Texas Watchdog reporter Rosanna Ruiz (formerly of the Chronicle) has posted her first story for the online news organization, on Mayor White’s recent effort to shield his calendar and certain correspondence from the public:
Mayor Bill White has for more than two months hidden his calendar and his correspondence with a developer, but the attorney general says White must now release at least a portion of this information.
White argued to keep some of the records under wraps after Texas Watchdog requested them in January under the Texas Public Information Act. However, he hasn’t released any of the records.
Texas Watchdog requested his 2008 calendar, as well as correspondence between White and developer Marvy Finger, whose firm built condominiums adjacent to a downtown park.
Mayor White usually talks a good game when it comes to government transparency, so it’s surprising he was so resistant to these requests. It will be interesting to see what is in the documents when they are finally made available.
Apparently, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst complied with similar calendar requests made by Texas Watchdog.
