A recently elected Stillwater city councilman has promised to comply with the letter and spirit of Oklahoma’s open government laws. In signing FOI Oklahoma’s Open Government Pledge for local candidates, John Wedlake 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.”

With Wedlake's signature, all five Stillwater councilors have signed the pledge. Since FOI Oklahoma began the pledge in 2008, 185 candidates have signed — with 94, or 51 percent—being elected at least once.

Wedlake ran unopposed for Seat 3 in January. He is a neurologist and former U.S. Army airborne paratrooper.

He signed the pledge at the request of the League of Women Voters of Stillwater. As part of the organization's Sunshine Week activities, it asked members of local public bodies to sign.

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 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.