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A taxpayer’s fight for public records exposes roadblocks to transparency
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — When Nick Jongebloed, 60, set out to obtain public records about an incident, he expected a straightforward process. Instead, he found a tangled bureaucratic maze that left him questioning government transparency and accountability in North Carolina.
Jongebloed’s journey began when he sought information on an emergency communications call related to dogs he was fostering through his nonprofit, Camp Patriot Animal Rescue & Sanctuary. Unsure of the correct procedure, he initially took his request to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, only to be redirected to the county’s emergency communications office. It was there that his request was met with unexpected resistance.
“The second-in-command there took my letter and told me they had to run it by their lawyer,” Jongebloed recalled. “I asked what a lawyer had to do with a public record, and he didn’t really answer.”
A Confusing Chain of Command
Jongebloed’s request remained in limbo for weeks before he followed up with the communications office. That’s when he learned that the department didn’t even handle such requests. He was eventually directed to the county’s legal department—the correct office for public records inquiries.
NC public records law states, in part, “Upon receipt of the written request for disclosure, as promptly as possible, the custodial law enforcement agency must either disclose the portion of the recording relevant to the person's request or notify the requestor of the custodial law enforcement agency's decision not to disclose the recording to the requestor.”
His frustration mounted when he attempted to escalate his concerns. To obtain a clear response, Jongebloed contacted the North Carolina State and Local Government Committee, even cc’ing his state senator on the email, Tim Moffitt, and other lawmakers. He said he had not received a response from Moffitt.
The only official who responded was Lynn Tennant, a legislative assistant to Senator Ted Alexander. In her email, Tennant informed Jongebloed that the committee did not act on its own and suggested he contact his House representative if his senator was unresponsive. She also noted that “legislation involving animals is extremely controversial.”
Her final reply was particularly telling. “I regret you do not understand how the legislature works. Contact the legislator for your district. I tried to help you but seriously regret responding to you,” Tennant wrote.
Jongebloed found the response both dismissive and disturbing. “It was laughable,” he told me. “It really shows how far removed some of these officials are from the people they’re supposed to serve.”
A Passion for Rescue, A Fight for Transparency
Jongebloed, who has spent decades rescuing and rehabilitating dogs, operates a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in caring for large breeds, including Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and Cane Corsos. He currently cares for 15 dogs, including a terrier he rescued from the roadside.
His experience with the public records process has reinforced his belief that government systems are unnecessarily opaque. “There is an attitude among government officials that they don’t work for the public,” he said. “That’s a problem.”
Rutherford County Response
Jongebloed sought clarification from the Rutherford County legal department about the public records process.
In a Feb. 25 email, their administrative assistant, Amy Hamrick, wrote, “Whenever we receive a public record request we forward the request to all relevant departments that may have information matching the request. Whenever the request includes electronic communication of any type this can take time for the departments to locate, review and forward. Once received from the department we review against the public record laws to confirm if the record is public information, nonpublic information or confidential. Whenever we determine the information is not public, we will inform you we have found information deeming not to be public record and will provide the reason at that time. The more expansive the request particularly involving electronic communication such as call records, video footage, emails etc., the longer the request typically takes up to a few weeks.”
Trouble at the Magistrate’s Office
Jongebloed’s search for answers eventually led him to the Rutherford County Magistrate’s Office, where he attempted to record his conversation with officials—a practice permitted under North Carolina’s one-party consent law.
As soon as his phone’s recording indicator was visible, the magistrate became confrontational. “She demanded to know if I was recording and introduced herself as a judge,” Jongebloed said. “I don’t even know if that was accurate.”
Ultimately, the magistrate informed Jongebloed that only a law enforcement officer could file a criminal charge in his case. He found that response troubling. “I was told I couldn’t even request an investigation into what happened,” he said. “That’s a serious flaw in the system.”
A Broken System?
North Carolina law requires that public records be provided “promptly,” but Jongebloed’s experience highlights the lack of a defined timeframe. His request took weeks to be fulfilled, and the information he eventually received was difficult to analyze.
“It was a massive number of files,” he said. “I had to piece the conversation together like a forensic investigator.”
Despite these hurdles, Jongebloed remains committed to pursuing transparency. “I’ve already lost more than $10,000 because of this situation,” he said. “But I’m not giving up.”
His case raises broader questions about public records accessibility in North Carolina and the responsiveness of elected officials. “The state needs to do a better job of clarifying the process and establishing firm timelines,” Jongebloed said.
For now, his fight continues—a battle not just for public records, but for the principle of government accountability.
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress commentary
Public Records in North Carolina: What You Need to Know and What Needs to Change
If you’ve ever tried to file a public records request in North Carolina, you might have walked away feeling frustrated, misled, or completely ignored. Whether you’re a journalist, a concerned citizen, or someone who simply wants answers, the process can feel deliberately difficult.
North Carolina law states that public records belong to the people, not the government. But in practice, getting those records is often a battle—one that exposes flaws in transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.
Here are three things you need to know about filing a public records request in North Carolina—and three things I recommend to make the process better.
Three Things to Know About Filing a Public Records Request in North Carolina
1. There’s No Firm Deadline for Responses
North Carolina law requires agencies to respond to records requests “as promptly as possible.” But what does “promptly” mean? In some cases, it means a same-day response. In others, it means weeks or even months of waiting—if you get a response at all. Unlike states with strict deadlines (like Florida, where records must be produced within a reasonable timeframe unless exempt), North Carolina’s vague language allows agencies to stall indefinitely.
2. You Might Be Given the Runaround
Don’t expect a clear roadmap for where to send your request. Different counties, cities, and state agencies have different procedures, and there’s often no central point of contact. You might be bounced from one department to another, with officials claiming they don’t handle records or that a lawyer needs to review your request. The lack of a standardized system makes it difficult for the average person to know where to turn.
3. Some Officials Will Ignore You (and That’s a Problem)
Many North Carolina officials—including elected representatives—don’t respond to public records requests, even when they’re legally required to. If your local government ignores you, you can escalate the issue to state legislators, but as we’ve seen recently, some of them won’t answer either. A legislative assistant to Senator Ted Alexander said that she regretted responding to Jongebloed’s public records concerns. That level of dismissiveness should concern everyone.
Three Things I Recommend to Improve Transparency in North Carolina
1. The State Needs a Mandatory Response Time
North Carolina lawmakers should establish a clear deadline for responding to records requests—something reasonable, like 10 business days. If an agency can’t fulfill a request in that time, they should be required to provide a written explanation and an estimated completion date. This would prevent agencies from stalling indefinitely.
2. There Should Be a Centralized Public Records Portal
Many states have online portals where anyone can submit and track public records requests. North Carolina needs one. A centralized system would ensure accountability, prevent agencies from denying knowledge of requests, and provide a clear timeline for responses. It would also reduce the confusion of not knowing which department handles which records. To be fair, some state agencies do this, but most do not.
3. There Must Be Consequences for Ignoring Requests
Right now, if an agency ignores a public records request, the burden falls on the citizen to take legal action. That’s not realistic for most people. North Carolina should establish penalties for agencies that refuse to comply with public records laws—whether that means fines, disciplinary actions, or public reporting of non-compliant offices.
The Bottom Line
Public records belong to the people. If North Carolina wants to be a state that values transparency, it needs to start acting like it. That means clear deadlines, accessible systems, and accountability for officials who refuse to follow the law.
For now, if you’re filing a public records request, be persistent. Follow up. Document everything. And if you get stonewalled, let people know—because government secrecy should never be the norm.
Want to share your own experience with public records in North Carolina? Reply to this email or leave a comment. Your stories matter.
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