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When I accepted the position of city manager in Gaithersburg a little over a year ago, I stated from the outset that I subscribed to four tenets of leadership: respect, professionalism, accountability and transparency.

Holding fast to these tenets, I feel I have made tremendous strides in the past 13 months to put this organization in a position to not only weather an unprecedented economic crisis but to do so while continuing to deliver a high level of service.

It is unfortunate that recent media coverage has not focused on accomplishments, but rather has singled out negative issues with misleading headlines and sensationalized, inaccurate information that collectively appear designed to erode my reputation.

Casting Gaithersburg in such a negative light is not only a disservice to me; it is a disservice to all city employees, the vast majority of whom embrace a team philosophy. These dedicated men and women have willingly accepted the sacrifices being asked of them so that our residents can continue to enjoy the services and amenities that make this a great community. The ears of the media only appear to be tuned to those vocal few employees who hold a sense of entitlement to the perks of the past.

I am a firm believer in transparency, and taxpayers do indeed have a right to know what is going on at City Hall. However, that "right to know" should play both ways in balanced media, with taxpayers also having the right to know that because of management decisions and cost-containment efforts by all levels of staff, the city ended fiscal 2009 with a surplus of $500,000, rather than the $3.5 million shortfall that was originally projected.

Taxpayers have a right to know that an exhaustive effort to revise the city's personnel rules and regulations resulted in an organization that is accountable to the community and is run both thoughtfully and equitably in the best interest of its employees.

Taxpayers have a right to know that because of proactive efforts, no significant city services have been slashed, nor have there been any furloughs or cutbacks that would impact the quality of life in Gaithersburg, despite decreasing revenues.

Taxpayers have a right to know that relationships are being forged at every level of government through cooperative and collaborative meetings as I explore new ways to reach our mutual goals and ensure that Gaithersburg gets its fair share of resources.

These stories warrant column inches every bit as much as those that rightfully challenge government practices. An informed citizenry deserves no less.

Angel L. Jones, Gaithersburg