Track Perdue: Governor's new decision to make her schedules public is a step towards transparency

Gov. Bev Perdue's decision to release her schedule for the week was a responsible measure that will promote more transparency within her administration.

The governor's office will continue to release weekly updates to her schedule in an attempt to provide the public with more insight into Perdue's work.

Although the schedule does not give specific details of when and where meetings will take place it provides a basic outline of what she plans to do for the week.

If Gov. Perdue continues to move towards a more transparent government she will fare better than her predecessor in her relations with the public and the press.

Perdue hopes to avoid the problems that marred former Gov. Mike Easley's relationship with the media.

Last April Easley was embroiled in a controversy involving public records laws.

Several N.C. media organizations would later file suit for this violation of public records laws.

The lawsuit alleges that the former governor's office requested the systematic deletion of correspondence e-mails to and from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Easley's transparency record was less than ideal.

But hopefully Perdue will not have these same problems with the public and the press.

Perdue knows that she will be held accountable and understands what it means to have an open relationship with the media.

Perdue should continue to take more actions to ensure that her administration will be remembered for promoting open government and fostering public participation.