Ghiz’s Blackberry should be open to public records requests

Photo courtesy of here.

Brian Griffin over at The Cincinnati Blog actually has a good catch with this item, documenting the childish and inappropriate behavior of Leslie Ghiz in the middle of a council meeting. This type of juvenile behavior from Leslie Ghiz is nothing new, though. She’s been clacking away on her Blackberry for years, and Griffin’s post reminded me of some attempts I made in the past at getting copies of her Blackberry messages. Has the time come again for redoubling this effort?

Three years ago, I posted this item, which reasoned that any messages Ghiz sends over her Blackberry should fall under open records laws as she sent them while conducting the people’s business. In response, she sent me this sarcastic note, dripping with more of her adolescent humor:

Dear [Dean]-

Thank you for your e-mail regarding a public records request for my blackberry emails and phone text messages. These are not public record as I pay for both privately. The only emails that are sent or received are from my law office and home emails. No public money is spent for either. Hence, they are not subject to public records law.

However, this e-mail is subject to public records law. I would be happy to have my office produce a copy for you, if you like.

Keep up the good work.

Leslie

It seems her attitude only leaves two possibilities: (1) She is incorrect, and her Blackberry records should be subject to open records if they are sent during council meetings when she is present; (2) By not releasing records, she seems to claim they do not relate to public business—and therefore she admits to doing something other than conduct public business. In the example caught by Griffin, I guess her public Tweets do relate to public business—though in a terribly immature manner.

Readers might also find this old post noteworthy, too—as it indicates the contempt Leslie Ghiz seems to have for openness and transparency in government.

Here’s the real question. Besides griping through her Tweets about Laketa Cole, what other kinds of messages does Ghiz receive when she is in the middle of public meetings? Do people text her bits of information, or suggestions? Does she have influential people giving her live guidance? Without her Blackberry records being open to inspection, it’s impossible to know. Of course, one easy strategy would render such theses completely impossible: stay off the Blackberry during public meetings!