Leaders of a coalition promoting open government are disappointed with the level of commitment to their cause displayed by candidates for the Maine Legislature.

In early September, the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition sent pledges statewide to candidates for the Legislature, fewer than half of which were signed. About 40 percent of state Senate candidates signed the pledge to support legislation that strengthens government transparency compared to 24 percent of candidates for Maine’s House.

“The MFOIC believes that freedom of speech, open meetings of government and access to public records are fundamental tenets of democracy,” said Mal Leary, president of MFOIC and an independent State House reporter. “We would like to believe candidates for the Legislature agree.”

Many candidates said even though they did not sign and return the pledge, they do support open government.

Stacy Dostie of Sabattus, a Democrat running for Maine House 75, said she does not remember receiving the pledge, but supports having transparency in government.

Rep. Deb Simpson, D-Auburn, a candidate for state Senate in District 15, said she remembers signing the pledge but not mailing it in.

“Obviously I support open government,” said Simpson, who also serves on the Right to Know Advisory Committee. “As an elected official you’re responsible to the people and you need to do it in an open and transparent way.”

The Right to Know Advisory Committee is a 16 member group made up of appointees representing the press, state government, schools and municipalities. The group is directed to ensure compliance and uphold the integrity of the state’s Right to Know law.

Other candidates said they declined to sign and return the pledge because even though they support transparency, they are wary of making blanket pledges.

“Who doesn’t support that?” said Brian Bolduc, an Auburn Democrat running for House District 69. “I’m in favor of open government, but I’m not going to sign a pledge to support legislation I haven’t seen.”

Rep. Richard Sykes, R-Harrison, agreed.

“My position is very much to support transparency in government,” he said. “In fact, we need to do more of that. But to promise something when I haven’t seen the actual information in front of me, as to what the bill or resolve would be, is a little disingenuous on my part.”

Sykes, running for re-election in House District 98, said he signed a pledge earlier in his political career and ended up regretting it.

“I said I guess I won’t sign those anymore,” he said.

Judy Meyer, vice president of the MFOIC and Lewiston Sun Journal managing editor, said it is important for voters to know where the candidates stand on this issue.

“These pledges serve as a personal guarantee that we are electing people who will honor Maine’s Right to Know law, which is our best guarantee of government transparency and accountability,” she said.

Among candidates running for the Legislature representing Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, 50 percent of state Senate candidates signed the pledge and about 20 percent of House candidates made the commitment.

Bradford Knowles, an Auburn Democrat running for House District 68, said he agrees with the principles of MFOIC despite not having signed the pledge.

“There’s no reason anybody in government should be doing anything that’s not in the public knowledge, unless it has to do with probably the highest level of national security,” he said. “But are you going to spend your time filling out four-page things or are you going to spend time trying to talk to the people in your district?”

The MFOIC is made up of media organizations, lawyers and public policy groups and works to ensure the public maintains access to the workings of government.