MFOIC Challenges Legislative Candidates to Support Open Government
The Maine Freedom of Information Coalition sent a letter to every candidate for the Maine Legislature in 2016 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 strong 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.”
Below is the text of the Open Government Pledge that MFOIC asked the 2016 Legislative Candidates if they were willing to sign, followed by a list of Candidates by district who informed MFOIC that they were willing to sign this Open Government Pledge.
Maine Freedom of Information Coalition Open Government Pledge
“As a candidate for the Maine Legislature in 2016, I endorse the purpose of the Maine Freedom of Access Act 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 uphold and protect the letter and the spirit of the Maine Freedom of Access Act.
I also pledge that I will actively oppose – and not participate in – any meetings to discuss legislative matters where the public is excluded contrary to the letter and spirit of the law.”
If you are not sure of which Senate or House District you reside in, you can check these web sites for more information. These links will take you to Maine government web sites. To return to this list, use your browser’s back button.
http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php
http://legislature.maine.gov/house/townlist.htm
http://legisweb1.mainelegislature.org/wp/senate/senator-information/find-your-senator/
2016 Maine Senate Candidates who signed this pledge, by Senate District:
Senate District 2 Michael Carpenter
Senate District 4 Carole Boothroyd
Senate District 4 Paul Davis
Senate District 6 Rock Alley
Senate District 7 Moira O’Neill
Senate District 10 Dennis Marble
Senate District 11 Jonathan Fulford
Senate District 12 David Miramant
Senate District 13 Christopher Johnson
Senate District 14 Shenna Bellows
Senate District 14 Bryan Cutchen
Senate District 14 Joseph Pietroski
Senate District 15 Henry Dilts
Senate District 16 Henry Beck
Senate District 17 Joanne Dunlap
Senate District 22 Richard Fochtmann
Senate District 23 Eloise Vitelli
Senate District 24 Brownie Carson
Senate District 25 Cathy Breen
Senate District 26 George Diamond
Senate District 27 Seth Baker
Senate District 29 Rebecca Millett
Senate District 29 Martha Macauslan
Senate District 30 Jean-marie Caterina
Senate District 30 Amy Volk
2016 Maine House Candidates who signed this pledge, by House District:
House District 1 Deane Rykerson
House District 3 Lydia Blume
House District 3 Peter Mantell
House District 7 Robert Foley
House District 11 Ryan Fecteau
House District 12 Martin Grohman
House District 12 Matthew Lauzon
House District 14 Donna Bailey
House District 15 Margaret O’Neil
House District 18 Anne-marie Mastraccio
House District 19 Nalbert Tero
House District 21 Heidi Sampson
House District 23 Pamela Smith
House District 29 Theodora Kalikow
House District 30 Kimberly Monaghan
House District 33 Brad Fox
House District 33 Kevin Battle
House District 40 Rachel Talbot-Ross
House District 41 James Azzola
House District 46 Sarah Hall
House District 51 Jay McCreight
House District 52 Bill Weidner
House District 55 Seth Berry
House District 56 Scott Gaiason
House District 58 James Handy
House District 59 Roger Fuller
House District 66 Jessica Fay
House District 69 Walter Riseman
House District 70 Nathan Wadsworth
House District 73 Lloyd Herrick
House District 74 Christina Riley
House District 76 Jill Ducharme
House District 79 John Glowa
House District 82 Kent Ackley
House District 83 Gay Grant
House District 87 Wendy Ross
House District 88 James Torbert
House District 92 John Spear
House District 95 Elinore Goldberg
House District 96 Stanley Zeigler
House District 101 James Davitt
House District 103 Roger Reed
House District 104 David Pearson
House District 108 John Picchiotti
House District 109 Thomas Longstaff
House District 112 Thomas Skolfield
House District 117 Sidney Pew
House District 119 Paul Stearns
House District 121 Robert Duchesne
House District 122 Michelle Dunphy
House District 125 Michael Turcotte
House District 128 Arthur Verow
House District 131 Dorothy Caldwell
House District 132 David Edsall
House District 134 Walter Kumiega
House District 136 Michael Fisher
House District 139 Colleen Morton
House District 139 Will Tuell
House District 142 Lee Ann Betz
House District 143 Stephen Stanley
House District 145 Chris Johansen
House District 146 Rosemary Monahan
House District 149 Ginette Rivard