For a legislator, a well-named award
Wenatchee World: November 20, 2010
The Washington Coalition for Open Government next year will present an award to the member of the state Legislature “who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the cause of open government,” an issue crucial to the public welfare. Conspicuously, the honor will be called the Ballard/Thompson Award, for former Speaker of the House Clyde Ballard and former legislator, chief clerk of the House and newspaper publisher Alan Thompson. No award is better named.
Keep the sunshine on state information
The Olympian: November 6, 2010
When it seems our democracy is becoming a toxic stew of hyper-partisanship, the work of the Washington Coalition for Open Government provides a healthy antidote.
WCOG is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works through the courts and the Legislature to defend and strengthen Washington’s open government laws. What makes it refreshing is that it truly is a coalition, with members who are citizen activists, government officials, and representatives of business, labor, media, law and public policy organizations.
Time for state AG to give public officials more guidance on open-meetings law
The Seattle Times: November 2, 2010
HAVE you ever walked into a room to see your child hide his or her hands behind their back? Innocent action, perhaps, but it sure pings your parent radar.
Members of the public have a similar reaction if they believe the government is conducting some public business in secret — perhaps there's no wrongdoing, but they want to know.
Taking your government for a stroll in the dark
Tri-City Herald: October 25, 2010
The low turnout of government officials (and candidates) for the recent free program on open government in Washington came as no surprise.
Lip service to transparency in government is rarely matched by legislative effort by either the old-timers or the new young guns.
Open government is becoming just one more promise on the election trail that is abruptly forgotten once the ballots are counted.
Then everything is back to normal in Olympia, with senators and representatives voting on bills in near secrecy.
Attorney-client privilege public record exemption debated
Washington Policy Blog: October 20, 2010
One of the most contentious issues members of the state's Sunshine Committee have debated is what to do about the claim of attorney-client privilege used to deny release of public records. Though argued ferociously, some say this exemption from public disclosure was created by the State Supreme Court in its 5-4 Hangartner ruling in 2004.
Valley Medical Commissioner Anthony Hemstad presented Key Award by Washington Coalition for Open Government
Covington Reporter: September 23, 2010
Valley Medical Board Commissioner Anthony Hemstad was presented with the Washington Coalition for Open Government Key Award at its awards breakfast on Sept. 17 at The Conference Center in Seattle.
A release from the organization stated Hemstad was being recognized for “his effort to bring transparency reforms to the governing body of Valley Medical Center.” The release noted Hemstad was elected to the Pubic Hospital District No. 1 board in Nov. 2007 as a reform candidate “on a 10-point platform designed to open the working of the district to taxpayers. Since his election, the district has begun videotaping its meetings and posting its meeting agenda and minutes on the Internet.”
Washington Coalition for Open Government presents key awards to Eric Rachner, Anthony Hemstad, and the Yakima Herald Republic
September 13, 2010
The Washington Coalition for Open Government will present Key Awards to a Kent public official, a Seattle computer security expert and a central Washington newspaper with Key Awards on Sept. 17 in recognition of their work to make government entities in Washington open and accountable to the public.
Washington Coalition for Open Government presents key award to Citizens for a Better Everett
September 13, 2010
Washington Coalition for Open Government will present a Key Award on September 16 to a group of Everett activists who have been encouraging the Everett City Council to establish more open and transparent processes and to increase opportunities for citizen involvement.
Washington citizens must continue fight to keep tabs on government
The Seattle Times: August 5, 2010
CITIZEN vigilance is the linchpin that keeps government open and transparent.
Washington citizens proved this in the early 1970s when they pushed for passage of Initiative 276, which began the modern history of open government legislation in our state. Today we have laws intended to preserve public trust by providing open meetings, access to public records, and public disclosure of campaign and lobbying finances.
Three new members names to Board of Washington Coalition for Open Government
July 28, 2010
The former investigative editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a former Seattle City Clerk and a longtime stalwart of the League of Women Voters have been named to the Board of Directors of the Washington Coalition for Open Government (WCOG), a nonpartisan advocacy group that promotes accountability and transparency within government agencies in the Evergreen State.
Attorney, Seattle Times publisher to receive government-transparency award
The Seattle Times: July 27, 2010
Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen and Spokane attorney Duane Swinton will be honored in September for their contributions to transparency in government.
The nonprofit Washington Coalition for Open Government announced this week that Blethen and his newspaper will receive the James Madison Award for his leadership in fighting for open government on many fronts — including the newspaper's aggressive use of public records, its willingness to challenge government secrecy through litigation and its pioneering use of computer data analysis.
Washington Coalition for Open Government to Honor Frank Blethen, Duane Swinton at Annual Madison/Andersen Awards
July 26, 2010
The Seattle Times and its publisher Frank Blethen, along with attorney Duane Swinton and his law firm, will be honored at a Sept. 17 breakfast for their contributions to transparency in government. The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WCOG) will hold its annual James Madison/James Andersen Awards ceremony, in conjunction with a continuing legal education (CLE) seminar on public meetings and records laws, at The Conference Center, 8 th Ave and Pike St in Seattle.
