Weeks succeeds Bunting as WashCOG’s executive director

Colette Weeks, Juli Bunting

Colette Weeks has succeeded Juli Bunting as executive director for the Washington Coalition for Open Government. Bunting will continue as a part-time coalition adviser until she retires at the end of the year. 

WashCOG announced the transition at its annual Sunshine Breakfast on March 14. 

Weeks has served as WashCOG’s deputy director since late 2023. She was a news reporter and editor for 35 years, working in her home state of South Carolina at The Associated Press and newspapers that included The Post and Courier in Charleston.  She relocated to Anacortes, Washington, in 2004. Weeks worked for Skagit Publishing for 18 years as an editor and then director of content, overseeing the company’s various publications in Washington. 

She now lives just a short drive to the state Capitol building, where she helps WashCOG monitor legislation and the status of government transparency. 

“My career has been about pursuing truth and providing the public with the information needed to make informed decisions,” Weeks said. “With WashCOG, my aim is to help protect access to that information. Washington residents overwhelmingly supported an initiative over 50 years ago that demanded the people have access to government information. They did not want secrecy to leave the people in the dark. The world has changed in a half-century, but the need for transparency has never been greater." 

The Bunting family has deep connections to the coalition. Juli Bunting’s late husband, Kenneth Bunting, was executive editor and later associate publisher of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. He helped found WashCOG in 2002. Juli Bunting gave her time to the coalition before becoming its executive director five years ago. 

“I have deep respect and admiration for everyone involved with WashCOG,” she said. 

“The organization has changed a great deal in the past five years,” Bunting said. “I leave confident there are great things ahead for this watchdog organization that works so hard to hold our elected officials accountable. 

“Moving forward, it will take everyone's efforts to ensure the state remains a beacon of sunshine and openness in a world where transparency is slowly dying. I have the utmost faith in the organization, its supporters and donors, its staff, and board of directors, and I know they will continue to work tirelessly on this issue. I look forward to offering consultation in the coming months as we make this transition." 

The Washington Coalition for Open Government is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2002. We are an independent, broad-based advocate for public records, open meetings and informed citizens.