In the transition meetings flap, the new Spokane mayor, Mary Verner, was faced with competing concerns: Does she honor the possible expectation among invitees that their identities would not be divulged? Or, does she honor the expectation of voters who listened to her promote the value of transparency and open communication in government?

She made the wrong choice. By week’s end, she had released all but “about five” of the names. In one of those cases, it was because the person didn’t want to be revealed; the others hadn’t been reached by late Friday afternoon.

Verner has called her handling of the situation a “rookie error,” but she clings to the belief that she needs an OK from individual members before disclosing their names. That’s an awkward stance for someone who complained about the lack of communication and openness of the previous administration.

When asked at a Spokesman-Review candidate interview last summer about her philosophy on disclosing public information, she responded:

“My policy direction to the city attorneys would always be to give it to them (press and public) unless you can explain it to me, the mayor, why you would not want to give it to them.”

She also noted that she has been “a big proponent for producing public records.”

Yet, her first instinct in this case was to withhold the names of people who would be advising her on how to proceed in her public role. Eventually the mayor at least made an effort to get the names out, but she still held the public’s interest secondary to that of the insiders who have her ear as she begins to shape public policy.

If Verner wants to assure the public that this was a mere stumble at the starting line, she’ll need to follow through on her campaign statements about open communications. She can also announce that anyone who wants to be involved in public matters should come to the table with no expectations of privacy and secrecy.

To drive home the point, she need only repeat what she told the editorial board last summer:

“I would rather have you delete our communications because you have too much or it is not of interest to you, than for you to have to call the city.”

That’s a policy we wholeheartedly support, but deeds, not words, will determine whether she means it. Changing the culture of communication at City Hall will be a considerable undertaking. That change must begin at the top.