Since NINA's 2010 theme is access to public information, here's an interesting case today from DeKalb.
Recently, DeKalb's Third Ward alderman resigned. By law, the mayor appoints a successor. The mayor publicly stated that 10 people applied with him for the position, but he declined to name them. Both the Northern Star and the Daily Chronicle filed FOIA requests for this list of names. Meanwhile, the new appointee was named late last week and sworn in Tuesday night.
The city denied the Northern Star’s (and, presumably, the Daily Chronicle's) FOIA request. Its reasoning: Identifying these people would have been a "clearly unwarranted invasion of their personal privacy."
These people were seeking public office. If this had been an election for the same seat, their names would be on the ballot for all to see. How exactly is this any different in the end result? Don't citizens have a right to know who wants to represent them?
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