GOP candidate for Tulsa County court clerk signs Open Government Pledge

The Republican candidate has pledged to comply with the letter and spirit of Oklahoma’s open government laws if elected as the county’s court clerk. In signing FOI Oklahoma’s Open Government Pledge, Don Newberry also promised “to support at every opportunity” the state’s public policy 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.”

Newberry's Democratic opponent, John R. Andrew, also has signed the pledge. Incumbent Sally Howe Smith, a Republican, is retiring after serving since 1993.

The court clerk maintains all Tulsa County District Court records, provides personnel for judges, keeps statistics on the filing and disposition of all cases, and collects statutory fines, fees and forfeitures.

Newberry  is the title research manager in the Tulsa County Assessor’s Office.

FOI Oklahoma invites all candidates for state, local and legislative seats to sign its Open Government Pledge. Instructions and lists of signers can be found on FOI Oklahoma’s website.

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.