Gaining Legitimacy
by Otis White

With local power structures breaking down, Otis White examines how commissioners and other public officials can gain "legitimacy" in the eyes of the public.

If there's a question that should give every public official pause, it's this one: "What gives you the right?" Think carefully before you reply.

Pointing to the statute books, to your appointment papers, or even to your election is no answer. Nor is reciting your resume, your knowledge of the community, or the seminars you've attended.

Today government legitimacy (and with it the legitimacy of those who work for government) is up for grabs. That's clear in Washington, where the federal government's role is under attack. But it's also clear at the local level, where matters once thought settled, such as local governments' authority to regulate property to protect the environment, are hotly debated. ...

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