Government Transparency, Nevada, Transparency

Transparent Nevada Remains Committed to Openness

Shelby Fleshood

Each year, Transparent Nevada is proud to take part in a national celebration of government transparency known as Sunshine Week.

Founded in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, Sunshine Week is a yearly reminder of the right of every American to access government records.

Nevada has been dedicated to transparency ever since the passage of the Nevade Public Records Act in 1911. The act remains one of the best transparency laws in the nation.

The act established that all state agency records are public unless declared confidential by law. This statute has been essential to maintaining openness and grants any person the ability to stay informed on government activities.

Similar rights were afforded at the national level in 1966 when the federal government enacted the Freedom of Information Act. This act made it possible to request public records from federal agencies. Exactly 20 years after the act was passed, March 16 was declared National Freedom of Information Day.

When Nevada Policy launched Transparent Nevada in 2008, we knew it would have a responsibility to bring the voters of the Battleborn State the most up-to-date information possible to enable them to make informed decisions. Open access to information is crucial when it comes time to vote.

We believe firmly in Thomas Jefferson’s observation that, “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.”

It is the duty of every Nevadan to hold their leaders accountable, and open records are foundational to that duty.

This Sunshine Week, we are excited to bring you special editorials, interviews and major announcements all centered around the celebration of open records at both the state and national level. It’s going to be a bright week, so be sure to stay tuned.

Shelby Fleshood

Shelby Fleshood

Communications Association - Public Relations

Shelby Fleshood is the Communications Associate – Public Relations for Nevada Policy Research Institute and has a passion for helping ensure his generation maintains the freedoms that make our nation great. Growing up in Florida, Shelby was often surprised in high school to see that the liberties that were so common in Florida, were not always prevalent in other parts of the country. This sparked a passion for activism that would last the rest of his life.

Shelby first became involved with Nevada Policy in the summer of 2020 as a Development Intern, working to help Nevada Policy navigate the changes brought on by the Covid-19 Pandemic. He spent that summer collaborating with his fellow interns on new fundraising projects to help ensure Nevada Policy was not crippled by the lockdowns caused by the virus.

In 2021, Shelby graduated from Florida State University after studying History and Economics. He supervises, guides and helps TransparentNevada.com, TransparentCalifornia.com, and their activist communities. Shelby also works with Nevada’s Open Records Coalition and open records activists to ensure that everyone has the ability to see all government records and documents. After all, government is supposed to work for us!