In Orange Beach, citizen advisory committees have become central to City Hall's workings | al.com

In Orange Beach, citizen advisory committees have become central to City Hall's workings | al.com: "ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- In the winter of 2008, Mayor Tony Kennon, following up on a campaign promise to involve more residents in city decisions, assembled seven groups of citizens to oversee municipal functions from financial planning to Fire Department operations.

'Everybody thought I had lost my mind,' Kennon said in an interview. 'Because what happens is you're inviting criticism on a regular basis.'"