MFOIC challenged legislative candidates to support open government
The Maine Freedom of Information Coalition sent a letter to every candidate for the legislature in 2012 seeking a pledge of support for open government.
Fundamental to democracy is freedom of speech, open meetings of government and access to public records. Mainers have a long history of open government with many towns still holding annual town meetings where open debate and discussion are celebrated.
Mainers also recognized that with change and growth, the long traditions of openness needed protection in law and, in 1959; the Legislature enacted a st rong freedom of access law setting forth in its first sentences the high importance Mainers place on open government.
The Legislature finds and declares that public proceedings exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business. It is the intent of the Legislature that their actions be taken openly and that the records of their actions be open to public inspection and their deliberations be conducted openly.
Maine Freedom of Information Coalition
Open Government Pledge
As a candidate for _________, I, ________________, endorse the purpose of Maine’s Open Meetings and Open Records laws to ensure and facilitate the public’s understanding of governmental processes and problems. Therefore, I pledge to support the public policy of the State of Maine that the people have the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government so that they can efficiently and intelligently exercise their political power. Specifically, I pledge to support the strengthening of the letter and the spirit of Maine’s Open Meetings and Open Records laws.
Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement of any candidate by the MFOIC. But, we do very much appreciate the commitment of these candidates to uphold the public’ s right to open government.
Here is the list of candidates that have signed the pledge by Senate District:
Senate District 1 Dawn Hill
Senate District 8 Asher Platts
Senate District 12 Martin Shue
Senate District 13 Dennise D. Whitely
Senate District 14 Leonard P. Greaney
Senate District 14 John Patrick
Senate District 18 Thomas Saviello
Senate District 21 Patrick Flood
Senate District 24 Roger Katz
Senate District 27 Herbert Clark
Senate District 29 Jim Whalen
Senate District 35 Troy Jackson
Here is the list of candidates that have signed the pledge by House District:
House District 10 Steven Stanley
House District 13 Anita Peavey Haskell
House District 18 James W. Parker
House District 21 Arthur C. Verow
House District 24 David Pearson
House District 42 Joe Brooks
House Distrct 44 Jethro Pease
House District 45 Brian Jones
House District 48 Charles B. Kruger
House District 49 Jeffrey Evangelos
House District 63 John J. Bouchard
House District 64 Kimberly Olsen
House District 67 Seth Berry
House District 76 Mark Andre
House District 77 Thomas R.W. Longstaff
House District 79 Sharon Treat
House District 84 Karen Kusiak
House District 87 Clinton Brooks
House District 87 Paul Gilbert
House District 92 Thomas H. Skolfield
House District 93 Matthew Peterson
House District 94 Teresea Hayes
House District 111 Jane P. Pringle
House District 115 Erik Jorgensen
House District 117 Richard R. Farnsworth
House District 121 Kim Monaghan-Derrig
House District 123 Roger A, Bishop
House District 131 Ronald E. Usher
House District 132 Roxanne V. Frenette
House District 133 Barry J. Hobbins
House District 134 Justin Chenette
House District 135 Paulette G. Beaudoin
House District 141 Edward P. Legg