Winston v. Mangan

The right of the public to know of governmental operations and to inspect public records is funda*281mental to the workings of a democratic society. Is this any less so because the particular person seeking to inspect is a candidate for public office in an upcoming election? That is the focal question here.

A. The Taxpayer-Candidate and the Records He Seeks to Inspect.

Richard G. Winston is a taxpayer resident of the Village Great Neck Park District, author of a column dealing with parks and recreation in a weekly Great Neck newspaper, and a candidate for election to the Board of Commissioners of…