Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. It’s our annual confab about open government in all its forms. The Southwest Chapter of Idaho Press Club is sponsoring two events:

Debate on Debates

Tuesday, March 18
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Beside Bardenay, 612 Grove Street, Boise

Join journalists, analysts and political professionals as we discuss the validity and usefulness of public debates. Are they still useful? Should they be mandatory for candidates? Is the public paying attention?

We’ll have appetizers and a no-host bar.
Members: $10:00
Non-Members: $12.00
Students: $7.00
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (208) 389-2879

Who’s on our panel:

• Marcia Franklin is a producer and host at Idaho Public Television and a regular moderator of political debates.
• Jim Weatherby is political scientist emeritus at Boise State University and a political analyst for media outlets.
• Jeff Malmen is a 20-year veteran of Idaho politics. Most recently he served as Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s chief of staff. He is a lobbyist for Idaho Power.
• Marty Peterson is special assistant to the president of the University of Idaho. He has been on the staff of U.S. Senator Frank Church and Governors John Evans and Cecil Andrus.
• Marc Johnson, our moderator, is president of The Gallatin Group, was chief of staff to Governor Cecil Andrus and is a veteran broadcast journalist.

 
Deciphering Finance Reports:

Thursday, March 20
12:00-1:30 p.m.
The Boiler Room at Bardenay, 612 Grove Street, Boise

We’ll take a tour through the arcane but essential (and sometimes newsworthy) world of campaign finance reports with three veterans as our guides.

• John Miller is the legislative reporter for the Associated Press.
• Dan Popkey is a political columnist for the Idaho Statesman.
• Betsy Russell is the Boise correspondent for the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
• Shea Andersen, editor of the Boise Weekly, will moderate.