 That wasn't the case Thursday.The Sunshine Review, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to state and local government transparency,
on Thursday awarded Illinois with 19 Sunny Awards for websites that
provide windows into government activity. Illinois had the
third-most 2012 Sunny Awards, trailing only Florida and Texas.
Kristin McMurray, managing editor for the Sunshine Review, said
the state did so well because of several cities and counties in the
state that provide online data such as budgets, audits and vendor
contracts.
"I've been very impressed by it and a little surprised. Illinois
has a reputation," McMurray said.
McMurray said her organization started the awards as a way to
reward states that provide people with information online and to
push those that don't.
McHenry County, in northern Illinois, was one of the state's
winners. This was the second Sunny Award in as many years for the
county.
"It's very consistent with the direction the board has tried to
take the county" in terms of open government, said Peter Austin,
McHenry County administrator.
Josh Sharp is the director of government relations for the
Illinois Press Association, which lobbies for the news industry in
the state as well as for open government. Sharp said any time a
governmental body is more transparent is good, but he said he isn't
satisfied with their overall openness efforts.
"They've got great websites, but the culture of secrecy in ...
much of Illinois still looms very large. They've still got a long
way to go," Sharp said.
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