An OSU business student has promised to “support legislation to strengthen the letter and the spirit” of Oklahoma’s open government laws if elected to the state House District 5 seat. In signing FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge, Matthew Nowlin 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.”

A Democrat, Nowlin, 33, lives in Monkey Island near Grove. If elected, he would be one semester shy of completing his bachelor’s degree at OSU's School of Business, according to The Pryor Times.

House District 5 includes Delaware and Mayes counties. Republican incumbent Doug Cox is term-limited.

FOI Oklahoma invites all candidates for legislative seats as well as local and statewide offices to sign the pledge. Instructions and lists of signers can be found on FOI Oklahoma’s website. 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.

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, its board of directors or the commentator’s employer. Differing interpretations of open government law and policy are welcome.