Ryan Nees, the 17-year-old Western High School student whose open records request culminated in a lawsuit victory over Kokomo City Hall, has had his tenacity recognized on a national level.
Nees is one of three individuals who will receive national Sunshine Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Aug. 26 during a banquet at the 2006 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference, SPJ officials announced Tuesday.
Three Indiana-based open government advocacy groups nominated Nees for the award, “based on his youth, tenacity, understanding of the law, and his courage in the pursuit of public records.”
The city of Kokomo spent more than $34,000 unsuccessfully fighting Nees’ request for a list of city-compiled e-mail addresses.
Dozens of residents provided their e-mail addresses when they signed up for a free, electronic city newsletter.
Nees, however, became suspicious that administration officials also were using those addresses to send out Mayor Matt McKillip’s campaign messages.
The mayor denied that contention.
Nees and administration officials agreed the list would be public. The two sides disagreed, however, as to whether Nees was entitled to a copy of the subscribers list.
The judge in the case said the law governing access to government-compiled mailing lists doesn’t extend to e-mail addresses, as the city’s attorneys contended. She said the city must turn over either a hardcopy or an electronic copy of the list.
“Ryan found an attorney to take the case pro-bono after researching the law and securing a favorable opinion from the Public Access Counselor,” stated the nomination letter for Nees. “He also became part of the mayor’s newsletter, dubbed a ‘youthful political operative’ with questionable motives — as the city administration tried to explain away the lawsuit and its non-disclosure of public records by scaring up privacy concerns.”
“I think [the award] reinforced what I’ve been saying all along,” Nees said Tuesday. “This is an open government issue, this is an honest government issue ... it’s a vindication of all the work I put into this lawsuit and the idea of open government.”
Nees was jointly nominated by SPJ State Sunshine Chair Kyle Elyse Niederpruem, SPJ Indiana Professional Chapter Immediate Past President Kevin Finch, Steve Key, general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association, and Marian Pearcy, immediate past president of the Indiana Coalition for Open Government.
“It’s unusual for someone his age to be that involved in the first place, and to know how to push the right buttons to get access to records,” Niederpruem said Tuesday.
Nancy Conway, editor of the Salt Lake Tribune, and John Hughes, executive editor of the Deseret Morning News, will also receive Sunshine Awards this year for forming a coalition to lobby for expanded public access in Utah.
Both editors worked to prevent the Utah Legislature from watering down the state’s Government Records Access and Management Act.
Despite Nees’ win in Howard Circuit Court, the effect of Judge Lynn Murray’s decision was short-lived. The Indiana General Assembly quickly passed a bill that allows government to withhold lists of government-compiled e-mail addresses from the public.
State Sen. Jeff Drozda, R-Westfield, sponsored the legislation, claiming the privacy of e-mail addresses was of paramount importance.
“It’s a shame that the rest of us Hoosiers got shut down thanks to our Legislature,” Niederpruem said. “A lot of times when regular citizens take on an issue, it’s easy to turn them down based on other alleged principles.”
Scott Smith may be reached at (765) 454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com
Local News
Nees’ victory recognized with Sunshine Award
The 17-year-old was among three winners
- Local News
-
-
Highland Park bridge restored
For almost a century, there has been a foot bridge over Kokomo Creek in Highland Park. During the past few months, it has been refurbished. Stahl’s Welding removed the bridge last fall to make some long needed repairs to the structure. The bridge spans 53 feet.
-
Walmart stands by grant decision
Walmart says it treated Kokomo fairly when it gave a $50,000 grant the city won to a Lafayette-based organization that serves 16 counties.
-
Fire station project advances
Construction of a new fire station on Dixon Road is being placed on a fast track by Kokomo officials, hoping to have it operating by the end of the year.
-
Hangar expansion project to begin this month
Work on expanding and renovating an airplane hangar at Grissom Aeroplex to accommodate Texas-based Dean Baldwin Painting LP is set to begin later this month after three years of planning and aligning the necessary funding.
-
Gaslight Anthem pulls out of Weberfest
Punk-twinged indie rockers Gaslight Anthem were creating quite a buzz when TA Weber announced the group would headline Weberfest the first weekend in August.
-
Sculptures on display at Tipton library
Scattered among the stacks of books is an array of unique sculptures. There’s 24 of them to be exact. Crafted from bronze, the sculptures at the Tipton County Public Library are part of the traveling Sculptureworks Library Exhibit.
-
City may allow alcohol in park
A change in policy approved by the Kokomo Parks & Recreation Board may allow beer and wine during events in Foster Park. By a 7-2 vote on Monday, the Kokomo Common Council approved an ordinance allowing nonprofit organizations to sell alcohol during events in the park.
-
Auto Task Force members silent on Delphi pensions
A federal office responsible for monitoring the Troubled Asset Relief Program says it is snagged by former Automotive Task Force members’ silence over severed Delphi Corp. pensions, according to a letter released Tuesday.
-
Walmart Facebook contest cash goes to Lafayette
Walmart’s $50,000 commitment to fight hunger in the Kokomo community has gone to an organization in another county, food pantry and food bank coordinators learned Tuesday.
-
State IREAD pass rate at 84 percent
Sixteen percent of Indiana third-graders failed to pass a high-stakes reading proficiency test that could determine whether they can move on to the fourth grade.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Defense Rests in John Edwards Trial
GM Says It Will Stop Paying for Ads on Facebook
911 Call: Confusion at Home Where Mom Shot Kids
Jury Convicts Steve Powell of Voyeurism Charges
Skechers to Pay $40 Million for Bogus Claims
Coffee May Be Key to Living Longer
Police to Groom of Slain Bride: Turn Yourself In
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
FTC: Skechers Deceived Consumers With Shoe Ads
FBI Confirms Leak Probe on Al-Qaida Plot
Romney Calls Obama a 'Disappointment'
Honda Unveils New Robotics-powered Scooter
NJ Gov., Mayor Channel Seinfeld in Video Parody
Blood Drive for Woman With Flesh-Eating Disease
AG Race Tops Oregon Primary Interest
Obama Welcomes Beckham, Galaxy to White House
Raw Video: Mladic's Genocide Trial Under Way
Court Records Detail Zimmerman Injuries
Local Community Prepares for G8 Summit
New Guidelines for US Nuclear Plants
