PIA

Reversing course, Austin council to reveal city manager finalists

2017-11-10T15:19:09-06:00

By Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 9, 2017 Austin City Council members will reverse course on their secret search for a city manager and release up to five finalists’ names in the next few days, a week after the American-Statesman staked out candidate interviews and sued the city over refusing to release records on the search. Stephen Newton, a representative of search firm Russell Reynolds, told the council Thursday that he recommended making the finalists’ names public — a departure from his previous advice, and from a decision the council made in March to keep the process confidential until [...]

Reversing course, Austin council to reveal city manager finalists2017-11-10T15:19:09-06:00

Austin American-Statesman sues city of Austin over city manager secrecy

2017-11-01T02:33:58-05:00

By Philip Jankowski and Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Oct. 31, 2017 The American-Statesman has sued the city of Austin after officials denied requests under the Texas Public Information Act to disclose the identities of finalists for city manager. The Statesman filed the suit Tuesday in a Travis County district court as the Austin City Council began the first of two days of interviewing finalists. The lawsuit seeks disclosure of the city manager candidates’ names. The Statesman has independently confirmed the identities of four of the candidates. “The residents of Austin will be paying the salary for a new city manager, [...]

Austin American-Statesman sues city of Austin over city manager secrecy2017-11-01T02:33:58-05:00

Austin vs. Watauga? City claims competition to keep city manager candidates secret

2017-10-30T16:34:04-05:00

By Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Oct. 27, 2017 Austin can’t allow the public to know who might become its next city manager because it’s in competition with Watauga, Sachse and other small Texas cities for the best candidates, an assistant city attorney argues in a letter to the Texas attorney general. Austin begins interviews Tuesday in its nationwide search to replace former City Manager Marc Ott, who resigned more than a year ago. In March, City Council members voted unanimously to try to keep candidates for the job — even finalists — secret until they make a final decision. The council [...]

Austin vs. Watauga? City claims competition to keep city manager candidates secret2017-10-30T16:34:04-05:00

State Fair of Texas at center of public records battle

2017-12-04T21:00:39-06:00

By Dave Montgomery For 24 days every autumn, throngs of visitors stream into the State Fair of Texas in Dallas for shows, music, exhibits, livestock judging, carnival rides and gastronomic delights such as corny dogs and fried butter. Millions worldwide know it as the home of Big Tex, the fair’s 55-foot animatronic cowboy. But for more than two years, the 131-year-old Dallas institution has attracted attention for another reason. It has been at the center of a meandering legal battle involving the Texas Public Information Act, long regarded as a national gold standard for giving citizens access to the inner-workings of [...]

State Fair of Texas at center of public records battle2017-12-04T21:00:39-06:00

San Antonio Express-News: Form special committee on public records

2017-10-23T14:32:20-05:00

Editorial Board San Antonio Express-News Originally published Oct. 22, 2017 There are several glaring and troubling loopholes in Texas’ public records law. The most troubling example comes courtesy of a 2015 Texas Supreme Court ruling that allows businesses contracting with public entities to keep those contracts and other key details secret. For years, such information was public record, the idea being the public should know how its money is being spent. But thanks to that 2015 ruling, all kinds of formerly routine information has been kept secret under the guise that its release would place private companies at “competitive disadvantages.” For [...]

San Antonio Express-News: Form special committee on public records2017-10-23T14:32:20-05:00

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