Governor-Elect Crist Creates Office of Open Government, Nams Pat Gleason and JoAnn Carrin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2006

Contact: Erin Isaac
850-410-0174
Erin.Isaac@CristTransition.com

Crist Establishes Office of Open Government

~ Appoints Director and Special Counsel for Open Government ~

TALLAHASSEE – Governor-Elect Charlie Crist today announced the creation of the Office of Open Government within the Executive Office of the Governor. Crist announced two appointments: Pat Gleason, Director of Cabinet Affairs and Special Counsel for Open Government and JoAnn Carrin, Director of Open Government.

“Respecting the public trust that is bestowed upon all of us who serve the people of Florida is a top priority for me and for my administration,” said Governor-Elect Crist. “Pat and JoAnn have served well in their current positions and I am pleased they will continue to serve in these new capacities.”

The Office of Open Government will be charged with providing both the Executive Office of the Governor and each of Florida’s agencies with the guidance and tools to serve Florida with integrity and transparency. This office will have two main functions:

1. To assure full and expeditious compliance with the open government and public records laws of Florida.
2. To provide training to all government agencies on transparency and accountability.

“Governor-Elect Crist has an aggressive agenda to lead our state and it is my honor to serve in this dual role,” said Gleason.

“Governor-Elect Crist is committed to serving the people of Florida with honor and integrity,” said Carrin. “I look forward to leading this charge in his administration in keeping with those same high standards.”

Pat Gleason, Director of Cabinet Affairs and Special Counsel for Open Government: Ms. Gleason is the General Counsel and Chief Cabinet Aide in the Office of the Attorney General. She also served in the Office of the Attorney General as a prosecutor for the Ethics Commission and the Chief of Administrative Law. Ms. Gleason currently administers the open government mediation program. She graduated from Florida State University College of Law.

JoAnn Carrin, Director of Open Government: Ms. Carrin is the Director of Communications in the Office of the Attorney General. She served as the Director of Communications in the Office of the Commissioner of the Department of Education and as an Educational Policy Analyst in the Division of Human Resource Development. Ms. Carrin served in the Executive Office of the Governor as Deputy Appointments Coordinator and as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst on the Governor’s Council on Organized Crime. She graduated from Florida State University.


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