Ethics Law Prompts Irrigon Resignations

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Story Published: Apr 26, 2008 at 7:28 PM PDT

By Rudabeh Shahbazi

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IRRIGON-- This small town has a big problem, as more leaders resign over Oregon's new ethics law.

The City of fewer than 2,000 people has been tasked with filling six volunteer positions at once, and more importantly, keeping those positions filled.

Six elected officials resigned, saying the new law would force them to offer up too much personal information about their families and finances.

The trend is happening all over Oregon, but rural Eastern Oregon has been hit especially hard.

The State is now reviewing the new law, to see if the accountability record is worth the cost.

"This is a thing that we have the inspiration to do on our own," said Irrigon's new mayor, James Ray. "We want to come out here and volunteer our services."

Ray has been mayor since last week's city council meeting, when the previous mayor stepped down, blaming the ethics law. The mayor pro tem and four planning commissioners have also resigned.

The legislation forces elected officials to disclose all sources of income greater than $10,000, and even to list their extended family members. Politicians say they fear all that personal information will be posted on the Internet.

The City has been working hard to fill the seats, but more resignations in communities like this, are leaving city government power vacuums all over the state.

It's a hole Ray says will actually encourage corruption, rather than prevent it, by allowing "good old boys" to run city governments.

Like the new mayor, City Council Member Robert Flournoy, says it's worth staying in office for his community.

He even thinks intentions behind the law are good, but that poor wording has led to destructive misunderstanding. He says when read carefully, it's not clear exactly what information will go online.

More importantly, he says, he has faith that the state government will make some changes.

"I'm convinced that the governor and the legislature will realize the damage the law has caused to the volunteer organizations, and will make a sincere attempt to correct the problems," said Flournoy.

Meanwhile, Mayor James says he's ready for a fight. He's already written his congressman and senator to tell them it's hard enough to find volunteers in rural communities. He says a law that puts them at risk for invasion of privacy, will turn the tide of progress backward.

Governor Kulongoski has responded to the state-wide resignations, saying volunteerism is important, but more important, is an open government free of corruption.

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