AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – The Texas attorney general’s office says Austin can’t withhold records showing who applied for city manager by claiming the information would harm the city’s competition among applicants.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that Assistant Attorney General Matthew Taylor released the opinion Wednesday. It says the city and its executive search firm must turn over most of the information requested by the newspaper related to the search for a new city manager. That includes candidate applications.
The opinion comes after Austin refused to release the information, arguing it would hurt Austin competitively. But the attorney general’s office says competition for public employees is not a “competitive situation” under the law.
A spokesman for Austin says city officials are aware of the ruling and deciding their next step.
