Paying Attention
Columbus Dispatch writer James Nash reported on Robert Owens’ signed transparency pledge and got the other candidates’ reactions as well.
Democrat candidate: Transparency? Accountable government? Never heard of it.
Republican candidate: Zzzzzz
Robert M. Owens, the independent candidate for Ohio attorney general, said today that he’s signed a conservative think tank’s pledge for openness in government.
The Buckeye Institute Pledge for Transparency and Openness in Government asks candidates to commit to publishing a variety of information — such as contracts, budgets and conflict-of-interest disclosures — on the Internet in real time.
“From day one, I’ve said that transparency would be a major focus of my candidacy, and more importantly my time in office as attorney general,” Owens said in a press release. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and we certainly have a lot of disinfecting to do throughout state government. Too many scandals have been allowed to occur because of secrecy. Today, I am challenging my opponents to join me in this pledge.”
The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions hasn’t yet called on Owens’ opponents, Democrat Richard Cordray and Republican Mike Crites, to sign the pledge, said Michael J. Maurer, the think tank’s point person on the open-government project.
“Anyone who knows about it now knows about it from the media or because they’re paying attention,” Maurer said.
Cordray’s campaign said it was not familiar with the pledge, and Crites’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
