Sunshine Week: (Longview) Daily News Editorial on Port of Longview Open Meetings Case

The (Longview) Daily News writes this editorial about the case filed this week against the Port of Longview for Open Public Meetings Act violations. The newspaper joined the suit as a plaintiff.

Says The Daily News:

"The legal action also may serve to educate members of government bodies on their obligations under the law governing executive sessions. Although the law is fairly straightforward, the number of reported violations in the state - 460 between Jan. 1, 2004, and Nov. 13, 2007, according to Overstreet - suggest some misunderstanding of its requirements.

"The Daily News believes the port should be held accountable for this action and that's why the newspaper has joined a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Spokane-based public interest group Center for Justice. The suit seeks $100 fines from each of the two commissioners, payment of the plaintiff's legal fees and a court injunction prohibiting future violations of the Open Meetings Act."