Walton woman honored in D.C.

[Interested Girl]

Walton woman honored in D.C.

Suzanne Harris receives Local Heroes award after pressing for public records


Colin Lipnicky
Daily News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Miramar Beach woman’s fight for public records in Walton County was recognized on a national stage Monday when the American Society of News Editors presented her with its inaugural Local Heroes award.

Suzanne Harris’ lawsuit last year against Walton County officials forced them to dramatically change the way they handle public records, and her efforts earned her a trip to Washington, D.C. There, she was honored by editors from newspapers across the nation attending the 2010 ASNE convention at the J.W. Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The award was presented at a luncheon by Susan Goldberg, editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who explained that the award is designed to recognize individuals who fought to make their state or local governments more open and accessible.

“Suzanne did that and then some,” Goldberg said, recounting the settlement of the suit in which Walton County officials agreed to sweeping changes in how they keep and maintain public records and respond to requests for information.

“How’s that for results?” Goldberg said.

Harris, president of the Edgewater Beach Owners’ Association, had sued the county when her requests for e-mail communications between county officials related to Walton’s “Leave No Trace” beach ordinance were ignored.

She called the Local Heroes award the most special award she had ever received because “it affects other people.”

“I don’t think this award belongs to just me,” Harris said. “It belongs to the people of Walton County.”

She also credited the Northwest Florida Daily News for chronicling her efforts and nominating her for the award, and the law firm of Keefe, Anchors, Gordon & Moyle, which waged the legal battle on her behalf.

Larry Keefe, who attended the luncheon along with firm attorneys Matt Gaetz and Marc Slager, said Harris was “tenacious and relentless” in her battle to force Walton County to comply with the law and release records to which she was entitled.

“Suzanne is a well-deserving example for other people to step up when they need to step up,” Keefe said.

 

[30ashopper]

Keeping them open and honest. Kudos to Suzanne!

 

[Alan Osborne]

The only way to get good goverment is to demand good goverment. Even if it's by lawsuit. Everyone is accountable!

The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who remain neutral during conflict.

 

[Douglas the Intrepid]

Is this the woman who requested some insane range of public records and then sued when they ignored her because her request was unreasonable? :roll:

 

[idlewind]

Is this the woman who requested some insane range of public records and then sued when they ignored her because her request was unreasonable? :roll:

You got it.:roll:

 

[WCTA]

Is this the woman who requested some insane range of public records and then sued when they ignored her because her request was unreasonable? :roll:

There is no "unreasonable" exemption within the Florida statute on Public records.

Produce the documents and charge the requester for the the allowable costs.

Simple and doesn't cost the taxpayer anything much less $280,000 in legal fees.

The WC BCC legal cost on the Driftwood estates make the $2800,000 pale in comparison.

She was right to sue and Alan was right to sue. She waited over 1 year for a response and lord only knows how long the Driftwood estates issues has been unresolved.

 

[idlewind]

There is no "unreasonable" exemption within the Florida statute on Public records.

Produce the documents and charge the requester for the the allowable costs.

Simple and doesn't cost the taxpayer anything much less $280,000 in legal fees.

The WC BCC legal cost on the Driftwood estates make the $2800,000 pale in comparison.

She was right to sue and Alan was right to sue. She waited over 1 year for a response and lord only knows how long the Driftwood estates issues has been unresolved.

Can we at least agree that paying these legal fees is a huge waste of money? And that a request for every document in the county with the word "beach" in it is a little excessive? And that the Courts have fairly consistently ruled against Driftwood? Because these questions are why people have hard feelings about these issues.

 

[Matt J]

Can we at least agree that paying these legal fees is a huge waste of money? And that a request for every document in the county with the word "beach" in it is a little excessive? And that the Courts have fairly consistently ruled against Driftwood? Because these questions are why people have hard feelings about these issues.

I completely agree that Ms. Harris's request was at best over the top.

I have requested public records and never received any kind of stone walling or interference. The most I could say is that I requested a file from the clerks office at the Annex and was given two options:

1.) Drive to Defuniak as the file was there to view it.
2.) Wait until the following day so the courier could bring it down.

Everyone has the right to view public records, they do not have the right to use that as a method to harass the government.

 

[GoodWitch58]

and why waste all that paper printing information she could have driven to the Court house or Annex to look at?

I have requested Public Records more than a few times, I have always been treated with respect, told I could go to the Courthouse to look at them; or wait a day and see them at the Annex.

Certainly any citizen should have access to any public record--but to print up copies of every record that had the word beach in it? Seems a bit excessive IMO.

 

[wrobert]

I completely agree that Ms. Harris's request was at best over the top.

I have requested public records and never received any kind of stone walling or interference. The most I could say is that I requested a file from the clerks office at the Annex and was given two options:

1.) Drive to Defuniak as the file was there to view it.
2.) Wait until the following day so the courier could bring it down.

Everyone has the right to view public records, they do not have the right to use that as a method to harass the government.

No such thing as unreasonable or excessive. Providing public records is a constitutional requirement of government in Florida. How can you harass them for asking them to just do their job? All they had to do was give her an estimate and ask if she wanted them or not.