ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — The Guardian has awarded the September 2021 Sunshine Award this week.
The honoree is Ross County Prosecutor Jeffrey Marks.
The “Sunshine Award” recognizes public officials and agencies for making important contributions in the area of open government.
“Over the summer, Prosecutor Marks and his staff held a training session at the law enforcement complex to teach the local deputies and city police. In the training, the Prosecutor informed the two police agencies that they weren’t following the law with respect to public records and narratives,” said the Guardian’s editor-in-chief Derek Myers. “Much to the credit of the Sheriff’s office, they heeded the advice and started providing detailed narratives and reports. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for the city police department. We appreciate Prosecutor Marks’ interpretation of the law.”
The Guardian’s assistant editor, Jay Salley, added that Marks always replies to inquiries.
“The caseload at the prosecutor’s office can be overwhelming at times, but Prosecutor Marks has always taken time to reply to our inquiries in an effort to inform the public and he deserves recognition for this.”
Marks said that the public records laws are in place, in part to ensure accountability.
“The public records laws were put in place to allow the citizens of Ohio access to the county and government entities, and the community is the check on the office to make sure things are being done appropriately,” Prosecutor Marks said on Tuesday. “When these records requests are made it gives the citizens an opportunity to keep an eye on the public officials.”
The August 2021 honoree for the Sunshine Award was Ross County Auditor Tom Spetnagel.
“There can be no faith in government if our highest offices are excused from scrutiny – they should be setting the example of transparency,” Edward Snowden.