COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133
Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 2, 2016
Senator Lovely receives William Plante Jr. Open Government Award
(Boston) – Today the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association (MNPA) presented Senator Joan Lovely, Salem, with one of two William Plante Jr. Open Government Awards in recognition of her work on public records reform. The MNPA also honored Senator Lovely’s co-Chair on the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, Representative Peter Kocot, Northampton.
The William Plante Jr. Open Government Award is the first award the MNPA has given in its 44-year history. The award is named in honor of Bill Plante, the long-time MNPA executive director and editor of several Massachusetts newspapers. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding achievements in government transparency.
Together Senator Lovely and Representative Kocot led the conference committee that spearheaded the greatly needed public records update earlier this year. In an effort to promote conference committee transparency, the committee leaders opened the usually-closed committee meetings up to the public and the press.
“I am honored to receive this award with Representative Kocot,” said Senator Lovely. “Our Commonwealth works best when constituents, legislators, and government employees work together, and that can only happen when we have transparent, open government.”
The awards were presented at the MNPA annual luncheon. Attorney General Maura Healy was the events keynote speaker.
###