A Guthrie city councilman running for mayor and a fellow incumbent seeking re-election have pledged to support the letter and spirit of Oklahoma's open government laws.
 
By signing FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge, the candidates also promised to "support at every opportunity the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government so that they can efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power."
 
Signing the pledge were Trey Ayers, a Ward 1 incumbent running for mayor; and Gaylord Z. Thomas, a Ward 3 incumbent running for re-election on April 2.
 
The Guthrie City Council consists of seven members. The mayor is elected to two-year terms. The six remaining members represent three wards -- two council members per ward -- and are elected to four-year terms. Four seats on the council are open for election every two years. All elections are non-partisan.
 
FOI Oklahoma began the Open Government Pledge in spring 2008 as part of a national effort to spur public commitments to government transparency from candidates for president down to city council contests.
 
Signers are listed on the FOI Oklahoma website.
 

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