In an era where navigating government channels can often feel like an uphill battle, one local official is proving that public service can still be truly open and accessible. Marvin Abshire, Greene County Attorney, and public records officer, has been named the first-ever recipient of the 2026 Government Transparency and Public Service Award. (Read more for award and acceptance speech)
Linton News' Award Representative Adam Wence
When I announced the creation of the Government Transparency and Public Service Award, I mentioned that while we focus on where our systems fall short, it was equally important to shine a light on the people who are getting it exactly right. So I was looking for someone who wouldn't just do the bare minimum, but who truly embodies a spirit of open and accountable governance.
That is why I am incredibly proud to present this inaugural 2026 award to Mr. Marvin Abshire. In the world of government accountability, asking questions and seeking records can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, but Marvin approaches his role entirely differently. He is consistently responsive to questions, even the highly complicated ones that he has no legal or formal obligation to answer. When it comes to public records, he doesn't drag his feet. He fulfills them in a timely manner and recognizes that public information belongs to the public.
But what truly sets Marvin apart is how he does his job. Public service can be demanding, yet he always maintains a pleasant and deeply professional demeanor. Most importantly, the experience you get with Marvin does not vary based on who you are. Whether you are a prominent official or an everyday citizen, regardless of your status or background, you are treated with the exact same respect, helpfulness, and transparency. He is the standard for how our governing officials should act. So please join me in congratulating our inaugural 2026 recipient, Marvin Abshire.
Recipient, Marvin Abshire's Acceptance Speech
I think the thing that I want to say about this, other than thank you very much, is that the recognition doesn't belong to me only. It probably belongs to a lot of other people a lot more than it does me, because there are other people in the county that make my role as a public records officer possible—not just easier, but absolutely possible in the way they respond to me.
First of all, Sharon (Toon, Marvin's Administrative Assistant) handles a lot of these without need for review because they're straightforward and she knows what to look for, what to ask for, what people need. And so she takes a lot of that burden off of me and leaves the more complicated requests for me. And that's the way it should be, but I never have to worry about it, never have to think about it. I've got records clerks and an officer who handles video requests and redactions over at the Sheriff's Department who are incredibly cooperative and prompt in getting information to me. And it just would be miserable without them.
Within this building, there are a lot of people I just don't have a need to interact with when it comes to public records, but the clerk and the auditor come into the picture quite frequently. And again, they are very helpful, very responsive. I often will have something within five or 10 minutes of asking for it. And if not, somebody usually lets me know when I will have it, and those are the people that make this possible. Those are the people that, and everybody else, but they make up whatever reputation Greene County has for being responsive on public records. And so this really belongs to them.
