The Farmer Servant Government Transparency Plan
Turn the Cameras Around. Put the People’s Government on the People’s Table.
Government has spent years developing increasingly powerful technology to watch the people. Cameras read license plates. Electronic systems monitor vehicles. Automated systems bill motorists for using roads and turnpikes. Databases allow government agencies to collect, retain, and analyze enormous amounts of information.
If technology can be used to create greater accountability for citizens, then technology can also be used to create greater accountability inside government.
That’s the idea behind Flock the Government.
We’re going to turn the tables.
My goal as Governor is to make Oklahoma one of the most transparent state governments in America by establishing a simple new standard:
If you’re conducting the people’s business, the people should be able to see the people’s business.
FROM “OPEN RECORDS REQUEST” TO “PUBLIC BY DEFAULT”
Our current system too often requires citizens, journalists, watchdog organizations, and taxpayers to figure out what records exist, submit requests for those records, and then wait for government to respond.
I want to reverse that relationship.
Instead of asking citizens:
“Why do you want this record?”
Government should be asking itself:
“Is there a lawful reason we cannot make this public?”
If there isn’t, publish it.
My administration will work toward a Public by Default model in which public records are proactively released through the People’s Table whenever legally and technologically possible.
The ultimate goal is simple:
CLICK AND SEE.
THE PEOPLE’S TABLE
The People’s Table will be the public’s digital window into Oklahoma state government.
Rather than scattering information across agencies, databases, offices, and open‑records requests, we will work toward creating a centralized system where Oklahomans can easily find information about how their government operates.
That can include:
- State spending and expenditures
- Government contracts
- Vendors and contractors
- Agency budgets
- Public meetings
- Meeting agendas and minutes
- Government reports
- Executive orders
- Agency decisions
- Public calendars
- Lobbyist and stakeholder meetings
- Official government communications subject to disclosure
- Publicly available audits and investigations
- Government performance information
- Other records belonging to the people
The People’s Table isn’t about giving people another government website filled with information that’s impossible to understand.
It’s about making government searchable, understandable, and accessible.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS DOESN’T BECOME PRIVATE BECAUSE YOU USED A PRIVATE PHONE
Technology has changed the way government officials communicate. Government business can now take place through email, text messages, messaging applications, social media platforms, and other electronic systems.
My standard will be straightforward:
PUBLIC BUSINESS IS PUBLIC BUSINESS.
An elected official should not be able to evade public‑record requirements simply by conducting government business through a personal device or a different communication platform.
My administration will pursue policies requiring official government communications to be appropriately preserved, retained, and disclosed according to Oklahoma law regardless of the technology used.
That standard will begin with me.
If I conduct public business as Governor through an electronic communication that is legally a public record, I want that record preserved and made accessible to the people.
TURN THE CAMERAS AROUND
We’re going to explore dramatically greater video transparency throughout appropriate areas of Oklahoma government.
Government has cameras everywhere else. Why shouldn’t the people have a window into their own government?
I will pursue expanded recording and livestreaming capabilities in appropriate public and governmental work areas, particularly where major public decisions are being made.
That includes increasing transparency inside the Capitol and around the offices of elected officials.
Oklahomans deserve greater visibility into who is walking into government offices seeking influence over legislation, contracts, regulations, appointments, and taxpayer money.
When lobbyists, contractors, corporations, political organizations, and other powerful interests come to YOUR Capitol to influence YOUR government, the public deserves meaningful transparency.
PUT A CAMERA ON THE GOVERNOR
And I’ll start with myself.
When I’m working as Governor, I want Oklahoma to have unprecedented access to what its Governor is doing.
We will explore providing livestream access to appropriate portions of the Governor’s official workday and greatly expanding public access to my official calendar, meetings, government communications, and decision‑making process.
I don’t believe a Governor should demand transparency from everyone else while hiding behind closed doors himself.
I WILL LIVE UNDER THE STANDARD I ASK OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
The Governor works for the people. The Governor’s Office belongs to the people. And the people’s legitimate public business should be visible to the people.
FOLLOW THE INFLUENCE
Transparency isn’t only about knowing how government spent your money. It’s also about understanding who influenced the decision.
If a major corporation receives a government contract, the people should be able to determine who government officials met with.
If legislation provides substantial benefits to a particular industry, the public should have tools to examine the public record surrounding that decision.
If taxpayer money suddenly starts flowing in a new direction, citizens should have the information necessary to follow that money.
Sunlight makes corruption harder. Transparency makes favoritism harder. And immediate access makes it harder for government to hide information until everyone stops paying attention.
TRANSPARENCY WITHOUT DESTROYING PRIVACY
There is an important distinction between government transparency and government surveillance.
Flock the Government is not about putting innocent citizens under additional surveillance. It’s about making the government itself more accountable.
There are legitimate circumstances where government information cannot immediately be released. Protections must remain for information involving matters such as:
- Children and minors
- Victims of crime
- Medical information
- Constitutionally protected private information
- Certain personnel information
- Active criminal investigations
- Confidential informants
- Cybersecurity and physical security
- Attorney‑client privileged communications
- Information protected by court order
- Other records protected by law
Cameras will not belong in bathrooms, changing areas, or locations where individuals have a legitimate expectation of privacy.
PROTECT THE PEOPLE’S PRIVATE LIVES.
EXPOSE THE PEOPLE’S PUBLIC BUSINESS.
TRANSPARENCY SHOULD BE BUILT INTO GOVERNMENT
True transparency shouldn’t depend entirely on whether someone knows how to file an open‑records request. It should be built into the system.
When a public record is created, our technology should increasingly be designed to determine whether that record can lawfully be released and, when appropriate, make it available through the People’s Table.
That means designing government around transparency from the beginning rather than treating transparency as an inconvenience afterward.
Open‑records laws will remain an essential safeguard. But the long‑term objective is to make many routine requests unnecessary because the information is already available.
The Farmer Servant Transparency Standard
When government watches the people, we’re told it’s about accountability. Fine.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE UNDER ACCOUNTABILITY TOO.
For decades we’ve invested in technology that gives government a better view of the people. Now let’s invest in technology that gives THE PEOPLE A BETTER VIEW OF THEIR GOVERNMENT.
Turn the cameras around.
Open the records.
Show us the contracts.
Show us the spending.
Show us the meetings.
Show us the public communications.
Show us who’s influencing our elected officials.
And let the people see their Governor working for them.
PUBLIC BY DEFAULT.
PRIVATE WHEN REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE LAW AND THE PEOPLE’S RIGHTS.
FLOCK THE GOVERNMENT.
Because government shouldn’t just be able to watch WE THE PEOPLE.
WE THE PEOPLE should be able to watch our government.
Farmer Servant for Governor
It’s a WE thing, not a ME thing.