Arizona Capitol Times published a piece on the Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide office focused on our public records work and services.  Below is a preview.  Read the whole piece here.

Joanne MacDonnell, the current Arizona ombudsman, described the office as a “giant flashlight,” and “an umpire calling balls and strikes.” Its public access attorney called the office, “the canary in the coal mine,” and the “eyes and ears” of the Legislature and governor.

As an intermediary investigatory agency, the Arizona Ombudsman Citizens Aide mediates public records and open meeting law compliance disputes between civilians, state agencies and other local governing bodies.

The ombudsman has successfully run public records requests across the finish line and flagged agencies and entities out of compliance in published reports.