A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Berrien County Election Division on February 5, 2025. The request, made by St. Joe-Benton Harbor News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for specific information about all candidates running in the upcoming election.
The details requested included each candidate's first, middle, and last name, the office they are running for, their jurisdiction of office, and party affiliation. In addition to these details about the candidates themselves, St. Joe-Benton Harbor News also requested contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we believe access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have stated our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional.
This request is part of our ongoing commitment to provide comprehensive coverage of local governmental affairs and ensure that our audience has access to accurate information about their election candidates.
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