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Date published: 10/3/2007

I was outraged by Dr. Jerry Hill's inappropriate actions in 2005, which embroiled the office of the Spotsylvania school superintendent in a charge of violating election law.

However, I was far more outraged after reading the Sept. 29 article exposing Spotsylvania County's apparent disregard for parts of the Freedom of Information Act in dealing with Dr. Hill's request for information ["Hill sues Spotsy over records," Sept. 29].

FOIA provides a powerful means of battling corruption. It has proved to be of great value to the press and to average citizens attempting to solve problems.

It is very specific about what may be redacted from documents, and it allows only reasonable fees to be charged for requested documents. Unreasonable fees cannot be used to deter access to information.

Any government official who violates any provision of FOIA should be prosecuted and fined as the law itself provides. Such a person is guilty of undercutting an important pillar of freedom and as such should be ousted from public service.

Americans can be proud that they live in a country that provides open access to government. They should cherish and defend FOIA against even the slightest abuse.

Many people may not view Dr. Hill's past politically tainted actions favorably, but we should all be defending his rights under FOIA.

If we allow Spotsylvania County to abuse FOIA now against Dr. Hill, it will just make it easier for the law to be abused in the future against any one of us.

Date published: 10/3/2007

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