11 candidates who promised open government were elected Nov. 2

Voters last week elected 11 candidates who signed FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge prior to the Nov. 2 election.

Pledge signers were sure to win in three races because both choices on the ballot for governor, House District 44 and Senate District 46 had promised to support the public's right to know at every opportunity if elected.

The candidates for local and statewide offices, such as governor, promised that they and the public bodies that they are “elected to govern will comply with not only the letter but also the spirit of Oklahoma’s Open Meeting and Open Records laws.”

Legislative candidates pledged to “support legislation to strengthen the letter and the spirit of Oklahoma’s Open Meeting and Open Records laws.”

Pledge signers elected on Nov. 2 were:

• Governor: Mary Fallin
• Senate Dist. 6: Josh Breechen
• Senate Dist. 8: Roger Ballenger
• Senate Dist. 46: Andrew Rice
• House Dist. 2: John Bennett
• House Dist. 44: Emily Virgin
• House Dist. 72: Seneca Scott
• House Dist. 84: Sally Kern
• House Dist. 85: David Dank
• House Dist. 88: Al McAffrey
• Tulsa County Assessor: Ken Yazel

FOI Oklahoma began the Open Government Pledge in 2008 as part of a national effort to spur public commitments to government transparency from candidates for president down to city council contests.

List of signers for 2010, 2009 and 2008 elections can be found on FOI Oklahoma's website.


Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Media & Strategic Communications