Press release

Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020

WashCOG recognizes Governor and staffers for promoting access during pandemic

The Washington Coalition for Open Government on Thursday honored Gov. Jay Inslee and two top staff members with the organization’s Key Award for their efforts to keep government information accessible to Washingtonians during the global pandemic and Stay Home, Stay Healthy orders.

Chief of Staff David Postman and Chief Legal Counsel Kathryn Leathers will share the honor because of their efforts seeking input from WCOG and other open government advocates on this important matter.

“We want to recognize and shine a light on the excellent work that was done on the proclamation on the PRA and OPMA,” said WCOG President Toby Nixon. “We very much appreciated the process that was used that included stakeholders and sincerely considered our input. We believe the proclamation did just what was required to adapt to the pandemic while preserving as much as possible the public’s right to know what their government is doing.”

WCOG gives Key Awards throughout the year to organizations and individuals who go to extraordinary lengths to ensure public access to government information and meetings.

WCOG Executive Director Juli Bunting said Key Awards are usually presented at a mutually agreed upon time and place.

“Social distancing and stay at home directives will not allow us to present this to the governor and his staff in person, so WCOG President Toby Nixon was pleased to present it through video-conferencing,” she said.

WashCOG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes transparency at all levels of state and local government.