Part of public officials’ obligation to you, the payer of their salaries, is to release public records when asked for them.

Often, we pesky journalists are the ones doing the asking, in our role as watchdogs for you. But the law, Georgia’s Open Records Act, applies to anyone who wants to delve into the workings of government.

Too often, though, asking doesn’t mean getting. If pols put half the energy and creativity into serving the public as they do into finding excuses for not releasing records, we’d all be much better off.

Think I’m exaggerating?

Read the full, tawdry tale, exclusively on MyAjc.com.

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Georgia Power's Plant Bowen in Cartersville is shown. The utility wants to add about 10,000 megawatts of power supplies in just five years, mainly to serve data centers. (Hyosyb Shin/AJC 2015)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

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Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez