R.I.P. Alan Cote, Supervisor of Public Records

Alan Cote, the lawyer who ran the public records division within the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office, has died, according to the State House News Service. It quotes a statement issued this afternoon by Secretary of State William Galvin:

“It is with great regret that I announce the untimely death of First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Alan N. Cote today after a courageous struggle with cancer. As First Deputy for the past six years, Alan played a key role in the management of the Office of Secretary. As Director and Supervisor of Public Records for almost a decade, Alan combined a zealous advocacy for the principle of open government records with a judicious application of the law as demonstrated in his rulings on appeals. He will be sorely missed.”

Galvin had it right when he described Alan as a zealous advocate of open government. He made many courageous rulings in favor of the public. Even so, he was sometimes frustrated by a state law that gave his office virtually no power to enforce those rulings. Even now, bills are pending in the legislature to enhance the authority of the supervisor of records. We can hope these reforms are enacted. Unfortunately, if they are, Alan won't be here to see it.