Valentino named to head of right to know committee

State Sen. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, was recently appointed as chairwoman of the state’s Right to Know Advisory Committee, which will meet next at the State House in Augusta on Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in room 438.

“It is truly an honor to receive this appointment,” Valentino said. “Government transparency is critical to ensuring government accountability and responsibility and this committee is dedicated to maintaining that transparency.”

The committee is made up of 16 members and was established by the Legislature in 2006 to be a resource and to provide advice regarding Maine’s Freedom of Access laws.

It’s tasked with providing recommendations to each branch of state government – executive, judicial, and legislative – and to local governments on how to best ensure public access to records, proceedings and other governmental documents and actions.

The Right to Know Advisory Committee is also responsible for providing annual reports about the existing state of such laws.

“We need to always be vigilant about public access to the workings of the people’s government and encourage public participation in our democracy,” Valentino said. “As the chair, I vow to support measures to keep Mainers informed and engaged.”