A former meteorologist for the National Weather Service has promised to uphold the letter and spirit of the state’s Open Meeting and Open Records laws if elected to the Cleveland County Commission in 2014. In signing FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge, Daryl Covey also endorsed "the purpose of Oklahoma’s Open Meeting and Open Records laws to ensure and facilitate the public’s understanding of governmental processes and problems."

He also pledged "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."

Covey recently retired from the National Weather Center in Norman after 38 years as a meteorologist and manager. He is founding chairman of both the Cedar Country Fire Protection District, which provides emergency responses in eastern Cleveland County, and the Cleveland County Rural Water District No. 1, which encompasses the county's unincorporated areas.

Covey is seeking the county commission's District 3 seat, which encompasses western Cleveland County along the South Canadian River from the rural areas south and east of Lexington northward to just south of Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. The election will be in November 2014.

Some 140 candidates have signed the Open Government Pledge since FOI Oklahoma began it in spring 2008. Just over half -- 73 -- have been elected.

The pledge was begun as part of a national effort to spur public commitments to government transparency from candidates for president down to city council contests.

Instructions and a list of signers can be found on FOI Oklahoma’s website.

Founded in 1990, FOI Oklahoma Inc. is a statewide organization actively supporting those organizations and individuals working to open records or provide access to meetings illegally closed. The organization's Board of Directors includes attorneys, educators, elected officials, journalists, librarians and private citizens.

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

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the commentators and do not necessarily represent the position of FOI Oklahoma Inc., its staff, or its board of directors. Differing interpretations of open government law and policy are welcome.