I invite you to join me at the Washington Coalition for Open Government annual James Madison-James Andersen Award Event on Friday, September 21, 7:30AM at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle.

Paul Wright, editor of Prison Legal News and a former Washington prison inmate, will receive WCOG's James Madison Award. The award, named for the nation's fourth president, known as the Father of the Constitution, is awarded annually to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the cause of open government. Wright, 41, recently settled a seven-year-long legal battle with the Washington Department of Corrections over records dealing with medical care of inmates. The department agreed to pay $541,000 in fees and penalties -- the largest public records award in Washington state history. Wright, who founded Prison Legal News with another inmate in 1990, continues to edit PLN, which now boasts 4,500 subscribers in all 50 states and reaches every maximum- and medium-security prison in the United States. Wright continues to use public records laws to uncover and document abuse of inmates and their legal rights.

The coalition will present its first-ever James Andersen award to Frank Garred, retired publisher of The Leader newspaper in Port Townsend. Garred helped create WCOG in 2002 and served as the group's first, unpaid executive director. The James Andersen Award was created this year to annually honor an individual or organization whose outstanding efforts have significantly advanced the Washington Coalition for Open Government. The award is named in honor of retired Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice James Andersen, a founding member of WCOG. Justice Andersen will personally present the inaugural award to Mr. Garred.

Steve Pool of KOMO 4 News will be master of ceremonies. The keynote address will be delivered by Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag. WCOG will also present "Key Awards" to several people in honor of their efforts to promote open and transparent government, including Attorney General Rob McKenna and House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler.

The event is sponsored by Davis Wright Tremaine, The Seattle Times, Association of Washington Business, Port Townsend Leader, Perkins Coie, Center for Justice, Wsahington News Council, Peninsula College Foundation, Washington Association of Broadcasters, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, and Allied Law Group.

Doors open for registration at 7 A.M. The breakfast and award presentations will be held from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. If you can join me, please register online at http://www.washingtoncog.org/jm_ja_home.htm, or contact the Coalition office at (206) 782-0393. I look forward to seeing you there!