Electronic records considered public
Brian Prawitz believed it was a simple request: Show me the e-mail.
The answer was, sure, but it will cost you $7,800.
Welcome to the electronic world of Oregon public records.
Just because a record is public doesn’t mean it won’t cost a bundle to have it extracted from a database and edited, or vanish because new communications gizmos aren’t designed to archive text messages. Oregon journalists say these technical problems have joined some persistent problems, such as old-fashioned footdragging by public officials, in getting information needed to hold officials accountable.
Prawitz, news director at KQEN radio in Roseburg, asked to see the e-mail of Douglas County Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman after it was learned that her adviser, David Jaques, had access to her county computer.
