Improving the accountability & transparency of city government
In the January 13, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, former Eugene city councilor and Eugene resident David Kelly writes in a letter:
I know, and respect, some of the members of the group that pitched an alternative city auditor proposal to the Eugene City Council this week. However, what part of “independent” don’t they understand? Their proposed appointment of an auditor by the council and overseen by a review board also appointed by the council makes a mockery of the word “independent.” …
On January 12, 2018, Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis blogs:
We started the new year in full Eugene style. Our Monday night public forum this week included 43 speakers.
Close to half of the speakers addressed the need for an auditor role in the city. About ten people represented the City Accountability Measure 22-283 for an independent auditor; and ten others represented a new group of advocates, Citizens for Sensible Oversight, who urged the council to review and consider their alternative auditor proposal. Council took this request seriously and at Wednesday’s work session directed the city attorney to review the proposed alternative. …
On January 12, 2018, Rachael Maurer reported for KEZI:
There’s a growing push for more oversight within the City of Eugene. Two groups are battling to put measures on the May ballot that would elect or appoint a city auditor. …
In the January 12, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, the editorial board writes:
In May, Eugene voters will decide whether to approve a charter amendment that would give the city a performance auditor with as much independence as the proposal’s authors could devise. Their intent is to insulate the auditor as completely as possible against interference by the Eugene City Council and city manager. Where the authors see independence, however, critics see a lack of accountability. These critics are well on their way toward getting the City Council to place a competing measure on the May ballot—call it Auditor Lite. The council should pull back from this approach. …
On January 11, 2018, Rachael McDonald of KLCC reported:
Eugene voters may have two auditor measures to choose from on the May ballot. The Eugene City Council this week agreed to consider a proposal that would be alternative to Measure 20-283. …
On January 11, 2018, Rachael McDonald of KLCC reported:
A group of Eugene residents has asked the City Council to consider a proposal for a city auditor. They’re hoping to place it on the May ballot as an alternative to measure 20-283. …
In the January 11, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, reporter Christian Hill writes:
Come the May election, Eugene voters appear increasingly likely to have two rival city auditor proposals to choose between. …
In the January 11, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Ronald Bevirt writes in a letter:
In EW Letters Dec. 28, 2017, Ben Torres joins the well-connected defenders of the city status quo by mimicking their favorite talking point, which complains that the estimated (can go up or down) $153,000 salary of the proposed elected independent city auditor would be “the highest paid elected official in Oregon” — which is not true, and a matter of public record. …
In the January 11, 2018, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Robin Bloomgarden writes in a letter:
Some City Council members worry that Eugene’s “elected independent auditor will be the highest-paid elected official” in Oregon. So what! Topnotch candidates need a competitive salary — otherwise you lose them — and that’s why Eugene pays department heads and managers more than any elected official. There are issues with that too, but we want the best-qualified candidates to apply, right? Most elected officials don’t need a high school diploma, but the elected auditor must meet tough professional qualifications in order to even be considered. …
On January 10, 2018, KMTR reported:
The Eugene City Council vote 4-3 to schedule a discussion about placing a competing measure authorizing a city auditor on the May ballot.
A ballot measure creating an auditor is already up for a vote on the May 2018 ballot. …