Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Panel, public forum to tackle government access By Jeff Switzer Herald Writer The public's legal right to know what its government is doing, or already did, is always at risk. Protecting that right is something journalists and open government advocates continue to press for as new legislation and lawsuits erode the laws on the books. A panel discussion and public forum is planned Wednesday to discuss what threatens public access to meetings and public records. "Everyone who cares about what government is doing will learn something at this meeting and contribute to it as well," said Toby Nixon, president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government. Nixon is a Microsoft program manager and a former state representative. In 1972, state law allowed just 10 reasons to withhold public documents, a number that has multiplied to 300 or as high as 500 by some estimates, Nixon said. "That's just a numerical example of how people are losing access to government records," Nixon said. The group is targeting government's misuse of attorney-client privilege as "the most serious problem facing public access in Washington," Nixon said. Too often, it's used as a blanket excuse for withholding information anytime a lawsuit is possible, he said. Elected officials from across Snohomish County are expected at the forum, said Neal Pattison, Herald executive editor and scheduled moderator of the panel discussion. Public access is protected through ongoing education of government officials, he said. Often, good public officials find themselves torn between granting public access and feeling vulnerable to lawsuits by disclosing too much, he said. "The natural pull of any organization is toward privacy and secrecy, and too often that's unnecessary and not beneficial to the public," Pattison said. Other panelists include former Monroe City Councilman Chad Minnick, who has pushed to broadcast council meetings and put city documents online; state archivist Jerry Handfield, a former president of the open government coalition; and Herald reporter Scott North, who used legally protected access to state public documents to investigate cable barrier accidents on I-5 and problems with corroded state Steel Electric ferries. Open government meeting planned The Washington Coalition for Open Government and The Herald newspaper plan a panel discussion on the public's right to access government records and meetings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Monroe-Sky Valley Family YMCA, 14033 Fryelands Blvd., Monroe. More information is available at the Washington Coalition for Open Government, 206-782-0393 or at washingtoncog.org. Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson 2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court 3. Vatican ponders the souls in space 4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish 5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region 6. Student hit in crosswalk to return 7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork 8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide 9. Help for young moms may continue 10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’ 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million