In the May 5, 2018, online edition the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Jon Belcher writes in a letter:
As a member of the Citizen Charter Review Committee, which in 2002 unanimously recommended establishing a city performance auditor appointed by the Eugene City Council and overseen by a citizen audit committee, I thank the proponents of Measure 20-283 for reviving the discussion.
If only they had developed their proposal via an open inclusive process rather than behind closed doors. They could have avoided several flaws in Measure 20-283. It pays an excessive salary, provides for no ongoing citizen oversight and allows the first auditor to be elected by a minority of voters. Moreover, it creates an auditor so independent as to be ineffective — someone on the outside looking in.
Fortunately, Citizens for Sensible Oversight fleshed out the CCRC proposal and the Eugene City Council referred it to voters as Measure 20-287. It sets a competitive salary for the auditor and requires citizen oversight. Most importantly, it includes the CCRC’s recommendation for an appointed auditor. The CCRC understood that any auditor must work with our elected mayor and City Council, the only ones able to implement an auditor’s recommendations. Isn’t that the purpose of having an auditor in the first place?
Voters should reject Measure 20-283 and support Measure 20-287.