A local attorney has promised to comply with the letter and spirit of the state’s Open Meeting and Open Records laws if elected to the Norman City Council Ward 4 seat. In signing FOI Oklahoma’s Open Government Pledge, Bill Hickman 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.”

On his campaign site, the founder of Hickman Law Group promises to "promote transparency and accountability in city government."

He told FOI Oklahoma, "As an attorney that represents public school districts, I am an advocate for transparency by our government and the proper training of our elected officials to ensure compliance with the Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act."

Ward Four covers Robinson Street to Lindsey Street with an east boundary of 12th Avenue West and a west boundary of Berry Road, excluding the area north of Acres Street. It also includes a southwestern ‘leg’ south of Lindsey extending to Imhoff Road stretching between Berry Road and Chautauqua Avenue.

FOI Oklahoma invites all candidates for state, local and legislative seats 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.