MY PLEDGE TO THE VOTERS - ACCOUNTABILITY - TRANSPARENCY - OVERSIGHT - ETHICS

By George Coulter, Ph.D.

"To foster the improvement of, compliance with and public understanding and use of, public forum law, which deals with people's rights to find out what citizens need to know to be truly self-governing, and to share what they know and believe without fear or loss."

My Pledge to the Voters ~

I promise voters that if elected, whatever else my priorities may be and whatever other challenges may arise, you can count on me for the following commitments to open government and freedom of expression.

• I will be second to none in seeking to know, understand and comply with the laws requiring open meetings of public bodies and citizen access to public records, as well as the First Amendment's guarantees of free expression, especially on matters of public concern.

• If I should err concerning such issues, it will be on the side of transparency in government and liberty of communication.

• When I am told that a governmental meeting must be closed or information withheld, I will demand from staff or legal counsel a clear and public explanation of the law that forbids such openness.

• If the law instead gives public officials discretion to open a meeting or a record, I will demand a convincing and public explanation of why the public interest argues against such access.

• I will advocate, and lead the effort among my peers to enact, a sunshine ordinance or policy that is more accommodating to citizens' desires for public information and involvement in the process of government than is strictly required by state law, especially where that law has unjustifiable loopholes, unforeseen gaps, uncertainties or needless limitations.

With Commitment,

Dr. George Coulter