Key Awards History
Past Recipients
June 25 and Sept. 21, 2018 - SB6617 Activists
WashCOG recognized the efforts of individuals and organizations who worked to ensure state legislators were covered under the Public Records Act. The Associated Press brought a successful lawsuit to clarify legislators’ responsibility. During its 2018 session, legislators fast-tracked SB6617, which would limit their transparency responsibilities. Three citizens who testified against SB6617 on short notice were recognized with the Key Award.
Pictured are Gordon Padget, who testified at the hastily-called hearing; and WashCOG President Toby Nixon at the 2018 Sunshine Breakfast.
Two of the activists received the Key Award from WashCOG president Toby Nixon on June 25, 2018, along with the Associated Press reporter who researched the state legislature’s history with public records access, and provided fodder for the AP’s lawsuit.
Pictured left to right: Kasia Pierzga, Toby Nixon, David Zeeck, Rachel La Corte.
April 10, 2018 – Okanogan County Watch
WashCOG presented a Key Award to Okanogan County Watch, a countywide group of volunteers who regularly post on their website notes and videos of County Commission meetings to keep their neighbors informed about current issues.
Pictured left to right:
(Front) Mike Fancher, George Thornton, Gina McCoy, Isabelle Spohn, Jan Young, Emily Sisson, Rick Gillespie, Katie Haven
(Back) Jim DeTro BOCC (Dist 3), Andy Hover BOCC (Dist 2), Chris Branch BOCC (Dist 1), Lalena Johns (County Clerk)
July 25, 2017 – Brittany Voie & Natalie Johnson & The Chronicle
Staffers at The (Chehalis) Chronicle were recognized with a Key Award for their reporting exposing violations of state access laws by the Lewis County Commission. The Commissioners had tried to circumvent the Open Public Meetings Act by declaring the board in session during business hours every day. At the recipients’ request, the presentation was made on the steps of the Lewis County Courthouse, directly beneath the window of the offending county commissioners.
Pictured left to right: columnist Brittany Voie, publisher Christine Fossett, editor Eric Schwartz, reporter Natalie Johnson and WashCOG Board Member Karen Peterson.
May 16, 2017 – Matthew Hayward
Matthew Hayward, a state coordinator with the Freedom Foundation, received a Key Award for his efforts urging Lincoln County Commissioners to unanimously change their policy and mandate open access to collective bargaining negotiations involving the county. The Commissioners were also recognized with a Key Award for its September 2016 decision to conduct collective bargaining negotiations under the terms of the state Open Public Meetings Act.
Pictured (from left to right): WashCOG President Toby Nixon and Matthew Hayward, state coordinator with the Freedom Foundation.
May 16, 2017 – Dayal Trusty
Dayal Trusty, a forms and records analyst with the Washington State Patrol, was recognized for her diligence and efficiency in organizing commonly-requested records for quick and thorough response. She revamped the processing of records requests to the state patrol’s communications division, which deals with requests involving radio and telephone recordings and logs. She worked with records officers in all eight districts to build a more efficient system.
Pictured are WashCOG President Toby Nixon and Washington State Patrol Public Records Officer Dayal Trusty.
May 15, 2017 – Malheur Enterprise
Washington Coalition for Open Government took an extraordinary step by awarding a Key Award to an out-of-state publication. The Malheur Enterprise in Oregon was recognized for their hard work, persistence, and victory in a case of government transparency that involved being sued by a state agency after making a records request.
March 16, 2017 – Mike Baker and Justin Mayo
Two Seattle Times investigative reporters were honored with a Key Award for their effective use of state and federal records access laws in researching and reporting “Quality of Care.” Mike Baker and Justin Mayo examined more than 10,000 pages of records when investigating financial interests that interfere with patient care at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.
Pictured (from left to right): Seattle Times Executive Editor Don Shelton; WashCOG President Toby Nixon; reporters Mike Baker and Justin Mayo; Managing Editor Michele Matassa Flores. (Photo: Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times).
