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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2007)
New teachers union lawsuit says Sizemore continues to commit fraud Fahey to run for seat on Portland City Council Mike Fahey, a former financial sec- retary-treasurer of the Portland Metal Trades Council and a former Democra- tic state representative from North Port- land, will throw his hat into a crowded race for an open seat on the Portland City Council. The incumbent, Sam Adams, is leav- ing to run for mayor. A half-dozen candidates have al- ready filed for, or say that they will file for the post. Fahey is the seventh. A member of Pile Drivers, Divers and Shipwrights Local 2416, Fahey left the labor movement to open his own mortgage company. A native Oregon- ian, he founded the Shipwrights Ap- prenticeship Program, and he still di- MIKE FAHEY rects the Carpenters Food Bank along with his wife Sandy. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in ’92 and for labor commissioner in ’99. Fahey said he will kick off his cam- paign in January 2008. He will not use the city’s public campaign finance fund program. Oregon union foe and anti-tax ac- tivist Bill Sizemore has been using a non-profit corporation based in Nevada to avoid paying a July 2003 court judg- ment. That’s according to a new law- suit filed Nov. 29 by the Oregon Edu- cation Association and the American Federation of Teachers-Oregon (AFT- Oregon). The two teachers unions have fought a seven-year legal battle against Sizemore and his Oregon Taxpayers United for fraud and racketeering in the 1998 election. In 2002, a Multnomah County Cir- cuit Court jury found Sizemore and his group guilty of forgery and fraud, and the following year a judge ordered Sizemore and his groups to pay $2.5 Union Food Bank asks for funds to feed less fortunate The Carpenters Food Bank is appealing for cash dona- tions to help feed those in need this holiday season. The all- volunteer food bank, now in its 25th year, is housed in the basement of the union hall at 2205 N. Lombard, Portland. The food bank feeds 425 to 500 families the third Friday each month, said Mike Fahey, who along with his wife Sandy, coordinate the program. Mike Fahey is a former executive secretary-treasurer of the Portland Metal Trades Council and is a member of Ship- wrights Local 2416. Fahey said cash donations are needed to help purchase food items — including meat and turkeys — at bulk rate prices. Holiday food boxes will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21. Contributions can be sent to: Food Bank, P.O. Box 17358, Portland OR 97217. Reminder: OEFCU Loans and CD Rates Are the Best You’ll Find Anywhere. Don’t Make A Move Till You Call Your Non-Profit Union, Credit Union! • High Yield Share Certificates (CD’s) • Home Equity Lines of Credit • New & Used Car & Truck Loans • Direct Deposit Checking & Savings Accounts pages. Sizemore said he wrote the million in damages to the unions. But copy, but wasn’t paid by ATRF for that in October 2006 an appeals court re- duced that to just $300,000. The unions work. Instead, the non-profit paid his wife’s defunct company “CBS Con- appealed that decision to the Oregon sulting,” and then she paid him $1,000 Supreme Court, which heard the case a month. in September 2007 but hasn’t yet is- The American Tax Research Foun- sued a decision. Even if the appeals dation was CBS Con- court ruling stands, sulting’s only client. Sizemore still owes Meanwhile, it’s not the $300,000. Plus, in ‘He doesn’t think September 2004, any laws apply to clear ATRF has had any existence outside Sizemore was found him. But he does- of paying the com- in contempt of court bined $10,000 a month for violating a related n’t seem to have to the Sizemores. court injunction, and any problem ATRF, which filed was ordered to pay papers of incorporation union attorney fees of drafting up laws 2006, does $125,000. that would apply in not January appear to have an So far, the unions office or telephone; the have collected only to other people.’ president, secretary $16,000. and treasurer identified The new lawsuit, in its articles of incorporation are listed also filed in Multnomah County Cir- cuit Court, says Bill Sizemore, his wife as having the same Las Vegas post of- fice box, and no other contact informa- Cindy, and the Nevada-based Ameri- tion is given. Online, there is no evi- can Tax Research Foundation (ATRF) dence for the group’s existence except committed conspiracy to defraud the for its own Web site, which lists no plaintiffs by concealing income. The phone number or address, nor the evidence for that came from recent names of any individual. E-mails to the judge-ordered court proceedings in which Bill Sizemore testified about his sole e-mail contact listed on the site were returned as undeliverable. And income and household finances. Sizemore has said he has little or no ATRF’s Web site domain name? It was income with which to pay the court-or- registered as of September 2006 to Bill Sizemore and his organization Oregon dered damages. But under oath, Size- Taxpayers United. more revealed that the Nevada-based “He doesn’t think any laws apply to American Tax Research Foundation him,” said AFT-Oregon Executive Di- (ATRF) paid $7,500 a month to a de- rector Richard Schwarz, “but he does- funct Oregon corporation owned by n’t seem to have any problem drafting Sizemore’s wife for work done by Bill up laws that would apply to other peo- Sizemore on the group’s Web site. ple.” Plus, ATRF paid $2,500 a month for In a separate legal proceeding, the rent for the Sizemore family residence two unions are also seeking a contempt and amounts for a family vehicle, of- of court ruling against Sizemore for vi- fice space and equipment. olating a court-ordered injunction that “You can draw your own conclu- bars him from raising and spending sions about how much work has been money through any political action done on that Web site,” OEA attorney committee until he pays the damages. Greg Hartman told the NW Labor If he’s found in contempt of court, Press. The site —americantaxresearch.org Sizemore could go to jail for up to six months. An April 18, 2008, court date — is a bare-bones “educational” effort has been set for the contempt hearing. with no more than a couple dozen • First Mortgage Home Loans • VISA Platinum & Debit Cards The Marco Consulting Group • Roth & Traditional IRA’s • Internet Banking w/ Free Online I NVESTMENT C ONSULTANTS TO M ULTI -E MPLOYER B ENEFIT F UNDS Bill Payment & E-Statements Please call Jason Zenk at 253-376-3391 800 877-4444 For Current Rates and Answers Midwest Office 550 W Washington Blvd Ninth Floor Chicago, IL 60661 p: 312-575-9000 F: 312-575-9840 East Coast Office 1220 Adams St First Floor Boston, MA 02124 p: 617-298-0967 F: 617-298-0966 • UNION Strength • UNION Purpose • UNION Pride 22 Branches including 805 E. Berkeley Street Gladstone, Oregon 503 655-5462 PAGE 8 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS www.marcoconsulting.com DECEMBER 7, 2007
