Letter: Misunderstanding plagues session on open meeting law

Friday, Feb. 11, 2000 | 9:27 a.m.

In response to the Feb. 4 article written by Las Vegas Sun reporter Valerie Miller, "Pressure exerted to close discussions on open meeting," she wrote that I tried to exert pressure on her and another reporter to not attend the presentations being conducted by the attorney general's office on Nevada's open meeting law.

First of all, we sent out a release to all news media outlets in the Las Vegas area announcing the meetings were taking place. If, in fact, we were not encouraging members of the media to attend, why would we send out a release? The purpose for the attorney general's office to conduct the open meeting law presentations is to provide anyone interested in the process an opportunity to express their thoughts and add their perspective on the effect and operation of this important law, including members of the media. Hence, the invitation.

Miller states that I tried to set up a meeting with her and our deputy so that she would not have to attend the meeting. In fact, what I offered to Miller and the other reporter was an opportunity to meet with the deputy so that she could help them better understand the Nevada open meeting law before the presentation took place. It was offered to assist the two reporters, not to dissuade them from attending.

Miller went on to say that I told her the presence of the media at the presentation "might intimidate some people." What was actually said to the two reporters was that we obviously wanted those attending to be as candid as possible, and that people sometimes feel a little inhibited by members of the media. Neither reporter was told they could not attend, nor was there any intention on my part of trying to suggest they not attend.

The irony of Miller's story is that, in fact, she and another reporter did attend the session, were able to take notes, talk to some of the people who attended, and write a story about that presentation.

Unfortunately, Miller's article did very little to inform her readers about the open meeting law process, something that we had hoped for when we invited members of the media to attend.

STEVE GEORGE Public information officer, Nevada office of the attorney general