Rep. Bobby L. Cleveland has promised “to support legislation to strengthen the letter and the spirit” of Oklahoma’s open government laws if re-elected to the House District 20 seat. In signing FOI Oklahoma’s Open Government Pledge for legislative candidates, the Republican from Slaughterville 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.”

In 2015, Cleveland won FOI Oklahoma's  Sunshine Award, which goes to a state agency or public official that has shown a commitment to freedom of information.

Cleveland was recognized for his legislation forcing the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association to comply with the state Open Meeting and Open Records acts. The OSSAA also must conduct an annual financial and compliance audit in accordance with the Oklahoma Public School Audit Law and conduct a performance audit every five years.

Cleveland faces Democrat Matt Failing in the election Tuesday.

House District 20 covers parts of McClain, Cleveland, Garvin and Pottawatomie counties and includes Blanchard, Lexington, Newcastle, Noble, Norman, Paoli, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Slaughterville, Washington, Wanette and Wayne.

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