There’s no law requiring government officials in Florida to post their  official email on the Internet for public access. But when it comes to  Jacksonville City Council members, they’re lagging behind a trend.

Gov. Rick Scott recently made his office’s email available on the Internet as  part of “Project Sunburst.” Scott said he not only wanted to ensure transparency  but ease of access to most Floridians who can’t travel to Tallahassee.

Even the outgoing Jacksonville City Council president, Stephen Joost, posts  all his official email on the Internet. But he’s the only member of the council  to do so.

If council President-elect Bill Bishop has his way, he’s not about to make  his email available to the public through the Internet.

“A, I don’t have to, and B, I don’t think it’s right,” Bishop said. “I think  it’s voyeurism to the Nth degree, and I think it’s the Oprah-ization of society.  I think it’s wrong. … It’s tabloid journalism, it’s the National Enquirer  effect. Everybody’s got to know anything about anybody at any time for any  reason.”

Bishop said he’ll provide copies of his email to anyone who requests them, as  required under the Florida public records law. But he doesn’t want them posted  on an Internet portal that’s either generated at City Hall or at media  outlets.

First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Petersen said Bishop’s attitude  is stunning.

“Putting [government] email correspondence or any correspondence online in  real time is a real boon to public oversight,” Petersen said. “The  Oprah-ization? … We want to know what he’s doing. He’s representing us, we have  a right to know.”

Bishop and other detractors say they worry that sensitive information, such  as email addresses or phone numbers from residents issuing complaints, could be  seen. And staff can fulfill requests for email.

But Petersen said that’s a waste of working hours and wages spent on  employees retrieving requests for email.