NFOIC former chief Ken Bunting leaves impressive legacy

Sad news to report from the front lines of the battle to keep government at all levels open, accessible and accountable to the people. Ken Bunting, 65, the former executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, died Sunday in Columbia, Mo. following a heart attack. Bunting had a distinguished career as a journalist. He was associate publisher of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer before it folded its print edition and went online only in March 2009. Under his leadership the newspaper won several national and regional awards including two Pulitzer Prizes for editorial cartoons He joined the NFOIC serving as its executive director from 2010 until early in 2014 when budget cuts led to downsizing. Even after his departure, according to NFOIC staff, he continued to support the group, helping to connect people looking for FOI help. Throughout his career he was a strong voice for open government. He was a great advocate for state coalition groups trying to fight off encroachments on their open government laws. Bunting dragooned MiCOG president Jane Briggs-Bunting into forming the Michigan group after a conversation in March 2012. Michigan, at that time, was one of just two states without an open government group. Bunting provided advice and encouragement in helping to get MiCOG launched late that year. He is survived by his wife, Juli, who lives in Columbia, and a son, Maxwell, who lives in Seattle.