A Payne County commissioner who has pledged to comply with the state’s open government laws was re-elected in the Republican primary runoff Tuesday. Chris Reding retained the commission's District 2 seat by beating Brett Stokes, 299-38, according to unofficial election results.

In signing FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge, Reding promised that he and the county government “will comply with not only the letter but also the spirit of Oklahoma’s Open Meeting and Open Records laws.”

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.”

FOI Oklahoma invites all candidates for local and statewide offices, as well as for 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 Mass Communication Law in Oklahoma

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.