Open invitation to work together

Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is the state's top legal official and a sterling example of ethical leadership.

That's why, when he writes about the standards all public servants should strive to meet and even exceed, it's worth noting.

Here's what AG Wasden wrote in his introduction to Ethics in Government:

"All of us who accept public office, whether elected or appointed, also accept an ethical duty to serve honestly and in the public's interest. While the state and the people must demand compliance with Idaho's ethics laws, public officials should understand that these laws set a minimum standard of behavior. Crossing these lines can result in fines and incarceration. Responsible and ethical public officials hold themselves to an even higher standard than mere compliance."

Let's assume that no public official knowingly violates the state's open meeting and public records laws, but let's also acknowledge that vigilance on behalf of citizens and the media that represent them is paramount to accountability. Put those two halves of the equation together and what have you got?

You've got an invitation. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Coeur d'Alene Press and the Spokesman-Review are cosponsoring a seminar aimed at enlightening or at least reminding local public officials and citizens on these important laws of governance.

The seminar will take place at the Spokesman-Review building on Northwest Boulevard from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the first-floor public meeting room, with a representative from AG Wasden's office running the show. These seminars have been conducted through Idahoans for Openness in Government since 2004, and they've proven instrumental in building not just understanding, but trust.

"They're fun and include audience participation, but most of all, they get out valuable information to make sure folks all around our state are aware of and complying with the open meetings and public records laws," said Betsy Russell, a Spokesman-Review reporter and president of Idahoans for Openness in Government.

We'll remind you of the event closer to December, but wanted you to put it on your calendar before elections and the holidays sneak up and take over. Journalists from both newspapers will be there, but we hope even more that citizens and many from the public service arena are there as well. Over the years, we've found that when the public and private sectors work together, the highest standards of both are consistently attained.