Mayor Bill Dunaway has unwittingly opened up new possibilities with his venting of outrage about a citizen on the city’s Web site.

Dunaway posted a statement on the Web site blasting Larry Wills for his MDJ columns about the parks bond referendum, TADs and other issues. Willis appeared at last week’s City Council meeting to protest Dunaway’s using the taxpayer-funded Web site for a “personal attack upon a citizen of Marietta.” It was, Wills said, “in violation of the civil rights and liberties of the dissenting party,” and the council should consider censuring Dunaway.

Meanwhile, Dunaway’s statement was removed from the main page but kept on the mayor’s page of the Web site where interested citizens can read it. If anyone wants to reply, it can be done by selecting “Contact Us,” which links to email to Dunaway.

Council members upset by the mayor’s e-diatribe are going to consider creating a policy about what should be on the city’s Web site, according to Councilman Grif Chalfant. This is where the new possibilities come in.

Instead of just muzzling the mayor, why not set up a blog or blogs on the city’s Web site to enable citizens to communicate directly and freely with their elected officials?

Let the people have their say.

Let the blogging begin!