3A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017
County unemployment
at 3.6 percent in June
The Daily Astorian
Clatsop County recorded
a 3.6 percent unemploy-
ment rate in June, accord-
ing to the Oregon E mploy-
ment D epartment, the
seventh-lowest rate of Ore-
gon’s 36 counties.
Unemployment in the
county was slightly higher
than last month, but 1.4
percent lower than a year
ago, slightly lower than the
statewide rate (3.7 percent)
and nearly 1 percent lower
than the national rate (4.4
percent).
The county lost 110 non-
farm jobs compared with
one year prior, largely in the
retail sector.
“A preliminary look at
some new data suggests that
the retail trade employment
estimate may be revised
upward signifi cantly next
month to show a gain over
the year,” r egional e cono-
mist Erik Knoder wrote in a
release from the state about
the county’s employment.
“This could well result in
an overall gain in jobs over
Jobless rates
for June *
Area
Clatsop
June May 1-yr.
2017 2017 ago
3.6
3.5
5
Columbia
4.5
4.5
6.4
Tillamook
3.8
3.7
5.2
Oregon
3.7
3.6
5.1
U.S.
4.4
4.3
4.9
*Preliminary, seasonaly adjusted rates.
Source: Oregon Employment Department
Daily Astorian graphic
the year in the county, and it
is more in keeping with the
growth evident in related
industries.”
Over the past year, the
hospitality industry added
120 positions, along with
80 positions each added by
education/health services
and construction. Manu-
facturing lost 130 jobs, and
local government education
cut 90.
Mushen steps down
from Port Commission
Applications
due by Aug. 9
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
PORTLAND – The Ore-
gon Nurses Association has
accused Secretary of State
Dennis Richardson of having
a confl ict of interest in a pro-
posed ballot measure to repeal
a health care tax plan.
The association has asked
to Richardson, who oversees
all statewide elections, to dis-
close any and all political and
fi nancial ties he has with state
Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West
Linn. Parrish is spearhead-
ing the repeal initiative and is
a political consultant paid by
the Richardson campaign. The
association also demanded that
Richardson recuse himself
from any business involving
the proposed repeal.
“It is unusual and possi-
bly unprecedented for a sitting
secretary of state and a state
legislator who is also a polit-
ical consultant and chief peti-
tioner of a referendum, which
the secretary will oversee,
to have signifi cant fi nancial
ties,” the association stated in
Robert Mushen
In other action , the Port
Commission approved c on-
tracting with accounting fi rm
TKW for auditing services.
Commissioners
also
approved an easement for
Pacifi c Power to install util-
ity poles along the Port’s
property in Warrenton.
a Monday letter to Richardson.
Parrish claimed the associ-
“This combination of personal, ation’s accusations of a con-
political and fi nancial connec- fl ict of interest are politically
tions poses a potential confl ict motivated. She noted that Rep.
of interest that the Secretary of Rob Nosse, D-Portland, who
State’s Offi ce must immedi- sits on the legislative commit-
ately address.”
tee that sponsored the health
Richardson said the associ- care tax plan, is an employee
ation’s “allegation of confl icts of nurses association . The
of interest are specious and association “spent thousands
unfounded.”
of dollars to seat” Nosse and
“I am committed
political action com-
to fairness to all and
mittee board member
favoritism to none in
Rep. Sheri Malstrom,
the conduct of Oregon
D-Beaverton.
elections,” Richard-
“It’s unfortunate to
son said in a statement
see the Oregon Nurses
Monday . He added that
Association bring pol-
his staff in the elec-
itics to a new low,”
Dennis
tions divisions “are
Parrish said in a state-
Richardson
fair and unbiased.”
ment Monday.
Richardson
The
Legisla-
reported payments to Par- ture enacted the $550 mil-
rish’s political consulting fi rm lion health care tax plan as a
of nearly $330,000 during his way to offset a $1.4 billion
campaign for s ecretary of s tate. shortfall in the state’s two-
His campaign continues to year budget. Lawmakers from
pay Parrish a $1,000 monthly both parties supported the tax
retainer for political consulting scheme, saying it would allow
services, the association noted. thousands of low-income res-
Parrish’s fi rm also donated idents to remain in the state
more than $20,000 to Richard- Medicaid program.
son’s campaign.
