SOPCHOPPY, Fla. (WTXL) - Monday, the city of Sopchoppy will vote on a social media policy, similar to one adopted this year by Wakulla County.
The talk around Sopchoppy lately is about something beyond city limits: the do's and don'ts of social media.
Cue Becton Roddenberry, a city councilman who's found himself in the middle of the conversation.
"What you see with me is what you get," he said. "I don't wear two masks. I don't wear a political mask. I don't wear a personal mask. It's me."
Roddenberry said other members of the city council have raised issue with his posts on Facebook, which include shirtless selfies.
"Some posts like that may be misconstrued as looking not professional," he explained. "In fact, I'm still a person. I'm still Becton. I still have to be myself, and I'm not going to change for anybody."
The proposed policy allows employees to post personal information on their social media profiles, but one of the conditions is that those views do not represent the city as a whole.
"Mainly, it's to protect the city from an affiliate, meaning an employee or councilperson's misuse of social media," said mayor Lara Edwards in a phone interview with WTXL Friday.
"It's very pro-free speech. So, I was very pleased with what was drafted," Roddenberry said, adding that social media is relatively new in the world of politics. However, he believes residents want their elected officials to be transparent.
"I work for the people. I don't work for an organization. I don't work for bosses, per se," he said. "My boss is the people, and they're the only ones to answer to."
The city council will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Sopchoppy City Hall.
Roddenberry said he expects a large group to offer public comment on the policy as it goes to a vote.
