OLYMPIA -- The Washington Coalition for Open Government will pursue in Thurston County Superior Court its open meetings lawsuit against the state Redistricting Commission for violating transparency laws.
The state Supreme Court last Thursday declined to bypass the trial court and hear the case directly. The question before the state’s highest court was a matter of venue rather than the merits of the case.
The coalition sued the Redistricting Commission to protect the integrity of the state Open Public Meetings Act, hold the commission accountable and seek remedies that prevent future commissions from similar violations.
Citizens need to see commission deliberations to understand how public officials arrive at their collective decisions, a statement from the coalition said. Only then can citizens determine whether officials acted wisely on the public’s behalf.
The lawsuit argues that in its meeting Nov. 15, the Redistricting Commission engaged in secret negotiations to draft and come to agreement about proposed legislative and congressional district maps.
The commissioners’ private action and public inaction violates the state Open Public Meetings Act and should be voided, the suit says.
The coalition also had asked the Redistricting Commission itself to recognize its mistakes publicly through an Administrative Procedure Act petition for declaratory relief.
Commissioners voted last Thursday to decline that request, saying the commission had no authority to enforce the Open Public Meeting Act.
Ironically, the commission deliberated over the issue behind closed doors and ratified it in open session without any public discussion.
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