YAKIMA, Wash. -- A free forum on state open records and meetings laws will be held Wednesday.

Scheduled speakers include state Auditor Brian Sonntag, former state Rep. Toby Nixon, assistant state attorney general Tim Ford and Sunnyside City Clerk Deborah Estrada.

Questions and comments from the audience are welcome.

The forum, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the downtown Yakima library, 102 N. Third St.

The event is organized by the Washington Coalition for Open Government, a nonpartisan group dedicated to preserving the public's right to know about government activities.

Forum sponsors are the Yakima Herald-Republic and the League of Women Voters of Yakima County.

Barbara Serrano, managing editor of the Yakima Herald-Republic, will serve as the forum's moderator.