FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Katherine Garner

214.977.6658

Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Names New President

(DALLAS) – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas announced Timothy M. Kelly as its new president Friday following the resignation of the former president, Randy Sanders.  Kelly has served as vice president of the Foundation for the past year.

“I remain honored to be part of an organization that fights the good fight and whose mission matters so deeply and fundamentally to all citizens, whether they realize it or not,” Kelly said.

Kelly has several years of experience in journalism and has been working as the editor of The Beaumont Enterprise, a Hearst newspaper, since October 1996.  During that time, the newspaper annually has been named one of the top mid-sized dailies in six states and has won more than two-dozen major awards for enterprise and investigative journalism.

Previously, Kelly worked as assistant managing editor for news and sports at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  Before that, he worked at the San Antonio Light, The Dallas Morning News, the Los Angeles Daily News, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, USA Today and the Washington Post.

In addition to his new presidency at FOIFT, Kelly also serves as president of the board of directors of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Texas and president of the Beaumont chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Texas.

“This is a time when the work of the Foundation is both daunting and inspiring,” said Kelly.  “Even as officials at many levels of government seem intent on their stonewalling tactics, many others not only are seeing the light but are advocating powerfully for the public.”

Sanders, president of Sanders Communication, resigned because of time constraints, but has expressed his confidence in Kelly and the future of the organization.

“I have had a long and strong belief that open government is the only type of government that Americans deserve,” he said.  “Our cause is a noble one and worthy of a good fight to protect. I have total confidence that Tim, the board and the staff will take the battle to those who would rather do the public’s business in secret.”

The FOIFT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported through tax-deductible donations and grants from private citizens, corporations and foundations. For more information, call 214.977.6658, visit the Web site at www.foift.org or write to FOIFT, 400 S. Record St., Suite 240, Dallas, Texas 75202.

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