Lonny Pehrson Nominated as Utah’s First Records Officer Amid Controversy
SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Spencer Cox has nominated Lonny Pehrson to serve as Utah’s first records officer, a position tasked with overseeing the state’s public records law, the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). Critics, however, question Pehrson’s suitability due to his history of opposing public records access while working at the Utah Attorney General’s Office. Paul Amann, a former AG prosecutor, argued that Pehrson has continually thwarted transparency efforts, citing a judge’s ruling that found the AG’s office inadequate in its search for records during a high-profile case regarding former Attorney General Sean Reyes’s calendars.
Pehrson, who called media requests for these calendars a “fishing expedition,” faces scrutiny as he prepares for a confirmation hearing with the Utah Senate. If approved, he will handle appeals from agencies that deny records requests. Amann and other critics contend that Pehrson’s appointment could further limit public access to vital government documents, fearing he may continue the lack of transparency exhibited under Reyes.
Senator Nate Blouin has expressed reservations about Pehrson’s nomination, suggesting a broader search for qualified candidates might have been more appropriate.
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