October 20, 2016 – Lincoln County Commissioners
The three elected members of the Lincoln County Commission were recognized with a Key Award for their commitment to transparency on matters of public interest. The commissioners voted unanimously to conduct collective bargaining sessions with county employee unions in public.
Pictured (from left to right): Commissioner Scott Hutsell; Chairman of the Commission Rob Coffman; WashCOG Board Member David Dewhirst'; and Commissioner Mark Steadman.
October 3, 2016 – Port of Port Angeles
The Port Commission of Port Angeles was commended with a Key Award for its notably transparent process of searching for and hiring a new executive director. The Commission involved the public in its search by releasing names of the finalists, interviewing them in a public meeting and inviting the public to submit questions as well as meet the candidates at an open event.
Pictured: WashCOG Board Member,George Erb, Port Commission President Colleen McAleer and Commissioner Connie Beauvais.
September 23, 2016 – Kathy and Gerald Kingen
WashCOG presented a Key Award to Gerald and Kathy Kingen of West Seattle, who sued the City of SeaTac for public records related to a land grab scheme. The city stalled on releasing the records while it pursued action to stop the Kingens’ development plans for a park-and-fly lot. The couple went to court and unearthed the scheme; they were eventually awarded $18 million in damages.
Pictured: WashCOG President Toby Nixon and Key Award recipients, Kathy and Gerald Kingen.
June 10, 2016 – John Geniuch
Former San Juan County building official John Geniuch was recognized with a Key Award for exposing the county’s abuse of building permit fees, even though it cost him his job. County officials ignored his initial inquiries of misappropriation, and when he investigated further Geniuch realized the county had misallocated close to $1.2 million over the course of three years. He was placed on administrative leave, but continued his public records research, and later sued San Juan County for violations of the PRA and for his own wrongful termination.
Pictured: Toby Nixon, WashCOG President, and John Geniuch, Key Award Recipient.
February 23, 2016 – SeaTac City Council
The City Council of SeaTac was recognized for making a visible commitment to open government by posting a plaque of the preamble to the Open Public Meetings Act in its council chamber. The plaque was a gift from citizens and a reminder to promote open government. Pictured: from left to right: Kathryn Campbell, Tony Anderson, Michael Siefkes (Deputy Mayor), Peter Kwon, Pam Fernald, Erin Sitterley, and Rick Forschler (Mayor).
January 23, 2016 – Patricia Peterson
Former Administrative Law Judge Patricia Peterson was presented with a Key Award in recognition of her decision to blow the whistle on questionable ethics practices in the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. A representative of the office pressured her on how to rule in a pending case, and she went public with the matter. After ruling as she saw fit, she was removed from her position.
Pictured: Patricia Peterson, Key Award recipient, and Toby Nixon, WashCOG President.
September 18, 2015 – Steven Merrival
Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor Steven Merrival was recognized with a Key Award for filing the first of several whistleblower complaints against Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. Merrival’s complaint revealed that Lindquist evaded the Public Records Act by instructing other prosecutors and staff to not create documents of questionable activities, and to use personal devices for communications. Pictured: Toby Nixon, WashCOG President with Steven Merrival, Key Award recipient.
Photo by Marcus R. Donner © 2015
September 18, 2015 – Tim Clemans
The Coalition presented a Key Award to Tim Clemans, a computer programmer and prolific records requestor who went to work for the Seattle Police Department to help the agency develop new tools and a data management system designed to release police video recordings promptly.
Pictured: Toby Nixon, WashCOG President with Tim Clemans, Key Award recipient.
Photo by Marcus R. Donner © 2015
March 14, 2015 – Bob Fortner and Althea Paulson
Pictured: Toby Nixon, WashCOG President with Bob Fortner and Althea Paulson, Key Award Winners.
