GOP candidate for labor commissioner signs Open Government Pledge

One of two Republican candidates for state labor commissioner has pledged that the office will comply with the letter and spirit of Oklahoma’s open government laws if she is elected. In signing FOI Oklahoma’s Open Government Pledge for statewide candidates, Cathy Costello 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.”

Costello, the widow of slain Labor Commissioner Mark Costello, is a businesswoman and former teacher living in Edmond. She faces state Rep. Leslie Osborn in the GOP runoff on Aug. 28.

In June's three-candidate GOP primary, Cathy Costello received 181,657 votes, or 43.26 percent. Osborn received 150,847 votes, or 35.92 percent.

Current officeholder Melissa McLawhorn Houston is not seeking election. She was appointed in 2015 to serve Mark Costello's remaining term.

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.

Since FOI Oklahoma began the pledge in 2008, 186 candidates have signed — with 95, or 51 percent—being elected at least once.

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.