Valley Medical Board Commissioner Anthony Hemstad was presented with the Washington Coalition for Open Government Key Award at its awards breakfast on Sept. 17 at The Conference Center in Seattle.

A release from the organization stated Hemstad was being recognized for “his effort to bring transparency reforms to the governing body of Valley Medical Center.” The release noted Hemstad was elected to the Pubic Hospital District No. 1 board in Nov. 2007 as a reform candidate “on a 10-point platform designed to open the working of the district to taxpayers. Since his election, the district has begun videotaping its meetings and posting its meeting agenda and minutes on the Internet.”

At the ceremony Hemstad outlined the importance of transparency in government bodies like commissions and councils that are often overlooked.

Following the event, Hemstad wrote in an e-mail, “I’m honored and invigorated to receive a 2010 Key Award. That an outside organization like WCOG is watching the continued struggles we’ve had to reform Valley’s governance is very encouraging. Outside attention can make a huge difference. When governing is kept in the shadows it is more likely that the public interest gets replaced by insider dealing and the public purse gets raided. To minimize that chance of abuse there should be both active and responsible oversight from a governing body plus scrutiny and attention by external watchdog groups. There has been a tremendous amount of resistance from some groups associated with VMC administrators to proposed transparency reforms. We’re finally making progress – but much remains to be done.”

Also attending the event was former governor and U.S. Senator Dan Evans. Hemstad worked as a staff member for Evans when he served in the U.S. Senate.

“This is well-earned recognition,” Evans wrote. “Anthony was one of my aides when I was a U.S. Senator. It is good to see that he remains so focused on transparency and good government reforms. He clearly is determined to make some positive changes on this commission and deserves the support of all thinking citizens.”

Also recognized at the event was Eric Rachner, a computer expert who investigated how the Seattle Police Department used video recordings of street arrests to exonerate officers.

Mike Shepard, the former publisher of the Yakima Herald-Republic, accepted an award for the newspaper’s work in forcing Yakima County to turn over legal billing records.

The organization presented the annual James Madison Award to Frank Blethen, Seattle Times publisher, and the James Anderson Award to Duane Swinton, an attorney with the Spokane firm Witherspoon Kelly Davenport and Toole.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com or 425-432-1209, ext. 5050.