RESTON, Va. — A Florida woman whose lawsuit forced county officials to make significant changes in the way they handle public records is the winner of the American Society of News Editors Local Heroes contest.
Suzanne Harris of Miramar Beach is one of three citizens recognized by ASNE in its national contest honoring individuals who fought tirelessly last year to make their state or local public institutions more open and accessible. The announcement of the Local Heroes kicks off Sunshine Week, which began yesterday.
“I hope my winning will show people that you have to hold local government accountable,” said Harris, the president of a local condominium association.
Harris sued Walton County commissioners in October after receiving no response to her e-mail requests for public documents with certain key phrases. As a result of its December settlement with Harris, the commissioners agreed to place the county under court scrutiny to comply with the state’s Public Records Act; hold annual training for public officials and key staff; use only official county e-mail accounts in its transactions; and designate an employee as a records management liaison officer.
Veronica Silkes of Landing, N.J., took the second-place prize in a contest that attracted 48 nominees who represented a broad cross-section of citizens, journalists, lawyers and elected officials. Silkes is the founder of Concerned Active Residents of Mount Arlington, a small citizens group concerned about tax increases and expenditures in Mount Arlington. Silkes and her group gather public documents and share information about borough affairs through the organization’s Web site.
Phil and Ellen Winter, of Waynesboro, Va., were the third-place winners. The Winters became concerned when they noticed that the city failed to deposit their property tax check promptly. The couple gathered more than 100 pages of government documents that showed the city treasurer had allegedly mishandled about $400,000 in city and state taxpayer money. They shared their research with their local newspaper, ultimately resulting in the treasurer's defeat in the fall election.
"We throw around the word hero too often in this country, but these people are real heroes,” said Martin Kaiser, ASNE president and editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “It is unfortunate that too many government officials don't get that they work for and are paid by the citizens of this country. The work of the government must be visible to all. The Sunshine Week heroes are a reminder that the public must be vigilant in promoting open government. Our country and our democracy owe these heroes a great debt of gratitude for their dedication."
Judging the contest were Pete Weitzel, formerly with the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government, and a retired ASNE member; Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Charles Davis, associate professor at the Missouri School of Journalism and executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition; Andy Alexander, ombudsman of The Washington Post and ASNE FOI Committee Co-Chair; and Dorothy Brizill, executive director of DCWatch.
All three winners were nominated by a representative from their local newspaper. Harris will receive an all-expense paid trip in April to Washington, D.C., to be honored at the 2010 ASNE convention. Silkes and the Winters will receive $500 and $250, respectively.
"Freedom of information is often seen as an issue for the media, but these 'Local Heroes' remind us that it is really about citizens,” said Alexander, one of the judges. “Each of the winners fought for transparency that helps ensure government is honest and efficient. They're examples of how the often lonely battles of average citizens can improve our lives."
Silkes, a real estate specialist, credited her group for her recognition. She said she CARMA labor so diligently for no reason other than to hold officials accountable. “It’s nice to be recognized for the hard work we’re doing,” she said.
The Winters, both retired mathematicians who now spend their time volunteering, said they initially did not want to be in the spotlight, but did so to bring attention to the mismanagement in the treasurer’s office.
Sunshine Week, launched in 2005 by ASNE, is held annually to promote dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include hundreds of print, broadcast and online news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know.
The week, March 14-20, is funded primarily by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation of Miami. It also has received major organizational support from the National Freedom of Information Coalition the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio and Television Digital News Association and others who have partnered to ensure that it thrives and grows.
ASNE is a membership organization for leaders of multimedia news organizations and deans and endowed chairs at accredited journalism schools. ASNE focuses on open government and the First Amendment, journalism education, leadership and diversity.
For more information contact ASNE Project Director Cristal Williams Chancellor, cwilliams@asne.org, 703-453-1138.