MAY 2008: AROUND THE STATE
An ethical dilemma
STATEWIDE Across
Oregon, dozens of small-town planning commissioners and city
council members have been resigning their posts in protest over
a state ethics law that now requires formerly exempt rural
public officials to complete a statement of economic interest
form.
For weeks, local newspapers have reported the real and
threatened flight of officials from Elgin, Enterprise,
Brookings, Canyonville, Maupin, Umatilla, North Powder, Cover,
Imbler, Island City, Joseph, Lostine, Wallowa, Nehalem,
Milton-Freewater, Adair Village, Boardman, Irrigon, Gearheart
and Rogue River. According to Ron Bersin, executive director of
the Oregon Ethics Commission, 82 people had officially resigned
as of mid-April, with “about 95%” of them saying it
was the requirement to list direct relatives older than 18 and
household members that was the biggest issue. Bersin said that
the commission would review the issue in the next legislative
session.
The forms also require that public officials disclose sources
of income, property ownership in their jurisdiction, business
ownership and office-related events.
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