Forum on freedom of information is Thursday

From staff reports
Published: March 25, 2008

The Prince William Committee of 100 will host a forum on open government at 7:45 p.m.Thursday at the Four Points by Sheraton at 10800 Vandor Lane in the Manassas area.

The forum entitled, “The People’s Right to Know —Are public records really public? Are closed meetings being abused?” will explore the idea of the public’s right to know versus individual privacy rights.

The committee, which provides a non-partisan, educational forum to study essential interests, problems and goals of the people of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, has assembled a panel which includes Maria Everett, the executive director of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, Potomac News staff writer Cheryl Chumley, Ross G. Horton, County Attorney for Prince William County, Jennifer Perkins, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, and Mike Stollenwerk chairman of the Fairfax County Privacy Council.

Virginia State Senator Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, who has sponsored legislation on openness and transparency in government, will moderator the forum.

The forum coincides with Sunshine Week, a national initiative during March to highlight the importance of government and freedom of information. Sunshine Week, which is led by journalists, is designed to enlighten people and encourage them to play an active role in their government at all levels by knowing their right to the information that lets them know what their governments are doing and why.

There is no charge for those who wish to attend the after-dinner forum.

For further information visit the committee’s Web site http://www.pwc100.org.