Helping Washington Citizens and Government Agencies with Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act Compliance
1. What the Open Government Ombudsman Does
2. How the Open Government Ombudsman Can Help You
3. Why the Attorney General Created This Position
4. Public Records Act Information and Resources
5. Open Meetings Act Information and Resources
6. Open Government Associations for Citizens
7. Government Associations Working on Open Government Issues
8. More information on Timothy D. Ford
1. What the Open Government Ombudsman Does
The Ombudsman assists citizens and agencies with Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act compliance. Here are some common examples of what the Ombudsman does:
- A citizen emails a question to the Ombudsman and whether an agency’s response (or lack of a response) violates the Public Records Act. If the Ombudsman has enough information in the email (a copy of the request and the agency’s response), he might provide a short analysis of the law and apply it to the facts presented by the citizen.
- A state or local agency calls the Ombudsman to ask if its approach to providing public records is correct or not. The Ombudsman might agree with the agency or suggest an alternate approach.
- A citizen or agency asks the Ombudsman if an agency meeting must be open to the public. The Ombudsman would analyze the issue and provide an informal opinion by phone, email, or sometimes by letter.
The Open Government Ombudsman also coordinates the Attorney General’s legislative and policy efforts on the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act. The Ombudsman drafts legislation and works with the Legislature to pass it. The Ombudsman also drafts the Attorney General’s model rules for public records link and works on updating them. Finally, the Ombudsman speaks to citizen and agency groups about open government laws and writes resource materials such as the Attorney General’s Open Government Internet Manual.
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2. How the Open Government Ombudsman Can Help You
The Open Government Ombudsman might be able to answer your question and provide an informal written analysis. If the Ombudsman agrees with a citizen, the citizen might send the Ombudsman’s analysis to the agency and ask the agency to reconsider its position. Sometimes when the matter cannot be resolved informally, a citizens will attach the Ombudsman’s written analysis to a law suit to enforce the Public Records Act or Open Public Meetings Act. The Ombudsman can help an agency by answering its questions and providing a written analysis. The Ombudsman’s contact information is:
Timothy D. Ford
Assistant Attorney General
for Government Accountability
Washington State Attorney General's Office
P. O. Box 40100
Olympia, WA 98504-0100
(360) 586-4802
timf@atg.wa.gov
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3. Why the Attorney General Created This Position
Our open government laws exist to promote democracy and open up government for all citizens. To hold government accountable, the public must be able to stay informed of their government’s activities. Not only do citizens have a right to know how their government is spending their tax dollars and exercising the powers the people gave to them, the public has a need to know.
Until the creation of the Open Government Ombudsman’s office, citizens often had no where to turn for information about the Public Records Act or Open Public Meetings Act. Agencies make difficult decisions everyday and try to fairly apply the law. When a conflict comes up the ombudsman may be able to assist.
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4. Public Records Act Information and Resources
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5. Open Meetings Act Information and Resources
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6. Open Government Associations for Citizens
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7. Government Associations Working on Open Government Issues
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8. More information on Timothy D. Ford
Timothy D. Ford serves as Bob Fergson’s Assistant Attorney General for Government Accountability.
His duties include serving as the “Open Government Ombudsman” to assist the public, and state and local agencies with open-government questions, training, policy, and litigation. Mr. Ford serves on the Public Records Exemption Accountability Committee with the task of reviewing more than 300 exemptions from disclosure of public records, and making recommendations to the state legislature. Mr. Ford also co-chairs the AGO’s Eminent Domain Task Force. The eminent domain task force is composed of citizens and government stakeholders, and is charged to study condemnation abuses and problems with the goal of proposing legislative reform.
Mr. Ford joined the AG’s Office in June 2005 and worked as a Deputy Solicitor General supervising appellate matters, preparing formal and informal Attorney General Opinions, and representing the state in litigation involving the powers of initiative and referendum.
He earned a BA from Rutgers University. He joined the US Navy and served as a helicopter pilot flying the CH-53E in combat support roles. After completing his service he attended and received a JD from Gonzaga University School of Law. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Ford served as legal counsel for the Building Industry Association of Washington where his work frequently centered on laws regarding public disclosure, constitutional rights, land use issues, and initiative and referendum processes. Mr. Ford has argued before trial courts, appellate courts including the Washington State Supreme Court, and filed legal briefs in support of constitutional rights. Mr. Ford lives in Tumwater with his wife Sonya and daughter Megan.
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