Editorial: On Public Records, State Treasurer Folwell Tells It Like It Is

By Capitol Broadcasting Company Editorial Board, October 12, 2023

Public records, accountability and transparency are nothing new to North Carolina's State Treasurer. No matter the political affiliation of those who hold the office, the duties are about access to information and data. It is no small matter that the current Treasurer Dale Folwell - a former Republican state legislator - took time this week to admonish his former colleagues for their subterfuge and secrecy.

"Answering the why's and how's that legislation is written is becoming even more important than ever," Folwell said during his monthly news conference.

"Allowing individual lawmakers to determine what records are public and what material can be destroyed without ever seeing the sunshine of public view creates a system that does not have standards or accountability. It prevents the public from learning who and what influence certain decision-making on their behalf."