Governor-elect plans Office of Open Government
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NEWS MEDIA UPDATE · FLORIDA · Freedom of Information · Dec. 14, 2006 Governor-elect plans Office of Open Government
Dec. 14, 2006 · Florida Gov.-elect Charlie Crist has announced a plan to create a state Office of Open Government that will work to train public employees on open records and meeting requirements and ensure compliance with those laws. The new office will be under the umbrella of the Executive Office of the Governor, and Crist has named two people to lead the group. Pat Gleason is currently the general counsel in the state attorney general’s office and has been tapped to serve as director of cabinet affairs and special counsel for open government. JoAnn Carrin, director of communications in the attorney general’s office, will become the director of open government. Crist, a Republican and the current attorney general, has been recognized in the past for his open government efforts. In 2005, the Florida First Amendment Foundation awarded him the annual Pete Weitzel Friend of the First Amendment Award for his work for open government. Barbara Petersen, president of the Florida First Amendment Foundation, said she was ecstatic about the announcement and encouraged that Crist would make this such a high priority for his new administration. “This is his first act as a new governor — he hasn’t taken office yet,” she said. “It shows his priorities. I was hoping he would mention open government in his inaugural address.” Details of how the office will implement its goals have not been announced. — NW © 2006 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press · Return to: RCFP Home; News Page |