Governor Herbert still looking for public member for records committee

Filling a vacancy on the State Records Committee wasn't on the Utah State Legislature's agenda this past week.

While Gov. Gary Herbert sent recommendations to the Senate for 27 positions that needed advice and conset, including former LDS Presiding Bishop H. David Burton appointment to the University of Utah Board of Trustees and former LDS General Young Women's President Elaine S. Dalton's nomination to serve on the Utah Valley University Board of Trustees, there was no nominee for the records committee.

The Legislature voted earlier this year to take away the state auditor's position on the committee and add a second seat for a public member. Four people have applied so far for the position on the body that hears appeals of records denials.

The committee gave a "soft recommendation" to Marie Cornwall, an emeritus sociology professor at Brigham Young University in June.

Ally Isom, the governor's spokeswoman, said Herbert will likely send a name to the Senate for its consideration in September. Isom said Herbert is not trying to drag out the process.

"It's been a busy, busy month," Isom said, noting that Herbert has been on a trade mission.

The new appointee would replace Betsy Ross, the auditor's representative on the committee who was fired in December by incoming state Auditor John Dougall. Ross had opposed HB477, the bill Dougall sponsored as a legislator in 2011 that would have gutted the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).

Dougall claims he axed Ross because he did not believe she was doing her job as the office's liaison to the Legislature. He also endorsed removing the auditor's seat, as it would allow him to audit the committee without worrying about a conflict of interest.

The Legislature did address an open-government issue during the special session. It voted to allow the House committee investigating Attorney General John Swallow to close some of its meetings and to keep its records away from the public.