VALDOSTA — An Open Government Symposium this Friday in Valdosta will be hosted by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners.

Valdosta Daily Times Editor Jim Zachary, director of the Transparency Project of Georgia, will be joined by Hollie Manheimer, executive director of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, for the open government training event.

Lowndes County leaders approached Zachary and Manheimer about bringing the symposium to Valdosta after they attended the first in a statewide series of open government training sessions held in Macon at the Center for Collaborative Journalism Oct. 17.

Zachary said this week, “It speaks so well of our county officials that they have taken the initiative to bring this training to Valdosta not only for records custodians, but for elected officials, government staff, attorneys, the media and the general public. Not every local government shows this kind of commitment to transparency and we commend County Clerk Paige Dukes for her initiative in spearheading this symposium.”

Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Slaughter said, “Lowndes County appreciates the opportunity to host this event.  I encourage any government, agency, board or commission required to follow open meetings and open records statues to be a part of the upcoming symposium”

He added, “Providing timely information in a practical format should be a priority for anyone focused on meeting the information needs of citizens.”

Commissioner Clay Griner was among local officials who attended the Macon Open Government Symposium.

Griner said, “Attending the open government symposium in Macon provided valuable information with regards to open meeting and open record requirements.  I hope other local officials and staff will take advantage of a second opportunity to receive this information by attending the local symposium on Nov. 21.”

Zachary and Manheimer are conducting the symposiums throughout the state, providing training while sharing their experiences in open government advocacy.

All the events are free and open to the public. Free materials are also provided to each attendee.

Organizers are encouraging elected officials, government attorneys, staff, records custodians, journalists, community activists, watchdog groups, representatives of nonprofits that receive government funding, members of boards and commissions, students and anyone who has an interest in transparency and more accountable government to attend.

“Our primary goal is to help create a culture for open government across Georgia and incubate a climate that will send a strong message to state lawmakers the people of Georgia have an expectation of transparency,” Zachary said. “We are not against

government, but we are for taxpayers and ordinary citizens who are often frustrated when it comes to their access to records and meetings.”

The symposium will focus on:

• Open Records

• Open Meetings

• Why Government Transparency Matters

“We are creating a culture at The Valdosta Daily Times where we simply have the expectation that government is always open and transparent and each of our reporters will be well-versed in the state’s Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act,” the editor said.  

Zachary has been a leading voice for government transparency in Georgia.

He was awarded the David E. Hudson Open Government Award this year and received the Georgia Press Association Freedom of Information Award in 2014 and 2013, along with statewide and national awards for editorial writing, reporting and public service.

Manheimer is the first and only executive director of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, formed in January 1996. She graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College; received a Master’s in English from New York University; earned her Juris Doctorate from Emory University Law School; and received a Master’s in communication from Georgia State University.  When not serving the foundation, she practices law with Stuckey & Manheimer, Inc. and serves as a part-time judge of the DeKalb County Recorders Court.

The Open Government Symposium will be held Friday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m.-noon at the Lowndes County Administration Building, 327 North Ashley Street, in the commission chambers on the second floor.

While there is no registration fee, individuals or groups planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP by emailing zacharyjim@gmail.com.