The plan hikes taxes on
PORTLAND — A jail
in north-central Oregon has
been sued by four people who
contend the facility is violat-
ing its state law by holding
immigrants who are awaiting
status hearings or deportation.
The four assert in a law-
suit fi led Friday in north-
ern Wasco County that they
have paid and continue to pay
property taxes used to build
and operate the Northern Ore-
gon Regional Correctional
Facility in The Dalles. They
alleged the jail is breaking a
unique Oregon law prohibit-
ing state and local authorities
from helping federal author-
ities enforce immigration
laws.
Oregon created America’s
fi rst sanctuary state in 1987.
In February, Gov. Kate Brown
signed an executive order that
said all state agencies must
follow the 1987 statute.
In addition to the jail, the
suit names Wasco County. Its
attorney, Kristen Campbell,
said the county and the jail
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have complied with state law.
The attorney who fi led the
lawsuit, David Henretty of the
Oregon Law Center, declined
comment and said the four
plaintiffs had no immediate
comment about the case.
The jail generally referred
to as NORCOR opened as a
regional jail for four rural
counties. As with many other
local jails, it has a contract
with the U.S. Marshals Ser-
vice to provide beds for fed-
eral detainees.
The focus of the law-
suit is the immigrants over-
fl owing to Wasco County
from an U.S. Immigration
Customs and Enforcement
detention facility in Tacoma,
Washington.
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Robert Mushen
former Port of Astoria
commissioner who resigned
because of health reasons
out by applause. “Every-
body who has taken care of
me has required I resign my
commission, and I do so with
great sadness.”
But Mushen said he was
encouraged by the makeup of
the Port Commission, which
includes newcomer and
President Frank Spence, fel-
low newcomer Dirk Rohne
and veterans Bill Hunsinger
and James Campbell.
“The voters of Clatsop
County have returned to us a
very excellent board of com-
missioners,” he said. “They
have chosen an excellent
president.”
After his announcement
early in the meeting, Mushen
left the room to standing
applause. Campbell said
Mushen has been an asset to
the community and served
the Port well. Spence said
his calm, rational demeanor
would be missed.
Spence said any reg-
istered voter in Clatsop
County can apply with a let-
ter of interest and resume to
1 Pier St, Suite 308, in Asto-
ria. Applications are due
by noon Aug. 9, with inter-
views taking place later in
the month.
hospitals and levies a new
tax on health insurance plans.
Gov. Kate Brown signed
the legislation into law this
month .
Parrish said the nurses
association benefi ts from the
legislation because there is an
exemption from the insurance
tax for unions that self-insure.
Rachel Prusak, a Portland
nurse practitioner and mem-
ber of the association , said
the association wants all of
the correspondence and other
documents showing a rela-
tionship between Richardson
and Parrish to be available for
public viewing. She said the
letter sent Monday was not a
formal public records request,
but such a request could be a
secondary measure if Rich-
ardson doesn’t publicize the
records on his own accord.
“We shouldn’t have to do a
public records request for the
secretary of state to be trans-
parent,” Prusak said.
The Capital Bureau is a
collaboration between EO
Media Group and Pamplin
Media Group.
Taxpayers sue Oregon jail over immigrant holds
By STEVEN DUBOIS
Associated Press
By EDWARD
STRATTON
The Daily Astorian
Robert Mushen resigned
from the Port of Asto-
ria Commission Tuesday,
opening a position on the
fi ve-member governing body
for interviews next month.
Mushen, the president of
the Port Commission through
many tense and adversarial
meetings, suffered a blood
pressure spike during one
meeting in April and had to
be taken to Columbia Memo-
rial Hospital.
“I spent … two weeks in
the hospital,” he said. “Two
months afterward, I was in
physical therapy learning
how to walk again.
“But I am very grateful
to report that I am entirely
recovered, thanks to a team
of neurologists,” Mushen
said before being drowned
Secretary of state accused of
confl ict in provider tax repeal
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