Journal and Courier Letters to the Editor, March 13th, 2015.

Here is the original letter I sent. Some of my punctuation was changed.

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Our Indiana Code 5-14-3-1 opens with the following: “A fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government is that government is the servant of the people and not their master. Accordingly, it is the public policy of the state that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees.”

It is essential for the Public to exercise its rights in this regard to maintain a healthy, vibrant, and educated community.

The Freedom of Information Act was signed into law over 50 years ago, playing a critical role in making our government more open and transparent, empowering citizens to shine sunlight and improve our governance. A key ingredient in fostering the public’s trust is an open and accountable government.

We all have the right to know what our government is doing — both its successes and failures. Exercising our right to access information gives us power at the ballot box and beyond.

I recently joined the League of Women Voters of Greater Lafayette. The League has, for decades, acted as government watchdogs on Federal, State, and Local levels, believing strongly that transparency and accountability are in the interest of both citizens and government. In short, the League works to ensure that all voices are heard as decisions are being made about our community’s future.

March 15th-21st is National Sunshine Week. Call a public official. Ask questions. Make a public records request. Attend a public meeting. After all, it’s your right.