Really? After 12 terms in office it’s a surprise when a politician doesn’t run for a 13th term? Or it’s “shocking” when an 80-year-old U.S. senator doesn’t seek to add to her 40 years in Congress?

The most common reelection rate for House members is 98%, and it's not because Americans love them... https://t.co/n7Fbxvh1Nw

— Cato Institute (@CatoInstitute) April 16, 2017

California's high court tackles government workers' use of private devices for communication

California's high court tackles government workers' use of private devices for communication https://t.co/jISYb2Ayfu

— The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) February 6, 2017

During a hearing last month, the California Supreme Court appeared ready to rule that government business conducted on private telephones and computers must be made public.

The quandary expressed by justices was how to fashion a rule to protect the privacy of government employees and still ensure that public business was open to inspection....

When well-intentioned, community-spirited citizens make bad decisions, then double down on them.

◼ Brown Act Trampled In NHUHSD’s Damage Control Frenzy - Arcata Eye

When the high school board met July 26 to discuss Trustee Dan Johnson’s plagiarized June 13 commencement speech, Board President Mike Pigg apologized for the delay. He said the board hadn’t been able to meet over the summer.

“We’re restricted by the Brown Act so we can’t even discuss it until we have a meeting,” chimed Trustee Dana Silvernale.

However, according to internal school district documents, the board had already spent lots of time discussing the controversial speech and what to do about it – just not in public.

A Public Records Act request for internal memoranda and public correspondence regarding Johnson’s speech yielded numerous e-mail exchanges between Northern Humboldt Union High School District (NHUHSD) boardmembers and staff.

The messages include discussion of the imbroglio and how to respond, frustration with Johnson over his delayed response and sniping among boardmembers....