The newly-established state Office of Open Records, created by Act 3, got off on the right foot last week when Gov. Ed Rendell appointed a former journalist and Associated Press bureau chief as the organization’s executive director.

The governor’s appointment of Terry Mutchler, a former reporter for The (Allentown) Morning Call and Pennsylvania native, was hailed by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, which had lobbied hard for the passage of the new open records law earlier this year.

“By naming Terry Mutchler, Gov. Ed Rendell made sure Pennsylvania has someone with the background, the passion and the expertise to make sure this new office is a success,” said John Kirkpatrick, chairman of the PNA Board of Directors and publisher, president and editor of The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News in a recent AP story. “This is great news for everyone who cares about open government.”

Newspapers around the state, including The Herald, had joined PNA for years in pushing for new open records legislation to replace the state’s antiquated law, which was one of the worst remaining in the country. Kirkpatrick said that the naming of a director like Mutchler, who has served as a media lawyer, was critical to the success of the office.

In a reversal of philosophy, the new open records law presumes that documents and other government information is public, and places the burden of proof on the agencies that argue that such information is private.

According to the AP story, Mutchler expressed her own commitment to the presumption of openness in an interview published in the Patriot-News. “ ... I can assure the citizens of Pennsylvania, that if and when I make an error, it’s going to be on the side of openness.”

Imagine that — a journalist at heart filling the key position in the office that will determine the openness of government records. I can smell the fresh air already.

The editor’s e-mail mailbag

I have gotten e-mail periodically from former Sharon resident Jeff Frank, who lives in Santa Ynez, Calif. His latest e-mail indicates his disgust with his hometown.

“I continue to read The Herald online and feel the Forum reflects the tone and future of the city. Living far away in California does not exclude me from also feeling ‘bitter.’ My hometown has been dying for years, the financial and physical condition of the town continues to decline, drugs and apathy run rampant, the candidates make promises and leave (some with unpaid bills) ... the streets are in disrepair, and a declining population actually thinks the steel mills are coming back!

“I am ‘bitter’ that my history is gone. I’m ‘bitter’ that there is no hometown to come back to for a visit or a second residence. And most of all, I’m ‘bitter’ because there is no reason to take my granddaughters to Sharon for a visit. I can sit here in California and tell them what it used to be like ... as Mr. Clinton attempts to gather the vote, someone should take him (and all the other candidates) for a walk around town. I hope they don’t trip on the broken curbs and potholes.”

I got the following interesting e-mail from Mrs. Philip Kulusich, the former Noreen Komar, of Hermitage.

“Hi! I think I can say hi to you cause I’m 81 years old. I’ve enjoyed reading your columns in The Herald about old times in Farrell. Here’s an historical tidbit or ‘Here we go again.’

“In The Herald, the news of St. Ann’s Church and Our Lady of Fatima Church getting together brought thoughts of years gone by. In about December 1950, the act of combining St. Elizabeth’s and St. Anthony’s Italian churches was under way.

“In February 1951, the last couple to be married in the rectory of St. Elizabeth’s by Father Thomas Rooney was Paul Komar (my uncle) and Jean McGilray.