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 November 18, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, 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 Eugene’s May 2018 ballot. Obviously, people from all sides think this is a good idea whose time has come. There were numerous city rules and codes to meet in getting it done. City accountability met the challenge, but the city itself did not. …

In the July 27, 2017, issue of the Register-Guard, Eugene resident Robin Bloomgarden writes in a letter:

In 2005, the question on the Eugene ballot was: Should the council hire an appointed external police auditor? Certain people raged against the idea, assuring everyone that doing this would forever change our council/manager form of government; it should be avoided at all costs. It passed, and government wasn’t ruined, it’s better. …