Improving the accountability & transparency of city government
In the January 9, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, reporter Christian Hill writes:
A group of residents, including former Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, have written a competing proposal to the city auditor measure, and on Monday night they urged city councilors to refer it to the same May ballot. …
In the January 5, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, reporter Christian Hill writes:
Delivering her second State of the City address Thursday night, Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis encouraged citizens to do more in the new year to embrace the city’s growing diversity and look out for one another. …
She said voters will decide in May whether to establish a independent elected city auditor, noting the first citizen initiative to qualify for the local ballot in many years “should stand the test of public scrutiny before it becomes law.” …
In the January 6, 2018, issue of the Register-Guard, retired BRING Recycling executive director Julie Daniel and business owner John Barofsky write in a guest viewpoint:
The time may have come for Eugene to have a performance auditor. Like many others, we want a transparent and accountable city government that uses public resources effectively to provide city services.
But Measure 20-283—an initiative proposal drafted without public input—is a classic example of a cure being worse than the disease. …
In the December 31, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, reporters Christian Hill and Elon Glucklich write:
Observers of Eugene politics will have plenty to focus on in 2018. …
They’ll also have Measure 20-283, the proposal on the May ballot that would create the office of an independent elected city auditor. A local group, City Accountability, qualified the measure for the May ballot in October after gathering signatures. …
In the December 18, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, the editorial board writes:
The disclosure last week that a proposed Eugene city auditor would have much broader powers than previously spelled out was both startling and a little unnerving. …
In the December 16, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Robin Bloomgarden writes in a letter:
I agree with Anna Pena that more accountability for the proposed Eugene elected auditor might be useful, primarily a citizen review/advisory board or panel (“Why oppose more accountability?” Dec. 11). …
In the December 15, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, reporter Christian Hill writes:
Two Eugene city councilors want to hear City Manager Jon Ruiz’s response to how city staff missed a legally required deadline after a ballot measure proposing the establishment of an elected city auditor qualified for the May deadline.
The measure’s backer, City Accountability, has criticized the city’s misstep. …
In the December 14, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, reporter Christian Hill writes:
The proposed Eugene city auditor’s office would have sweeping authority to examine not only the operations and spending of the city’s municipal government, but also the Eugene Water & Electric Board, the Lane Transit District and even private garbage haulers, according to a lead advocate of the measure. …
In the December 13, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Robin Bloomgarden writes in a letter:
Some members of the City Council worry that Eugene’s elected independent auditor will be the highest-paid “elected” official in Oregon. So what? Top-notch candidates need a competitive salary—otherwise you lose them—and that’s why Eugene pays department heads and managers lots more than any elected official. We want the best qualified candidates to apply, right? Most elected officials don’t even need a high school diploma to run, but the elected auditor will have to meet tough professional qualifications in order to file as a candidate. …
In the December 12, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Portland resident and former auditor for Multnomah County and Portland Gary Blackmer writes in a letter:
I was an auditor for Multnomah County and Portland for 23 years before I became director of state audits. While with the Association of Local Government Auditors, I advised governments on starting an audit office. …