Transparency. Open government. Sunshine. Virtually every candidate for elected office embraces these themes while campaigning, promising to minimize government secrecy. It certainly was part of Republican Susana Martinez's successful campaign for governor in 2010. The same was true of Democrat Gary King's successful campaigns for attorney general in 2006 and 2010.
But both Martinez and King, now running against each other for governor, have had clouds over some of their sunshine efforts. Both have been sued for alleged violations of state public records laws.
In one case, news organizations sued Martinez's Human Services Department and the Attorney General's Office for refusing to release a controversial audit of 15 mental health providers. The audit resulted in the companies having their Medicaid funds suspended, forcing some out of business. The agencies have prevailed in court, though at least some of the cases have pending appeals. Continue>>>
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