A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Pepin County Election Department on February 5, 2025. The request was made by us at The Sconi, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our commitment to transparency and public accountability, we sought information under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., specifically requesting a list of all candidates running in the upcoming election. The details requested include the candidate's first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; party affiliation of the candidate; and all contact information for each candidate such as address, phone number, and email address.
As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We believe that as media professionals engaged in disseminating information, we are eligible for a fee waiver.
The Pepin County Election Department has yet to respond to our request.
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