March 14, 2015 – Steven Friederich
Pictured: Toby Nixon, WashCOG President and Steven Friederich, Key Award Winner.
March 14, 2015 – Gene Pollard
Pictured: Toby Nixon, WashCOG President and Gene Pollard, Key Award Winner.
March 4, 2015 – Mike Wagers
Pictured: Mike Wagers, COO, accepting Key Award Winner for the Seattle Police Department and Toby Nixon, WashCOG President.
February 13, 2015 – Arthur West
Pictured: Toby Nixon, WashCOG President and Arthur West, Key Award Winner.
January 5, 2015 – David Timmons
Pictured: David Timmons, Key Award Winner and Patience Rogge, WashCOG Board Member.
November 6, 2014 – KOMO4 News and Tracy Vedder
Pictured: Judy Endejan, WashCOG Board Member, Holly Gauntt, KOMO 4 News Director, Tracy Vedder, Key Award Winner and George Erb, WashCOG Board Member.
September 5, 2014 – Everett Herald
Three reporters for The Daily Herald of Everett were honored with Key Awards for outstanding investigative reporting that drew on public records requests to reveal malfeasance by a former county executive. Recipients were reporters Scott North and Noah Haglund and city editor Robert Frank.
August 4, 2014 – Judy Bardin
Pictured: Judy Bardin, Key Award Winner and David Seago, WashCOG Board Member.
June 26, 2014 – Sandy Stokes
Pictured: George Erb, WashCOG Board Member, Sandy Stokes, Key Award Winner and Peggy Watt, WashCOG Board Member.
June 25, 2014 – Mike Baker
Pictured: Eric Stahl, WashCOG Board Member, Mike Baker, Key Award Winner, and Kathy Sakahara, WashCOG Board Member.
May 6, 2014 – Roger Harnack
Pictured: Kathy George, WashCOG Board Member, Roger Harnack, Key Award Winner, Cynthia Mitchell, WashCOG Board Member and Nancy Krier, AG Open Government Ombudsman.
Previous recipients by year
Contact our office for more information
206-782-0393 || info@washingtoncog.org
2014
*Details above
Holly Gauntt, Tracy Vedder*
The Daily Herald*
Sandy Stokes*
Mike Baker*
Roger Harnack*
Second Amendment Foundation
Carrie Rodriguez
Cindy Ference
Gov. Jay Inslee
Mike Baker
2013
Laurie Rogers
Drew Hendricks
Yakima Herald-Republic, KAPP, KIMA, KNDO
The City of Kirkland
Mike Carter, The Seattle Times
Hunter George, Pierce County web team
Jonah Spangenthal-Lee
Mike Anderson
2012
William Kildall
Patricia Slaten
Kim Hendrickson
Mickey Gendler
Matt Rosenberg
Carl Hu
2011
Senator Pam Roach
Elizabeth Campbell
Walter (Walt) Jorgensen
Robert (Bob) Shirley
Senator Jim Honeyford
Councilmember John Knutsen
2010
Anthony Hemsted
Yakima Herald-Republic
Eric Rachner
Brad Andersen
Everett Government Watchers – Barbara Lamoureux & Paul Donovan
Gloria Howell
Tacoma News Tribune (Karen Peterson)
Jessica Olson
D. Edson Clark
Meredith Mechling
Ira Appelman
Pat McCarthy
2009
Sam Taylor
2008
Debra Kolrud
Donna McKereghan
Concerned Citizens in Action
Allied Law Group
David Koenig
James Neff
Dr. Martha Martin
Charlie Burrow
Greg Hansen
Bruce Chandler
Shawn Bunney
Brenden Williams
2007
Armen Yousoufian
Todd Hodgen
Mark Mahnkey
Rep. Lynn Kessler
Rob McKenna
Glen Milner
Michael Brannan
Ken Meyer
Beth O’Neill
Doug O’Neill
Greg Overstreet
The Seattle Times