Oral arguments televised live in Lincoln County transparency hearing

Matthew Hayward
September 16, 2020

Tiny Lincoln County in Northeast Washington made history four years ago by opening its collective bargaining negotiations to the public. In the past, local governments and unions negotiated personnel contracts — typically the largest single line item in a government’s budget — in complete secrecy. But as Rob Coffman of Lincoln County says, “We have public employees and public officials negotiating with the public’s money, so what do we have to hide?”

Friday, Sep 18, 2020, marked another chapter in a seemingly never-ending battle for transparency that could be compared to Jarndyce and Jarndyce, an interminable legal proceeding from Charles Dickens fictional novel “Bleak House.”

Freedom Foundation attorney, Caleb Jon Vandenbos, argued on behalf of Lincoln County, before the Court of Appeals, Division III, in Spokane.

- Labor, Washington

Matthew Hayward

National Outreach Director

Before joining the Freedom Foundation, Matthew worked as supervisor at the Washington State Department of Agriculture, where he coordinated efforts between federal and state agencies, tribes, and volunteer organizations in the Puget Sound. Grassroots politics has provided Matthew with many unique and sometimes controversial experiences. These experiences range from successfully building coalitions between different factions to training and organizing volunteers to maximize their effectiveness. Matthew’s passion for freedom to educate citizens about their Constitutional rights is strong and unwavering. “I not only measure success by results, bu t by the integrity of the action taken to achieve the result.” —Matthew H.