GOP gubernatorial candidates to participate in Sunshine Conference

Republican gubernatorial candidates Sen. Randy Brogdon and Robert Hubbard have agreed to discuss their views on government transparency at FOI Oklahoma Inc.'s third annual Sunshine Week conference.

Oklahoma Sunshine ’10: Privacy, Politicians & the Public’s Need to Know will be held March 13 at The Oklahoman, 9000 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City.

The conference will celebrate FOI Oklahoma Inc.'s 20th anniversary and preview what's ahead for open government in the state.

Experts will discuss the issue of individual privacy versus the public’s need to know. State legislators are considering exempting government employees' dates of birth from the Open Records Act. SB 1753, filed by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, comes on the heels of a state attorney general opinion that those birth dates are presumed open and may be withheld only if officials can demonstrate on a case-by-case basis that disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy that outweighs the public interest. (2009 OK AG 33)

The conference's afternoon session will feature a question-and-answer session with candidates for governor and attorney general. All those candidates were invited last Thursday to participate in the session. Each candidate will be afforded three minutes to initially state his or her position on open government and any proposals regarding government transparency and the state’s open meeting and records laws.

Brogdon of Owasso and Hubbard, a Yukon businessman, are the first to accept the invitation.

The recipients of FOI Oklahoma's three annual FOI awards will be announced during the conference luncheon.

Early registration for the conference must be received by March 10.

Non-members: $30 (Includes lunch and one-year membership in FOI Oklahoma Inc.)

College/High School Students: $15 (Includes lunch and one-year membership in FOI Oklahoma Inc.)

FOI Oklahoma Inc. Members: $10

Additional $5 for registrations received after March 10

Make check or money order payable to FOI Oklahoma.

Mail payment to:
Oklahoma Sunshine '10
Oklahoma Library Association
300 Hardy Drive, Edmond, OK 73013
405–525–5100 • Fax: 405–525–5103
kboies@sbcglobal.net

Purchase Orders, and Visa and MasterCard payments can also be accepted.
Please contact the Oklahoma Library Association.

More information will be posted on the FOI Oklahoma Web site in the coming weeks.


Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Journalism