Improving the accountability & transparency of city government
In the December 11, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Anna Peña writes in a letter:
Former Eugene City Councilor George Brown dismissed another reader’s concern that the city auditor proposal championed by Brown does not include sufficient checks and balances (“Provisions set for auditor review,” Dec. 1). …
In the December 11, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, chief petitioner and former Eugene City Councilor Bonny Bettman McCornack writes in a guest viewpoint:
Our all-volunteer petition committee, City Accountability, appreciates The Register-Guard’s recognition that we cleared a high bar to gather 13,500 signatures (Nov. 22, “Keep auditor vote simple”). That achievement puts our proposed measure, establishing an office of an elected independent city of Eugene auditor, on the ballot next May. …
On December 8, 2017, Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis blogs:
Next week will bring a couple of big conversations to council. On Monday night, we will consider the council’s possible response to the ballot initiative for an independent auditor; review the proposed disbursement of funds as part of the supplemental budget, and have brief conversations on winter strategies for the homeless, and the city’s response to the proliferation of rats, particularly in south Eugene. …
In the December 7, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, reporter Ted Taylor writes:
The question is no longer whether Eugene needs a performance auditor; it’s who that auditor will answer to. The group City Accountability has a measure on the May ballot for an independent, elected auditor, and the Eugene City Council is deciding whether it will add a competing measure for an appointed performance auditor on the ballot. …
On December 5, 2017, the Lindholm Company Blog, released the results of a poll:
The elected auditor is supported by a wide margin. However, voter opinions on non-money measures typically are less firm than on money measures. The dramatic movement of the housekeeping charter amendment at the recently completed election is proof of that. At 60% it’s level of support is not quite enough to be guaranteed victory against a concerted opposition campaign. Supporters would like to have around 70%. …
On December 1, 2017, Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis blogs:
Council is in a race to address a number of important issues before taking a winter break. On Nov. 20th, we held a work session to review the key elements of the citizen initiative to create an independent auditor department; and to hear from the study group I convened to review the range of auditor structures, costs and scope that have been implemented in other cities and counties. Council requested more information from the city attorney regarding the scope, oversight, and residency implications. They will hold a second session on December 11th to hear that information and decide whether or not to respond as a council to the initiative — yes, no, or create an alternative. …
In the December 1, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident and former Ward 1 city councilor George Brown writes in a letter:
In his Nov. 27 letter to the editor, Thomas Nelson asks: “Who will audit Eugene’s auditor?” …
In the November 29, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Joy Marshall writes in a letter:
I appreciated Christian Hill’s article about the proposed initiative for a Eugene city auditor (“Auditor question heads to council,” Nov. 19). The article is an alert to all voters to carefully read the wording of the measure. …
In the November 27, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Thomas Nelson writes in a letter:
Eugene voters considering establishing an “independent” elected city auditor should consider the risks of having an un-audited auditor.
…
In the November 22, 2017, issue of the Eugene Weekly, Eugene resident Robin Bloomgarden writes in a letter:
CityAccountability.org gathered 5,000 extra signatures within the 100 days allowed to put an elected independent auditor measure on the May 2018 ballot. …