Lewiston Lauded by Organization that Advocates State & Local Government Transparency‏

Lewiston, Maine - The City of Lewiston, Maine, has been recognized by Sunshine Review, a national non-profit dedicated to state and local government transparency, for its website enhancements and increasing access to information. Of the Maine city web sites listed on Sunshine Review’s site, Lewiston is the top scorer with an A- (http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Evaluation_of_Maine_city_websites). In reviewing/rating web sites—1,500 in 2012—Sunshine Review utilizes a 10-point transparency checklist (http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Transparency_checklist).

Michael Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review, noted, “Lewiston is proactively championing government openness and transparency.  We urge all of Maine’s city and county governments to put the necessary resources into increasing their transparency like Lewiston has done.” 

Lewiston City Administrator Edward A. Barrett responded, “We are pleased to learn of Lewiston’s high rating for effectively providing information that individuals need to know about their local government.”

Sunshine Review, of Arlington, Virginia, collaborates with individuals and organizations throughout America in the cause of an informed citizenry and a transparent government.  Since its inception in 2008, Sunshine Review has analyzed the websites of all 50 states and more than 6,000 state and local entities.