Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany Parish Faces Questions Over Political Influence and Selective Accountability

St. Tammany Parish, La. — Is Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany Parish still operating as a community watchdog, or has it become a political organization attempting to influence local elections while avoiding the same scrutiny it directs at others?

The organization’s increasingly political Facebook activity is raising questions about its priorities, transparency and involvement in local races.

Concerned Citizens has taken public positions on political candidates and tax proposals, including frequent messaging encouraging residents to vote in favor of a proposed tax.

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There is a significant difference between informing the public and campaigning for a particular outcome. When an organization repeatedly promotes one side of a political issue, residents have every reason to question whether they are receiving objective information or political advocacy.

But the concerns go beyond tax proposals.

Is the Organization Selectively Targeting Candidates?

One TRH News reviewer has raised concerns that Concerned Citizens may possess damaging information about multiple political candidates while choosing to publicize allegations against only certain individuals.

That raises a serious question about the organization’s approach to political accountability.

Is Concerned Citizens exposing wrongdoing wherever it finds it, or selectively releasing information that could influence who wins and loses elections?

A watchdog that investigates everyone but only publicly scrutinizes certain candidates invites questions about its standards and motivations.

The public deserves to know how the organization decides which allegations warrant attention and which do not.

Demanding Transparency While Operating Behind a Group Name

Another issue involves the organization’s criticism of anonymous political commentary.

Concerned Citizens has criticized individuals who publish political opinions without identifying themselves, yet its own Facebook posts do not consistently identify the individual responsible for writing them.

If anonymity is a problem when someone else expresses a political opinion, why should the standard change when the statement comes from Concerned Citizens?

Who is writing these posts? Who approves them? And whose political interests are being represented?

An organization’s name should not automatically shield its individual contributors from the accountability they demand of others.

Are Future Political Ambitions Part of the Picture?

Another question worth asking is whether individuals involved with Concerned Citizens are considering future runs for public office in St. Tammany Parish.

Could the organization’s political activity help establish relationships, build influence or shape public perceptions ahead of future campaigns?

If members have political ambitions of their own, residents have a legitimate interest in understanding how those ambitions intersect with the organization’s public advocacy.

These questions become especially important when an organization regularly comments on candidates, promotes ballot measures and challenges the credibility of others.

Who Appointed Them to Speak for St. Tammany Parish?

Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany Parish is entitled to its opinions. But its name does not make those opinions representative of the parish.

Thousands of residents may disagree with its positions, its political commentary or the way it chooses to engage in local elections.

Calling an organization Concerned Citizens does not automatically make it an impartial watchdog, nor does it give its leadership the authority to speak for an entire community.

The question is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Is this an organization representing concerned citizens, or a collection of self-appointed voices attempting to steer public opinion in St. Tammany Parish?

And if Concerned Citizens intends to continue questioning the credibility, motives and transparency of others, it should expect residents to examine its own political activities with exactly the same level of scrutiny.

Gregory Johnson
Publisher, The Rabbit Hole News