COLUMBUS – State Representative Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green,
was honored last week by the Ohio Newspaper Association with one of its most
prominent awards.Gardner, who has represented the counties of Erie, Ottawa, Wood
and Lucas as a member of the Ohio House Representatives and Senate, received the
"William Maxwell Award" at the association’s state convention
Thursday. The award recognized Gardner for "outstanding support in the
cause of open government and citizen access to information."Specifically,
Gardner sponsored a budget amendment that struck a compromise that maintained
citizen access to public notices in the print media as well as new methods of
citizen access to information on the internet. The compromise saved millions in
tax dollars and yet provides access to government information in multiple
ways."In the new era of communication, it is important to recognize that
Ohioans deserve a variety of ways to access information," Gardner said.
"We can save tax dollars and still provide for the public’s fundamental
right to know." In the 1990’s, Gardner also sponsored the Ohio Legislative
Sunshine Act, opening all committee hearings to the public for the first time.He
also sponsored a comprehensive reform of Ohio House rules to provide greater
citizen and media access to the legislative process."Government doesn’t
belong to the legislators," Gardner said. "It belongs to the people we
are obligated to represent."