be accomplished, said Sundra Flansburg, a community organizer with VOICE who helped put the board together.
“Things have certainly changed and morphed a lot around the jail these days,” Flansburg said. “But that is part of what a community advisory board can do — be educated and help the public understand what is going on and provide transparency and keep things accountable to the people that have elected the sheriff and to what the jail trust is doing.”
