Few candidates replying to open-government questionnaire

• Published August 15, 2008

We almost overlooked this item in our mailbox. But it’s worth a look — if you want more open government, or even if you fear it.

The Washington Coalition for Open Government is posting results from its candidate questionnaire for the fall election cycle. The coalition is pushing to require tape-recording of local-government bodies’ executive sessions for future, private review by the courts when allegations of abuse arise. Local governments fought and killed such a proposal last legislative session.

The coalition (which includes news people) has eight agenda items. It also wants limits on the use of attorney-client privilege by state agencies and local governments. This proposal would shield the disclosure of government documents when an actual legal dispute was not pending in the courts, something the coalition contends was a practice until Supreme Court rulings codified a broader interpretation in the Hangartner case.

Click here to see who has returned the questionnaires and what they are saying. It will be obvious right away there is a low percentage of candidates replying.

In the legislative arena, few local lawmakers replied.

In Thurston County’s 22nd district, Republican challenger Don Crawford replied but incumbent Democrat Rep. Sam Hunt did not; neither did Democratic Rep. Brendan Williams, Democratic Sen. Karen Fraser nor Fraser’s Democratic challenger, Erik Lee. In the 20th, incumbent Republican Gary Alexander replied but challengers and seatmates Richard DeBolt and Dan Swecker did not.

Alexander said he supported both the executive-session taping and attorney-client privilege proposals, while Crawford said he favors limits on the use of privilege but opposes the taping proposal.

In the 35th district races west of Olympia, only Democrat Daryl Daugs and Republican Herb Baze turned in questionnaires, according to the coalition. Both Daugs and Baze appear to support a lot of the coalition’s priorities — including the recording of local government agencies’ executive sessions and limits on attorney client privilege.

In the Thurston County commissioner races, only Republican Robin Edmondson replied among seven candidates running for two seats. Edmondson supported the first two positions on executive sessions and attorney-client privilege.

In statewide offices, those replying included state Auditor Brian Sonntag, treasurer candidate Allan J. Martin and two insurance commissioner challengers John Adams and Curtis Fackler, but not incumbent Commissioner Mike Kreidler. Also missing: the top gubernatorial candidates, lieutenant governor candidates, candidates for superintendent of public instruction and candidates for secretary of state, including incumbent Sam Reed, and Attorney General Rob McKenna. However, Independent gubernatorial candidate James White and Democratic AG candidate John Ladenburg did answer.

The deadline for replies was July 31, according to Dyana Oram, who manages the coalition’s web site and publications. As responses come in, they will be posted to the site, she said.