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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2014)
ENDORSEMENTS AT A GLANCE commission dismiss the ethics complaint. The commission didn’t move on the complaint and the case expired. Handy alleges in his case that the county locked him out of his office, restricted him in his ability to access the coun- ty building and kept him from accessing his email account, The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that for- not only during a state investigation into a misconduct mer Lane County Commissioner Rob Handy’s complaint complaint but also after the state investigators said there against the county and against former administrator Liane was no need to do so. This caused Handy “great difficulties Richardson (now Inkster) and Commissioners Sid Leiken, in carrying out his job as an elected official, which also im- Faye Stewart and Jay Bozievich for undermining “his abil- pacted his constituents,” according to a press release sent ity to do his elected job” can be amended and move for- out after the circuit court gave its judgment Oct. 23. ward for a decision. Attorney Stephen Dingle argued on behalf of the coun- U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken ruled in March ty. Judge Morgan Christen said to Dingle, “It is really hard 2013 that Handy and fellow plaintiff, constituent Brian for a lot of us to imagine walking into a room with a blank McCall, did not establish a case under federal law, and she computer without our stored email and not think our ability declined to take jurisdiction under state law, so Handy’s at- to do our job would be hindered.” torneys filed a motion for permission to amend and clarify Dingle said, “I have the federal complaint. never understood that al- The circuit court ruled legation,” and argued that that while Aiken didn’t “spe- Handy did not need email cifically address whether access to do his job. amendment would be al- Dugan says, “Now we lowed,” she “entered judg- just have to go back and ment soon after dismissal,” start over, add to the com- which effectively did not al- plaint and proceed for- low Handy and his attorney, ward.” She says, “We are Marianne Dugan, to amend still waiting for a decision the complaint. “In general, in the state appeal,” which leave to amend should be — R O B H A N D Y, F O R M E R L A N E C O U N T Y C O M M I S S I O N E R was argued Aug. 13 in Sa- freely granted,” the judges lem. That case had to do write. with Handy’s complaint Dugan said in her argu- that a last-minute “emer- ments before the court that gency” meeting called to her motion to amend was discuss the complaints “very specific about what against him violated public facts we would add to the meetings law. allegations to clarify some Handy said in a state- issues the judge was clearly ment, “We filed this suit to confused about.” bring attention to the politi- Handy’s case began cization of the offices of the when Eugene businessman Lane County commission- Alan Thayer and EWEB ers, and how those in power Commissioner John Brown misused that power to fur- alleged that Handy improp- ther a political agenda.” He erly solicited money to pay adds, “The three commis- down a debt to the county sioners named in the law- from a Seneca timber- suit are still in office and funded lawsuit against the the concerns remain valid.” progressive commissioners. Inkster was fired in Au- The allegations arose while gust 2013 after altering her Handy was running for re- pay. The Oregon State Bar election, which he lost. began an ethics investiga- The Oregon Department tion into her in March 2014. of Justice later dismissed the Lane County has no complaint against Handy, comment at this time. and an Oregon Government — Camilla Mortensen Ethics Commission inves- tigator recommended the COURT RULES ROB HANDY’S CASE CAN MOVE FOWARD ‘We filed this suit to bring attention to the politicization of the offices of the Lane County commissioners and how those in power misused that power to further a political agenda.’ The deadline for ballots to arrive at Lane County Elec- tions is 8 pm Tuesday, Nov. 4. The last day to mail ballots and assure their arrival is Thursday, Oct. 30. Ballots can also be dropped off 24/7 at any of the white ballot boxes around town or on campus. Here are our endorsements in selected contested races and ballot measures. See last week’s paper or go online to read our full endorsements. NATIONAL & STATE CANDIDATES: • U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley • U.S. House, District 4: Peter DeFazio • U.S. House, District 5: Kurt Schrader • Governor: John Kitzhaber • Senate District 4 — Floyd Prozanski (D) • Senate District 7 — Lee Beyer (D) • Senate District 8 — Sara A. Gelser (D) • House District 7 — No endorsement • House District 9 — Caddy McKeown (D) • House District 11 — Phil Barnhart (D) • House District 12 — John Lively (D) • House District 13 — Nancy Nathanson (D) • House District 14 — Val Hoyle (D) STATE ISSUES: • Measure 86 — YES Fund for student financial aid • Measure 87 — YES Allows judges to teach or join National Guard • Measure 88 — YES Driver cards for undocumented residents • Measure 89 — YES ERA for Oregon • Measure 90 — NO Top-two primary • Measure 91 — YES Legalizes pot for adults • Measure 92 — YES Label GMO foods LOCAL CANDIDATES & ISSUES: • East Lane commissioner — Write-in Kevin Matthews • West Lane — No endorsement • Springfield City Council — Denise Bean • EPUD board Subdistrict 2 — Lee R. Kelley • Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation Dist. Zone 1 — Jeffrey Luers • Eugene District 4J Measure 20-222 — YES — Local option levy • Springfield Measure 20-223 — YES — Pay for council & mayor • Springfield School District Measure 20-226 — YES — Bonds for school district • Santa Clara RFPD Measure 20-228 — Five-year local option levy Order a Taxi at the Push of a Button Credit Card on File No Hold Time Real-Time Taxi Tracking eugeneweekly.com • October 30, 2014 7