NFOIC hires full-time executive director
National Freedom of Information Coalition: June 17, 2010
The National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC), a nonpartisan coalition of open government groups and advocates, announced today that it has hired Ken Bunting as its new, full-time executive director. Bunting will oversee all daily operations of the NFOIC, including fundraising, coalition building, and managing the Knight Freedom of Information Fund, a new initiative created by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support FOI litigation. Bunting will officially assume his new role on July 1, 2010.
GUEST FORUM: Insiders, Outsiders vie over access
June 16, 2010
One of our perpetual civic debates in Washington state is powered by the friction between insiders and outsiders over access to the machinery of state and local government.
Insiders are typically elected or appointed officials and their employees, and they include groups that have deep relationships with the government. Most of them work hard, try to do the right thing and are often annoyed when outsiders start prying into their internal affairs.
2010 Leadership Award Winner
State Legislative Leaders Foundation: June 4, 2010
The State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) are proud to announce that Representative Lynn Kessler, Majority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives was recently named the winner of the 2010 William M. Bulger Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award. Now completing her ninth and final term in the Washington House, Kessler has, in addition to her previous post, served as the Minority Leader and the Minority Whip as well as Committee Chair. In her first term, Kessler was named a “Newcomer to Watch” by the Seattle Times.
Jefferson County clerk announces re-election bid
Peninsula Daily News: May 12, 2010
Jefferson County Clerk Ruth Gordon announced her plans to run for a second four-year term during a Monday night county commissioners public outreach meeting at the Brinnon Community Center.
Gordon, 56, said her first goal would be to find space in the Jefferson County Courthouse to better house her office staff, which is now shoehorned into tight quarters, sharing space with Superior Court Judge Craddock Verser's office.
Publicola: April 29, 2010
Yesterday, James Bopp, on behalf of Protect Marriage Washington, and Attorney General Rob McKenna, on behalf of the State of Washington, Washington Families Standing Together and the Washington Coalition for Open Government, argued before the United States Supreme Court over whether the release of names and addresses of referendum signature gatherers is consistent with the First Amendment. I read the complete transcript.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: April 27, 2010
You don't have to wait for the Library of Congress to finish archiving Twitter to find out what your government officials have been tweeting -- or Facebooking or blogging -- about.
Just submit a Freedom of Information request.
Most states, including Washington, have determined that social media activity by government agencies - despite the fact that it takes place on privately owned third-party Web services - does fall under the purview of the state's Public Record Act.
Kessler says she still has work to do
The Daily World: April 26, 2010
Just days after announcing her retirement from the Legislature, House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler received job offers and even a couple pleas for her to reconsider.
But the Democrat from Hoquiam who spent 18 years in the state Legislature says she’s looking forward to retirement. And she is absolutely turning down any offer coming her way to be a lobbyist.
Free Public Forum to Discuss Access to Government Information
March 22, 2010
The Washington Coalition for Open Government will present a special program focusing on Washington’s Public Records and Open Meetings laws from 6:00 to 8:30 PM on Wednesday, April 7 at the Everett Station, 3201 Smith Avenue in Everett.
A panel of expert presenters will fuel the discussion on securing and preserving the public’s legal right to access the records and proceedings of the government agencies created to serve the people of the state. The panelists include: former State Representative Toby Nixon, Assistant Director of Elections Katie Blinn, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, and Ramsey Ramerman, Everett’s Assistant City Attorney. Bob Drewel, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council will moderate the discussion.
Government must be accountable
Sammamish Review: February 23, 2010
I firmly disagree with Tim Larson’s remarks regarding holding City Council retreats at far-away locations.
Why do Sammamish City Council members and staff feel that they can’t speak frankly in front of the citizens who placed them in their positions, and for whom they work? Why is it necessary to leave the city and give reporters and the public “an excuse not to attend,” in order for them to be open and honest about how they really feel about city issues? Is Larson saying that when the council is meeting in their chambers that they and the city staff are giving the citizens of Sammamish less than the full truth, keeping some things hidden, and being “guarded?”
Everett School Board member honored for effort to improve openness
HeraldNet: Februrary 17, 2010
As a mom wanting to see what school officials were saying about her autistic son, Jessica Olson pushed the Everett School District for access to e-mails and other records.
Now, as a newly elected member of the Everett School Board, she is making the case for broadcasting board meetings to promote transparency.
Washington Coalition for Open Government presents Key Awards to the News Tribune of Tacoma and Everett School Board Member, Jessica Olson
February 16, 2010
The Washington Coalition for Open Government has honored a Tacoma newspaper and a newly-elected member of the Everett School Board with Key Awards in recognition of their work to make government entities in Washington open and accountable to the public.
Free Public Forum to Discuss Access to Government Information
January 25, 2010
The Washington Coalition for Open Government will present a special program focusing on Washington’s Public Records and Open Meetings laws from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Wednesday, February 10 at the Heritage Hall, 203 Market Street in Kirkland.
A panel of expert presenters will fuel the discussion on securing and preserving the public’s legal right to access the records and proceedings of the government agencies created to serve the people of the state. The panelists include: former State Representative Toby Nixon, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, Scott Johnson, attorney with the law firm Stokes Lawrence, and Scott St. Clair of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. Carrie Wood, editor of the Kirkland Reporter will moderate the discussion.
