Key Award
Criteria
Any person or organization who has done something notable for the cause of open government within the past 12 months is eligible; this includes board members, WashCOG members, the general public or public officials. Individual self-nominations will not be accepted, although individuals may nominate their organizations.
March 17, 2023 - Judge Judith H. Ramseyer
A Key Award was presented to Judge Judith H. Ramseyer of King County Superior Court, for her work as the chief of the Bench-Bar-Press Committee’s Fire Brigade, which mediates simmering conflict over access issues before they escalate.
Justice Ramseyer was recognized at WashCOG’s 2023 Sunshine Breakfast.
Sept. 16, 2022 - Crosscut
Journalists at the online publication Crosscut spent months requesting and examining government documents that track budgets, spending reports and audits to learn how agencies are spending billions of dollars in federal pandemic recovery funds, earning a Key Award for their contribution to civic education.
Feb. 22, 2022 - Isolde Raftery and Ashley Hiruko, KUOW
KUOW journalists Isolde Raftery, online managing editor, and reporter Ashley Hiruko were honored with a Key Award for their extensive use of public records and interviews to shed light on city action during demonstrations in June 2020.
July 12, 2021 - Lynn Brewer
It took more than a year, but Lynn Brewer received the records she sought from the Washington Employment Security Department, requesting more information about an acknowledged benefit fraud at the agency. After five months of delay, she went to court. The agency settled with Brewer after a year, agreeing to supply the records along with a $100,000 payment and a promise to change its practices and policies. WashCOG recognized her persistence with a Key Award; she was represented by WashCOG board member Joan Mell.
June 28, 2021 - Stacy Irwin and Kimberly Ferreiro
WashCOG recognized two Seattle City public records officers who spoke up in defense of public access and the state Public Records Act during investigations of how the Mayor’s Office mishandled public records. An investigation found that the mayor’s legal counsel violated the PRA when she withheld information about the availability of
Mayor Jenny Durkan’s text messages. Stacy Irwin ad Kim Ferreiro objected to many of the decisions, and they filed a whistleblower complaint.
May 26, 2021 - Washington Counties Risk Pool
The Washington Counties Risk Pool was honored with a Key Award for its commitment to transparency and access under the state Public Records Act. As an association of the state’s counties, the WCRP could have argued that it was not an “agency” subject to the PRA but it agreed to accept responsibilities under the PRA when asked by WashCOG to clarify its status. The Key Award was presented via Zoom.
May 26, 2021 - Brian Kelly, Port Townsend Leader
WashCOG honored the Port Townsend Leader and Editor Brian Kelly for their effective use of public records in revealing problems at the Fort Worden Public Development Authority. The agency struggled with the pandemic and financial challenges with infighting and ineffective leadership.
April 21, 2021 - Melissa Santos, Crosscut
Crosscut reporter Melissa Santos filed more than 100 public records requests in all 39 of Washington’s counties to research a series of stories about police officers on the so-called “Brady lists” that identify them as having credibility problems in court.
March 26, 2021 – Washington Recreation and Conservation Office
WashCOG recognized the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office with a Key Award for its extra effort to provide easy access to its public lands inventory by developing a searchable, interactive web database and dashboard with regularly updated information. Data can be filtered by legislative district and county and provides maps in a variety of forms.
View the presentation at left.
Aug. 6, 2020 - Gov. Jay Inslee
WashCOG recognized Gov. Jay Inslee and two top staff members with the Key Award for their efforts to keep government information accessible to Washingtonians during the global pandemic and Stay Home, Stay Healthy orders. Chief of Staff David Postman and Chief Legal Counsel Kathryn Leathers share the honor because of their efforts seeking input from WashCOG and other open government advoctes on this important matter.
July 15, 2020 - Jacob Jones
Jacob Jones, reporter and publisher of the Whitman County Watch, was recognized with a key award for repeatedly using the Public Records Act to reveal costly and impactful decisions by state and local agencies that would otherwise go unreported and unnoticed. When the city of Colfax settled a lawsuit with its former police chief, Jones’ reporting revealed the financial settlement that led the former chief to drop his suit. He also uncovered the details of WSU’s settlement with former provost Mitzi Montoya, who resigned after less than two months on the job.
May 18, 2020 - Edward Kilduff, Nick Power, Michele Earl-Hubbard
Edward Kilduff discovered government misconduct and made a public records request. A whistleblower confirmed the county obfuscated and deliberately hid records from him. He filed suit, the county fought the lawsuit and filed for sanctions against everyone involved with Kilduff.
The trial court found for the county and sanctioned Kilduff and his attorneys, but he did not give up — they were diligent, patient and able to stand up in a meaningful way against government attempts to shield themselves from transparency. WashCOG recognized their efforts with a Key Award.
Jan. 13, 2020 – KING5 Investigators
KING5 TV Investigators were relentless in pursuing information about mold issues at Children's Hospital, even in the face of a lawsuit to prevent them from getting that information. The Investigators won the first round in court, and the case is on appeal. WashCOG recognized their work with a Key Award.
From left: TEGNA attorney Chris Moeser, reporter Chris Ingalls, WashCOG president Toby Nixon and producer Peter Saiers.
Sept. 20, 2019 – James Egan
Seattle attorney James Egan was recognized with a Key Award when he sued Seattle City Council members after they discussed and decided council action outside of a public meeting and before the public vote, in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. Egan received the award at WashCOG’s annual Sunshine Breakfast.
Pictured Left to Right: WashCOG president Toby Nixon, Board Member Kathy George and honoree James Egan.
Sept. 21, 2018 – Erasmus Baxter and Asia Fields
Journalism students at Western Washington University were recognized with a Key Award for their coverage of the university’s handling of sexual harassment and violence complaints. They filed repeated Public Records Act requests to learn the disposition of the complaints, including discipline.
WashCOG president Toby Nixon presented the awards at the annual Sunshine Breakfast.
