The Virginia Coalition for Open Government gave its annual FOI awards to a Christiansburg citizen-activist, a Bristol reporter, and the IT departments of two Northern Virginia localities.
Carol Lindstrom received the Laurence E. Richardson award for individual citizen contributions to open government. Lindstrom single-handedly created a city Web site since the Christiansburg government did not have one of its own. Lindstrom spent more than $1,000 getting city records through FOIA and then posting them on her site. When the city finally created its own site, Lindstrom continued to post documents that were unavailable on that site, as well as audio and video recordings of town council, planning commission and other committee meetings.
The award is named after Laurence Richardson, a longtime Charlottesville broadcaster and a VCOG founder who passed away in 2000.
Bristol Herald Courier reporter Mike Owens received the media award for his series of articles revealing a kickback scheme between an Abingdon magistrate judge and his bail bondsman-father.
Documents Owens obtained through FOIA showed that Magistrate John C. “Tiny” Mullins III used a fellow magistrate’s electronic computer signature to falsify records releasing three defendants from jail; all three defendants had hired Mullins’ father as their bondsman.
Owens’ investigation prompted State Police to investigate Mullins, who was fired from his position by the Virginia Supreme Court’s Office of the Executive Secretary nearly three weeks after fielding a request for documents related to the scheme.
Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria shared the government award for their agressive and proactive use of new and existing technologies to solicit citizen input and educate citizens on a proposed railway transloading center in Alexandria and a projected $650 million revenue shortfall for its 2010 fiscal year budget in Fairfax County.
All award winners were recognized at VCOG’s annual conference, Oct. 15, in Staunton.